Thanks for your comments, Reinmar! I am in the process of formulating a response and will send it to Big Issue in the next day or so. As soon as I do, I will post the letter here as well. I am working with Trevor so that we issue a joint response from OCA and Obsid.
And yes, a big part of my response is to highlight the, as you say, amazing work done by Kenneth and the Social Issues forum. Regards Justin Chair: Obsid -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Reinmar Sent: 17 October 2011 02:06 PM To: The Observatory Neighbourhood watch Subject: [obsnw] Re: Intriguing by line on the cover of Big Issue Hi Trevor, Thank you for the PDF. I have read through the article and am honestly shocked by the one sidedness of this article. The reporter who did the article didn’t at all do a good report on both sides of the story, but only from 1 side, and also only asking 2 Obz residents, one of whom have been in the news recently for various comments and applications made. I’m refer to this “Ms Shultz” I’m sorry, but is it pure coincidence that since her name have appeared in all the google group mails regarding Obz that we’ve had 2 big problems with this “Ms Shultz”? Parks that must be open 24/7/365 and now all of a sudden an article in the Big Issue on the ObsID. It seems that this “Ms Shultz” has it in for Obz. Then why did she move to our suburb? If she wants a suburb with violence, drugs, robbery and vagrants, why don’t she move to a suburb with the appropriate levels of it. I’m also abhorred by the fact that Kenneth (the social worker) wasn’t at all contacted or interviewed by the journalist with regard to the article. The work the he does is amazing, and he actually tries to help people. This is not what is coming across in the article. I also know that more and more journalists always try and sensualise every piece they write (sorry if I’m offending people – but this is just what I’ve been realising in the past months in the media – I do realise that are actually good journalists out there, and give and apology if I offend you) My husband and I moved to Obz 5 years ago, and I can remember what it was like living in Obz then with break-ins, robbery, crime and drugs absolutely rife in the streets and bars. In the past 5 years the suburb has become a brilliant example of how you can turn around a hotspot of crime and make it a beautiful suburb. And this all because of the efforts of VS, ObsID, ObsNW, OCA, SAPS and Premier. I commend each and every single person in these organisations that have changed Obs to what it is today, and will gladly give my name and signature and comments on any of the above organisations, and what brilliant work they’ve done. I’m also not too happy with the editor’s letter, and feel that a letter from the ObsID needs to be written and explain what is really going on in Obs. Neither this “Ms Shultz” nor the editor has ANY idea what has happened in the past 5 years, and how Obz has literally made a 180º turn-around as a suburb. And now because of this “Ms Shultz”, it also seems that Obs is getting another piece of negative report, which is damaging to the suburb as a whole and now takes away at some of the good work done. Suspicious people are allowed to be asked to remove their hoody – being it a resident or anybody travelling through the suburb. Not complying to the said request shows some form of guilt. This is just my point of view, but I feel that this article has actually done more bad than good for our wonderful suburb and needs to be dealt with. Reinmar -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en.
