Letter to the Editor of the Flint Journal #14

EVENT

Not quite the dare my mom posed, but close enough after she made me potato salad.

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No organization involved in the recent retraction of housing vouchers by the Flint Housing Commission has escaped untarnished. Unfortunately, this extends to coverage of the event by the Flint Journal. The Journal's single article on the evictions and belated editorial showed an almost contemptuous lack of thought on a situation that will leave hundreds of Flint residents out in the cold.

This is a story that should be nosing its way into the headlines day after day until some sort of resolution is met. Instead, Journal readers can expect to find a profile of the Coffee Beanery or a dull, decades-old breakdown of gas tax economics.

It has been gratifying to watch the Journal revolutionize its printing process, and I enjoy the paper's local emphasis. These accomplishments mean little, however, when newsworthy items are overlooked or dismissed. Such carelessness shows a disregard for both your readers and your own journalistic abilities.

In short, I am very disappointed that this paper continues to neglect its broader responsibility. By shelving the eviction story, the Flint Journal has missed a rare opportunity to be both powerful and relevant.

Sincerely,

Connor Coyne
Flushing Township