13 May 2012
Patrick Lee
Northeast Los Angeles Editor, Patch
Mr. Lee –
My concerns about Mr. Singh’s coverage of events in Northeast Los Angeles are as follows –
His reporting often consists of calling a local official, say the Principal of Eagle Rock High School or the president of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council, and printing their views verbatim, with very little – or no – fact checking. Mr. Singh also regularly fails to seek out not only alternate perspectives, but alternate accounts of serious events like the recent issues at Eagle Rock High School. This practice, or lack of practice, only further exposes Mr. Singh’s lack of local knowledge, in the case of EHRS and the long-standing controversy over Mr. Velasco’s bullying tactics with both teachers and parents. (He did expose, ironically and completely unintentionally, the behavior of Mr. Velasco’s toady, Mr. Cisneros.)
In the case of the local controversy over medical marijuana, this has made Patch the captive of a few NIMBY cranks and another Eagle Rock newbie, Mr. Michael Larsen, who’s looking to make a political name for himself by calling in the Feds on medical marijuana clinics. Again, Mr. Singh’s lack of local knowledge of Northeast LA as a progressive community, one that supports not only medical marijuana, but also marijuana legalization, appears profound.
Finally, Mr. Singh’s highly prejudicial judgments, reliance on hearsay and appeal to the most self-righteous among us are most apparent in his treatment of the homeless, or as he calls them, vagrants. I hope you are aware of this, and I think a simple review of Mr. Singh’s work in this area would be helpful for you both. I particularly recommend
I hope that if Mr. Singh remains responsible for covering Eagle Rock he makes an effort to reach out to a broader community than the nearest parochial authority figure that shares his seemingly quite conservative point of view.
Sincerely – Rob Schraff
cc: Ajay Singh
Honestly, I never much thought of the bullying angle - ad hominem attacks and bullying being stock-in-trade by many, mostly anonymous, posters here on Patch and confronting bullies being an almost reflexive habit on my part. I also thought, somehow, that you or Mr. Singh both had some knowledge of what goes on in the comments here. And, I have always, I admit, taken some pleasure in defending myself. But now that you've brought it up, check out "Barry," particularly those posts later deleted by Mr. Singh. And, you should really read the complete works of Michael Larsen here on Patch, or by googling, or by checking out the L.A. Times -- If you share any of my concern with fact-checking. You might even find Mr. Goldfarb's contributions a little, at least, cranky.
Do you and Ajay get paid by click-through? Serious question, as were the one's above. This would at least explain the "Inquirer" level of reporting and blogging. - Rob Schraff
You - and Mr Larsen, and Mr. Singh - seem to me to be single-minded zealots on both of these issues. It is also beyond question that "Barry" is a bully by any reasonable standard (and anonymously, against the terms of use of Patch). Again, I suggest Mr. Lee simply reviews the record here on Patch, which I am surprised has not already been part of the editorial process.
My comments about Mr. Singh, Mr. Larsen and "Barry" stand.
"I think you do have rather a problem with Ajay Singh cleaning up after himself." Are you referring to certain comments of yours and Barry's regarding the AEC marijuana dispensary, which I took down, and which are alluded to in this comment of yours from last month?: Rob Schraff 4:19 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 "Just got back from AEC. No clones, and no Barry. "But really Ajay, why take all of Barry's comments and my replies down? I thought the Barry's position was becoming more and more transparent and provided much needed insight into the behavior of the Eagle Rock morality police." (Continued below)
Mr Lee, if anyone needs "banned" from The Patch its this psychotic individuial. Ban me go ahead, but this guy should actually be reported to the autorities. He seems legitimately dangerous to society.
What a bizarre tale about the dangers of AEC and the corner of College View. The fact that you think I was A) "inciting" people to go to AEC B) AEC actually represents a "danger" to someones family is quite literally, hysterical. You really should re-post Barry's irrational, bullying rants - at least I hope they are in a place where Mr. Lee can review them. As for community harmony, your lack of reflection or understanding of the communities broad range of views, and your use of Patch to promote your narrow prejudices against medical marijuana patients and the homeless seems like - at best - an intentional strategy to create discord and distress and promote Patch readership to me. Your presupposition that somehow you know more about my community than me is also both highly pretentious, and incorrect. As for you cleaning up after yourself, I mean not only your lax reporting and editorial bias, but the fact that you not only tolerate, but seem to encourage "Barry", "Kathy," and Michael Larsen's bullying attacks - It's all in the record you have created here on Patch. This is not only revealing as to your biases, but seemingly against Patch's terms of use.
