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Factual error in column doesn't change theme
Reader: In Vic Pollard's Thursday column, "Governor reaches a bit too far across the aisle," the Capitol was made to look like a partisan stomping ground where winning an election is more important than policy.
Mr. Pollard was correct in stating that I am working with the governor on a Crime Victim's Bill of Rights; however, he showed shortsightedness when assuming the governor didn't know what he was getting into politically. Gov. Schwarzenegger has surrounded himself with the some of the most experienced political staffers in the state. Assuming they don't know every angle of every decision is naive. Mr. Pollard informed me he was in a hurry to complete the story. The glaring mistakes in the article lead me to believe him. Mr. Pollard asserted I was "uninvited" to the press conference and implied the governor was downplaying a political connection to my Crime Victim's Bill of Rights. In his rush, Mr. Pollard failed to listen to the governor's office, which insisted my invitation to the press conference was never rescinded. Mr. Pollard also failed to thoroughly read the press release he cites. If he had, he would have realized my name is in the release, as the author of the legislation being sponsored. I was disappointed to see Mr. Pollard and my Republican colleagues focus on election politics with an important issue like victim's rights on the table. A more responsible journalist would have taken the time to better understand the issue, rather than resorting to muckraking. -- Nicole Parra 30th District Assemblywoman Californian Capitol correspondent Vic Pollard responds: I deeply regret the factual error in my column -- the statement that the governor's news release did not mention Parra's name as the author of the bill. That was an oversight on my part and we have published a correction. However, I stand by the theme of the column. It could have been disastrous for Republican Danny Gilmore's campaign against Parra if she had appeared and been photographed with the governor. Clearly, that was not fully appreciated by the governor's office when plans for the joint appearance were made. Parra's statement ignores the fact that she announced early in the day that she planned to attend the event with the governor and she later changed her mind. It was an opportunity that doesn't come along often in a political career. She insists she was not "uninvited," and other people said the same thing, as we reported. But there's no question that Republican legislative leaders were upset when they learned of it, although they wouldn't talk to me about it on the record. Parra herself told me that former Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield protested to Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez about the joint appearance. McCarthy refused to talk to me about the event later, but it defies logic that he would not also have protested to the governor's office. Also, Parra's statement that she needed to be in Sacramento for a committee vote on a bill to fund water storage projects in the valley needs to be taken in context. Water supply is an important issue for the valley. However, that was a bill by a Republican senator, Jeff Denham, which predictably never had a chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. In fact, an aide to Sen. Denham told me that the speaker at the last minute shook up the membership of the Water Parks and Wildlife Committee to ensure there were not enough votes. The upshot was that the bill was gutted of any practical effect, and approved only as an empty shell. Executive Editor Mike Jenner: Here's one more comment on Pollard's column. Reader: Vic Pollard's column suggested there was some "political" reason behind Assemblywoman Nicole Parra's absence from the governor's Crime Victims Bill of Rights press conference in Oakland on June 27. I would like to be certain that the record accurately reflects that Assemblywoman Parra was involved in a very significant hearing involving a critical water supply issue of importance to the entire San Joaquin Valley -- Senate Bill 902, which would authorize approximately $1.2 billion in bonds for construction of upper San Joaquin River surface storage and help finance restoration of the San Joaquin River. Assemblywoman Parra was deeply involved in negotiations and spoke very passionately about the importance of the water supply needs of the valley. The members of the Valley Water Alliance are greatly appreciative of Assemblywoman Parra's commitment to the issue of adequate and reliable water supplies for our communities and businesses, and gladly extend our gratitude for her willingness to remain in Sacramento on June 27 to help fight for the valley. -- Dale Brogan Secretary/Treasurer Valley Water Alliance 0 comments from 0 users
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