Sound Off for Jan. 21, 2007

BY MIKE JENNER, Californian executive editor
e-mail: mjenner@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Jan 20 2007 11:55 PM

Last Updated: Saturday, Jan 20 2007 11:55 PM

Reader: On the Viewpoint page of Sunday's Californian, there is a photo of Congressman Jim Costa supposedly standing in front of the Cannon House Office Building.

Folks, that is a very amateur Photoshop job. Did that really come that way from The Associated Press?

-- Jay Eshbach

Jenner: In response to your query, Director of Photography Alex Horvath tracked down the woman who shot the photograph, Linda Spiller. She said she used a technique known to photographers as "fill flash," which is used to equalize out-of-balance lighting situations.

In this case, Costa was standing in the shade, while the white Cannon House Office Building was in the background, illuminated by bright sunshine.

The effect of this technique is that the lighting often looks unnatural and appears to be coming from a different direction or source.

I can see why you might think it's a computer-assisted fake, since the lighting on Costa is different than the lighting on the building.

But the photographer's answer is plausible and credible.

Reader: Reading the snidely derisive editorial "Eyes on Weir, Scrivner, Hanson" one sees The Californian is in high pique now that it perceives these City Council members are in a controlling position and its puppets are diminished in power. By popular vote!

Why else the black-bordered threat "All Bakersfield residents --not just developers -- must expect these men to represent their interests and protect their quality of life"?

Now that Maggard is gone (to greater glories?) and Couch and Benham are booted from the powerful Planning and Development Committee, who can the reporters, columnists, editorialists and publisher of The Californian manipulate to achieve personally favored land-grabs under such lame legislation as the hillside ordinance?

The Californian pronounces that what is best for The Californian is best for Bakersfield. Not so!

Better advice: Eyes on Moorhouse, Jenner and Hardisty!

-- Hank Londean

Editorial Page Editor Dianne Hardisty responds: "I regret that Hank Londean misconstrued the editorial regarding the change in membership of the Bakersfield City Council's Planning and Development Committee.

"Rather than assume the new members would respond poorly to the responsibility of protecting the environment and quality of life in Bakersfield, the editorial noted Ken Weir, Zack Scrivner and Harold Hanson are now in the driver's seat and also the spotlight.

"Certainly most people would agree that elected representatives should represent all of their constituents, not just those who donate to campaigns or powerful special interests, such as developers. The Californian did not pronounce, 'What is best for The Californian is best for Bakersfield.'

"Hank Londean pronounced that."

Reader: I was SO disappointed to read the article written by Jenny Shearer regarding Superintendent Douglas Miller. Although I do not know him, I was greatly disappointed to read that, after 37 years in the Panama-Buena Vista School District, it was written that he "will resign."

The proper wording should have been that HE ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

Since the article did not mention problems in the district or with his leadership, the term "resign" implies that there was something amiss.

After a 37-year commitment to his district, he certainly deserved a little more respect and better editing to better honor his work. Ms. Shearer's article did a great deal of disservice to a man that deserves to be commended for his work. The article popped up on many school and administrative Web sites as "Superintendent to Step Down." What a shame that a more positive spin could not have been considered.

Thanks.

-- Lisa Marie Gonzales, Ed.D.

Principal, Bachrodt Academy

San Jose Unified School District

Jenner: The word "retire" would have been more precise, but certainly no disrespect was intended.

Reporter Jenny Shearer says, "I'm surprised by Ms. Gonzales' association of something being amiss because we used the phrasing 'will resign.' The first sentence mentioned his 37 years of service. Perhaps I'm guilty of assuming our readers would understand he was retiring given how long he had been working.

"In hindsight, I should have been more clear. I certainly meant Mr. Miller no disrespect."

Shearer says she plans to to write an in-depth profile of Miller as his retirement date approaches.