Interviews and Rent Control Issue
Has journalistic integrity bitten the dust? To judge by Nancy Hill-Holtzman’s so-called interviews (Dec. 20, Westside section) with ex-council members (Herb) Katz and (Dennis) Zane, it certainly has. Her blatant bias against rent control and the Santa Monica Renter’ Rights organization was downright embarrassing.
How could The Times publish such a one-sided piece without a disclaimer, identifying the writer’s political agenda? Although labeled an interview, this was nothing more than an editorial blasting the City Council and rent control, while exalting pro-development and the ouster of City Atty. Bob Myers. It reminded me a bit of the Anita Hill/Clarence Thomas hearings: Holtzman attacked Zane much as the committee did Anita Hill, then threw support and softball questions to Katz, similar to the committee’s treatment of Thomas. Goes to show, you don’t have to be male to be part of “the old boys’ network.”
Next time, why not give Holtzman free rein and the readers a fair shake: Let her write an editorial and maybe she can vent that thinly veiled hostility.
JUDY MELTON
Santa Monica
Melton is a member of Santa Monica Renters’ Rights.
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