From NBC Action News: Kansas City did not show a 22-percent decline in crime last year after all. Police now report a 10-percent increase in crime, the sharpest rise in at least 10 years. Police Chief Jim Corwin Tuesday blamed a new computer system, a change in how crimes are counted, not enough training, too few people entering data and no one person in charge of the process.
My only complaints about the coverage of this important KC Fact . . . It's being called a "snafu" and not a major oversight also . . . There's really not much detail as to how this mistake in reporting is going to be corrected . . .
Oh, and for the record TKC IS ONCE AGAIN VINDICATED BY SKEPTICISM OF PHONY STATS UNQUESTIONING MEDIA Here was my take on the subject of reports of decreasing crime a year ago: "Crime isn't decreasing, it's spreading following people out to the suburbs and evolving to fit demographic trends. The worst mistake anyone could makes is believing PR from a company that's heavily invested in the so-called downtown renaissance that has seen an increase in the kind of petty theft that plagues most shopping districts and is going largely ignored by media outlets who regularly spin stories on behalf of downtown interests and gloss over crime involving minority communities."
Meanwhile, here's a look at the Star's head nodding and unquestioning reporting from the same time period:
"Crime falls downtown and across much of Kansas City"
One look at this major mistake and it's obvious that blogs have value over big media in realizing what's happening at the ground level instead of simply regurgitating press releases like big media . . . Next time The Star waves their "credibility" in your face . . . It might be good to remember that they bought a lie hook, line and sinker.
My only complaints about the coverage of this important KC Fact . . . It's being called a "snafu" and not a major oversight also . . . There's really not much detail as to how this mistake in reporting is going to be corrected . . .
Oh, and for the record TKC IS ONCE AGAIN VINDICATED BY SKEPTICISM OF PHONY STATS UNQUESTIONING MEDIA Here was my take on the subject of reports of decreasing crime a year ago: "Crime isn't decreasing, it's spreading following people out to the suburbs and evolving to fit demographic trends. The worst mistake anyone could makes is believing PR from a company that's heavily invested in the so-called downtown renaissance that has seen an increase in the kind of petty theft that plagues most shopping districts and is going largely ignored by media outlets who regularly spin stories on behalf of downtown interests and gloss over crime involving minority communities."
Meanwhile, here's a look at the Star's head nodding and unquestioning reporting from the same time period:
"Crime falls downtown and across much of Kansas City"
One look at this major mistake and it's obvious that blogs have value over big media in realizing what's happening at the ground level instead of simply regurgitating press releases like big media . . . Next time The Star waves their "credibility" in your face . . . It might be good to remember that they bought a lie hook, line and sinker.
I see that Spivak wrote the article Crive Falls Downtown. Spivak has a history of distorting or not reporting issues that do not agree with his views. Leaders in south Kansas City over a year ago refussed to cooperate with him on his analysis of neighborhoods. He was not trusted because his biases were well understood. The audience at the Southern Communities Coalition ate him alive when he appeared there. He has coninueed to be a bias reporter to this day. He accepts what ever is the power structures position. His refusing to accurately report descent at the Light Rail Task force meetins is a more recent example. Good that Spivak has left the star. Adios
ReplyDeleteSpivak went home to Beige county. The Police are still wanting more money in the next vote go round. Watch as they two step into the shadows and it all becomes a reason for them to get more money that is the reason that the stats are wrong they didn't have enough money.
ReplyDeleteYou see their cars parked at private businesses where they make money on top of their salary. If you were working 24/7 you wouldn't be able to get the stats right either.