| Author
|
Post |
 
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
In the past many were critical of the decision to give the CPSA (Concerned Pastors for Social Action) newspaper, the Courier a $30,000 contract to run ads for 30 weeks to solicit homebuyers for the NSP Smith village project. The ads would run for most of the mayoral election and many feared it was nothing more than a political ploy. Also. I dont believe the Courier has an audited study of their circulation, which is primarily distributed among the black churches.
Since the CPSA Courier is online, I came across a number of these ads. I should note that if someone buys a full page ad, they are given the option of also having an article printed as part of the package. At least that was the practice and it appears to be the same now.
I thought about going to council with these ads and articles, but City Council members, freeman and neeley beat me to the punch. At the last committee meeting Freeman held up a full size ad mock up and dissected it. He was very accurate in his analysis.
A full 2/3 of the ad is called the Building Blocks for Flint's 21st Century Sustainable Community. Only 2 of the 21 blocks ( 1 HUD emblem and 1 MSHDA emblem) even relate to Smith Village. The others like the city seal, the swedish Biogas seal, the Blue badge Police Volunteer seal, the farmers market, and one representing the diplomat Please delete me! represent the issues that Walling touts as his success stories.
Below that is the slogan "Building Flint's 21st Century Future: Block by Block, Neighborhood by Neighborhood.
The importance of these symbols is readily apparent when you review Walling's campaign literature. Walling used the name 21st Century Performance for his previous company. in his statement about the company Walling said he was Tackling tough Challenges. His "current projectsinclude working to increase civic and voter engagement through the national Center for Civic Participation's State Voices project and designing innovative programs for nonprofit and businesses in Flint, Michigan."
In his Vote Walling website (paid for by the friends of Dayne Walling), Walling frequently references his vision for Flint in the 21st century, the same theme as the alleged Smith Village ads in the Courier. walling has one piece of campaign literature labeled "Vision for Flint", in which he discusses how'Flint is changing into a great 21st Century city". He then addresses many of the entities the building blocks of the Courier ad are representing such as Diplomat Please delete me!, Swedish Biogas, colleges, and infrastructure. "Every great city is made up of great neighborhoods."
With so many similar references to the Walling campaign in the Courier ad, it is no wonder the council questioned if the HUD NSP money was really paying for a campaign ad. Neeley raised the issue, and rightfully so, of whether the City would be required to pay the money back to HUD.
The bottom of the ad has Walling's photo and a recitation of all of the wonderful things Walling and his administration have doone using the federal Neighborhood Stabiliization Program money. Smith Village is mentioned only once and there is no mention of any contact information if anyone wants to purchase in Smith Village. walling ends with "Working together with our federal partners we are building a strong foundation for our future. Flint and genesee County aim to be one of Michigan's major success stories by emerging out of prolonged recession with new energy. we are turning our vision into reality with development projects and community iniatives in every part of the city. Today's transformation is only just beginning."
Freeman and Neeley are right on track. This ad is definitely not a promotion of Smith village and is more like a campaignad. It certainly uses all of Walling's code words from his campaign literature. |
|
|
Sun Sep 25, 2011 7:29 pm |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
Searched for: C P S A COURIER, INC.
ID Num: 798525
Assumed Names
Entity Name: C P S A COURIER, INC.
Type of Entity: Domestic Nonprofit Corporation
Resident Agent: J.S. HOPKINS
Registered Office Address: 109 WELCH BLVD FLINT MI 48503
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1268 FLINT MI 48501
Formed Under Act Number(s): 162-1982
Incorporation/Qualification Date: 3-9-2006
Jurisdiction of Origin: MICHIGAN
Number of Shares: 0
Year of Most Recent Annual Report: 10
Year of Most Recent Annual Report With Officers & Directors: 10
Status: ACTIVE Date: Present
As a nonprofit, One would expect that the newspaper would use reasonable caution when dealing with politics. That may not be the case and I wonder how they would fare if their 501 (c) 3 was investigated by the IRS.
Examples:
July 31,2011 front page "Vera B. Rison Supports Walling" This nearly half page article is not a paid political ad nor is it included in the Letters to the Editor. By comparison a smaller story on the New Smith Village Neighborhood is squeezed in the lower left hand corner.
July 31, 2111 Around Town page 3 "We Can't Turn Back-We Must Stay the Course allegedly written by Jackie poplar, 2nd Ward Councilwoman. Polar criticizes Mayoral candidates, Smith and Buchanan while showing support for Walling.
July 17, 2011 front page- Building Blocks for Flint's 21st Century Sustainable Community More praise for Walling's alleged accomplishments and only one mention of Smith Village. Similar to the ad.
August 7, 2011 Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program helping to Buiild a More Sustainable Community.
"During these challenging economic times many are wondering how the Walling administration is continuing to lay the foundation for Flint's 21st Century transformation into a more sustainable community"
More of the Walling election code words and political rhetoric
' |
|
|
|
Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:26 pm |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Register
Profile
FlintTalk.com Forum Index
> Political Talk
