Yes, Ladra is back. I'm preparing a few posts on things going on in Hialeah, Miami Lakes, the county, Homestead and elsewhere. (More on that later).
Ladra has been absent for a while because, let's say I've been distracted. In addition to having to work on my actual paying job in social media and media consulting, a group of friends and I embarked on a new project, a new avenue to provide information for the people of Hialeah, who sorely need it.
I realized that the blog wasn't getting to everyone. Certainly not to the over 55 residents who vote and read mostly in Spanish, and hardly online. So this newspaper -- which will cover the city council and politics, sure, but also community events, school news, the business community and more -- was born.
And it's been a hard labor. Not just because we are learning as we go along -- and the second issue will look a lot better than the first. But because while Ladra's critics are constantly challenging her to be impartial, they won't let me when I try.
Here is the English version of the first column published in the inaugural Dec. 16 edition.
I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But I didn’t think it
would be this hard.
When a group of friends and I decided that we would publish
a newspaper in Spanish to counter the misinformation fed to the residents of
Hialeah, we realized there would be some resistance. Mostly from those who do
not want information to flow freely.
But we did not realize it would manifest itself in
censorship and lack of transparency that is a staple of dictatorial regimes
from which our families fled.
It is perfectly natural for politicians, elected officials
and high-paid government types to be wary of journalists and bloggers who
expose them as they buy votes with pancakes and collect absentee ballots from
viejitos who don’t know who is running for what. And while this is my first
column as editor of La Voz de Hialeah, I have grown into this position through
my blog, Political Cortadito, in which I have written about those things
already. I admit I have been critical of the city administration and elected
officials – in my sarcastic, Cuban-American smart ass style. While well-received
by many residents and city employees, the blog has become a thorn in the side
for the powers that be.
I understand the discomfort. But I have every right to
question their methods, intentions and actions. Perhaps even an obligation.
After all, my parents left Cuba to make sure I grew up and lived in a country
where freedom of expression and freedom of the press was not only guaranteed,
but taken for granted. And if I see something wrong, it is my duty to them and
to us all to point it out. Sometimes, that can be seen as impartial. And
sometimes it is. The criticism cuts both ways and when Hialeah Mayor Carlos
Hernandez and the Seguro Que Yes city council call me biased, they are sometimes
right. I am proudly biased because my slant is derived through the study of public
documents, knowledge of historical reference and luck for inside information. And
bias has its place. Like in these two [editorial/opinion] pages of La Voz de Hialeah. All bias is
welcome here. Not just the bias from one side. And so I invite the mayor and
city officials to write letters or guest columns for these pages.
But impartial information also has a place. Like on the
other 14 pages. Like in the story about the opening of LA Fitness. Most people
would see that as a positive story for Hialeah. But what is not in the article
is that I was asked to leave the event by someone with the facility, most likely
at the behest of the mayor or one of his lap dogs. On another day, the
spokesman for the police department refused to send me a press release that had
gone out to other media about the arrest of some juveniles after a smash and
grab at Palm Springs Mile.
While criticism is important and, even, necessary to
guarantee democracy, unbiased news and information can be more vital to a
community. Especially one that is lacking it. La Voz de Hialeah was created in
the void of such a beacon. And its aim is to cover the city in all its glory
and beauty and cultural richness, not just its dirty little secrets. There is
room for both and we hope that we will be allowed to public events so that we
can take the images and information to the homes of the people.
Perhaps it will only take a little time, and a few editions
of La Voz de Hialeah, for the mayor and other discomforted city officials to
realize that we are here to cover both sides of the coin.
And that we are here
to stay.
Ladra
ReplyDeleteCongratulations that is the best that can happen in Hialeah.
I hope that the community read the paper because i an so shure that is going to be very interest and they will find out what a mistake they did in the elections day.
We Missed you!!!! Glad you back.
ReplyDeleteMadame Ladra,I wish you and your family Felices Pascuas y un prospero 2012, lleno de triunfos and now in your new venture be fair, impartial and bring the news to all Miami-Dade County. Candela dice
ReplyDeleteElaine,
ReplyDeleteYou go for it....If it was easy think of all the idiots who would be doing it!
Merry Christmas and may your circulation grow into the hundreds of thousands, and your ad page multiply like the loaves and fishes!
al crespo
2012 prediction ,
ReplyDeleteLickerprick stops writing in you blog
Johnson buys new pink high heels
Martinez moves out of Hialeah
Bolanos stays a grumpy old man.
Fired reporter newspaper out of business
Fired reporter takes a bath in 2012
Carlos Hernandez is the man in Hialeah
Ladra, your weekly newspaper is in circulation? Let me know.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Elaine. I second Al's sentiments.
ReplyDelete