Sean Roach is as fine a community newspaper reporter as any around, but I do have to take issue with significant portions of his front page piece (“Some trying to scuttle Winslow Way grants,” Feb. 13). In particular, I take issue with Council Chair (Kjell) Stoknes’ comment that any effort to oppose this particular set of items “is subverting a democratic process.”

As a long-time member of the Society of Professional Journalists and old enough to recall Congressional hearings that often referred to unnamed “sources” for information, as this article does on more than one occasion, my training was to name names, dates and specific actions of those accused of questionable acts. The story fails to meet those requirements except to name those accusing others but only through “tight lips.”

As to Rod Stevens’ comments in his status as a community citizen, he is fully entitled to make those or others for or against council decisions. But I would like to know precisely who did what to undermine grants for the city, when and how they did it. It is the job of the reporter to cite those details even if we don’t know who his sources might have been. Otherwise, the comments by Messrs Snow and the council chair remain unfortunate accusations.

Reality is, there do exist some major differences not only among council members but in the community as well with respect to some major fiscal matters that no grants can solve fully. And the democratic process is not resolved by mere 4-3 council majorities.

Joe Honick

Olympus Beach Road