As for you Barry - I am happy to deal with you exposing yourself here, keep up the great work!
Please go ahead and ban me and Rob Schraff. Our verbatim has not been proper and we should both be removed from ever posting on The Patch again.
Mr. Larsen is a public figure, however minor and self-promoting. I would further be interested to know what, in your legal and editorial opinion, justifies your thought that there are grounds to seek a restraining order against me, based on my comments vis a vis Mr. Larsen's public actions and his personal attacks on me. Further, it has occurred to me, given your actions in managing comments and Patch's terms of use, that there might actually be plenty of lawsuits to go around, should juvenile legal posturing and further slanderous, fact-free, ad hominem attacks - that's you in this case, Ajay, become the order of the day,
Hey Patrick, I'm sure by now you've heard from a Mr. Rob Schraff with his criticism of Ajay's journalism. I just want to say as a community activist and leader from Eagle Rock, that Ajay's contribution to this community has been invaluable since the moment he arrived at the Eagle Rock Patch. His work has increased awareness of both the good and bad in our neighborhood and facilitated (mostly) constructive dialogue on the issues that are important to us. I say "mostly" because, as is often the case, there are toxic voices that interject themselves in a way that shocks most sensibilities into silence. I know this sounds dramatic, but I think its really true. Rob Schraff is one of those people. His posts are caustic to this community and to the very purposes and heart of the Patch. Whatever Mr. Schraff might have to say about Ajay, his style, his writing, his approach, just know that there are literally hundreds of Eagle Rock residents who disagree with him 100% and hold the exact opposite view. I wholeheartedly stand up in support of Ajay and praise him for his courage and dedication in the face such malignant voices such as Mr. Schraff's even as I support his right to that voice. Thanks, Michael Larsen
I believe that Ajay could probably do a better job upholding standard journalism practices, but it is my understanding that the Patch is more like a "lite" news source/blog, and not something like the Wall Street Journal or New York Times.
You managed to get that out with nary a shred of your usual ad hominem bullying, such as your post yesterday. Perhaps that means we might be already enjoying the benefits of adult editorial supervision here in Ajay's sandbox? I am sorry that my views advocating sane medical marijuana laws, in line with proposition 215 and SB-420, and my concern with the plight of the homeless, leave you shocked, but that really is the problem isn't it? I also find your constant self-promotinal harassment and persecution of medical marijuana patients, well, shocking to my sensibilities. I similarly and profoundly concerned with the harassment of the homeless both here on Patch and by the ERNC - darn it, there go my community sensibilities being shocked again. As a native Californian and resident of Northeast L.A. for over 25 years I also have to say that your claim to represent several hundred (out of several tens of thousands) simply amusing, even if true.
I agree with Mr. Schraff on all the points he makes. My one point of contention with him is this: Why do we waste our time reading these awful articles? I'm glad you called out the editor on his interminable journalistic sins, but I can tell you that most responsible, intelligent Eagle Rockers stopped taking this blog seriously soon after it began. Heck, I feel like I've wasted the last half-hour of my life taking this blog seriously. Ajay Singh is Tom Topping with a college degree and a few less readers. That is all.
Of course, the point may be to simply create anonymous ad hominem bullies, target medical marijuana patients and the homeless, and merely reprint and open the floor to gossip rather than investigate important stories like the ERHS - in which case Ajay is doing a great job.
The basic tenants of journalism seem to have been suspended at Patch. Now, about the anonymous posters how about moderating comments or even reading what people put up that could be defamatory, reckless and intentionally damaging to people's reputations, careers and life? Clearly, Patch encourages people to post those anonymous and unfounded character assassinations and solicits them. Aren't you responsible ultimately for everything that is posted here?
So, even if there is a biased story, patch readers and bloggers are allowed to put the patch writer straight. I appreciate that. I appreciate the different opinions. Thanks patch.
First amendment rules!! First amendment protects you and me and everyone. I have a great appreciation for first amendment.