We’re still hearing from readers in response to a column from Independent editor Mark Pothier about Town Manager Derek Brindisi’s decision to stop communications with the Independent. Here’s a sampling of the most recent letters we’ve received. For more reader opinions on the subject, go here and here.
If you’ve got something to say about this or anything else related to Plymouth, email letters@plymouthindependent.org.
There is a reason why the White House Press Office exists. Most organizations will attempt to funnel public communications through an office to coordinate and provide consistent responses to press questions. This is as much to prevent the release of conflicting or incorrect information as it is to provide a favorable picture of the organization.
Then it is up to the press to dig deeper, to see if the position of the press office is in fact correct, or if there are nuances the public should understand. This is how “freedom of the press” works.
Mr. Brindisi, however, seems to have singled out one publication, the Plymouth Independent, as a target for selective censorship, which makes me wonder what he is attempting to hide just from them—and us. I am a new resident, and not familiar with the history of Plymouth municipal dramas, but the prohibition issued by the town manager immediately raises alarm bells.
My take-away from this is:
The Independent needs to continue reporting on what lead up to this situation (that’s the exercise of Press Freedom).
Mr. Brindisi needs to better manage the city’s communications with the public, including pulling his team of managers together (that’s Leadership).
The other town managers need to be part of the team, and work with Mr. Brindisi to disclose appropriate facts to the public (that’s fiduciary responsibility).
The managers also need to disclose to outsiders (the press) responsibly, only when something is materially misleading or incorrect, and not just complaining (that’s responsible whistleblowing).
– Michael Warren
Whatever happened to “freedom of the press?” I am appalled at Brindisi’s attempt to silence those who disagree with him. Has he ever heard of the U.S. Constitution? He should be fired immediately.
– Janice Kelly
Town Manager Brindisi’s response to criticism against him on social media was remarkably reductive, short-sighted and misdirected. A person of his experience should know better, by far, than to go after the only really local paper with stupid nicknames and a gag order on city staff. Now he just looks like he’s trying to hide something.
I am an avid reader and supporter of the Plymouth Independent and did not see any of these articles as particularly slanted or as personal attacks; the reporting is factual. If Brindisi doesn’t like the facts, he can change them. His decision puts a spotlight on his leadership deficiency and poor judgement and impedes our ability to know what is happening in our government.
– Lisa Hamilton
Governor Maura Healey and/or the ruling Democrats might not obstruct interaction to the Globe but there’d be no problem obstructing interaction the Herald.
We just went thru an election that called out the incumbent party and complicit media for continually trying to control the narrative and cover up reality. Brindisi clearly has not read the message. We the people, that he works, for are sick and tired of public officials not shouldering reasonable responsibility for their actions.
I find Brindisi’s feelings on your reporting of the Water Street sewer project particularly galling. He wants you to gloss over the obvious issues with platitudes about the environmental benefits of the project. That simply tells you where he’s coming from.
If he unprofessionally wants to refer to the Plymouth Independent as the “Plymouth Enquirer” then he should be rightly referred to as the Nancy Pelosi of the Town Hall
– Tom Buffinton
Dear Mr. Brindisi,
I am writing to express my strong disapproval of your directive instructing town employees not to speak with our local newspaper. This decision undermines government transparency and disregards the vital role of a free press, which is essential to an informed and engaged community.
We are fortunate to have a newspaper dedicated to Plymouth, a resource many towns no longer have. Restricting communication risks alienating the press and eroding public trust. If there are concerns about reporting, these should be addressed through open dialogue, not by silencing voices.
I urge you to reverse this decision and work collaboratively with the newspaper to strengthen trust and transparency in our town government.
– Patrice Minton
Regarding the town manager and communicating with the PI. Maybe the town manager feels that the PI is biased. After reading the article about the red lights that Mark Pothier wrote, I feel that way. Almost to the point where I question whether I want to read the online news anymore or not. I thought a news reporter was supposed to report facts, not their opinion.
This is the portion of the article I am referring to:
“Then there’s the proliferation of massive pickup trucks for everyday use, like hauling groceries from Market Basket. These behemoths take up more space on already crowded streets. They’re hard to see over or around. Worse, giant trucks create a false sense of safety for their operators, which can lead to lack of vigilance. Truck drivers sit high off the street surface, insulated from their surroundings, removed from where the “rubber hits the road.” A Ford F-150 at more than 6,000 pounds is pretty much a fortress on wheels. By comparison, a Honda Civic tips the scales at about 3,000 pounds.”
What do large trucks have to do with people running red lights? Are they the only vehicles that are running red lights? Does he know the trucks are only used to pick up groceries? Even if they take up more room on the roads, does that have anything to do with running red lights? It is very obvious that he does not like trucks, and that is fine but the article was supposed to be about running red lights. Not his biased view on trucks. And, no, I do not own a truck.
I only know part of the story about the article that caused threats to the town manager and his family. But can you blame the guy for not wanting to communicate with the Independent? Just my opinion.
– Susan Fugazzi
Editor’s note: The piece Fugazzi referred to was a commentary, not a news story. It was labeled as such.
I read with great interest your piece describing our town manager’s attempt to chill free speech in our community. And as soon as I was finished, I went to your site and donated. Keep up the good work.
– Christopher Schelleng