At the time EyeonDare copied the online poll over to its blog this morning, and just before the newspaper removed it from its Internet website (see blog post below), 64% of the respondents had said they thought the $36 million project was a waste of money. Also, 26% said the project was not a waste of money, and 10% said they were not sure.
In addition to pulling the poll, the newspaper placed (added) a hyperlink into its Internet news story, that was not a part of the newspaper's paper edition or the original Internet edition. The hyperlink (click here) directs the reader to a report, provided by Oakes, that came from the town's beach nourishment engineer, and contains details about sand losses during Hurricane Irene.
Attempts to reach Mayor Oakes on numerous occasions today, have been unsuccessful. EyeonDare welcomes his response here on this blog, or he may call EOD. He knows how to get in touch.
Go figure.
UPDATE: Mayor Bob Oakes returned EOD's call just minutes after this blog post was put online, and he offered us a copy of his email to the Virginian Pilot, and agreed it was OK to add it to this blogpost. Here it is:
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Oakes
Sent: Thu 9/8/2011 9:51 AM
To: erin.james@pilotonline.com
Subject: Please add a link to the actual report
Dear Erin,
I was very disappointed in the Pilot's poll question. It leaves the impression that 25% of the nourishment sand is just gone, and that's not the case. We haven't been able to survey the nearshore area since the storm, so you have only seen a part of the data.
Again, disappointed that the Pilot chose to inflame rather than inform.
Link to the report - please add if possible.
http://www.townofnagshead.net/vertical/Sites/%7BB2CB0823-BC26-47E7-B6B6-37D19957B4E1%7D/uploads/IreneImpacts(08-31-2011)Memo.pdf
Bob Oakes
Mayor
Nags Head
8 comments:
The mayor has every right to call the newspaper to offer real scientific evidence to a report. The way this post is read, it would seem that you are insinuating that Bob bullied the paper into changing their story. The Pilot would not allow a Mayor to dictate what gets published. They instead wanted to get the most accurate information, which they gained from talking to the knowledgeable Bob Oakes.
Chris,
EOD hopes that you and other readers will draw their own conclusions to this blog post, which, by the way, does not say that Oakes bullied anyone.
In addition, EOD was also informed that the Pilot had all of the information in hand, before the story was written, including the engineer's report. Obviously, they chose not to hyperlink or refer to it in their original story. Also, the paper's website contains other polls relative to Hurricane Irene which are also controversial, but still online. Finally, EOD agrees that Mayor Oakes is very knowledgeable about the project, and shares his information in a congenial and willing manner.
This blogpost has been Updated, following a call to EOD from Mayor Bob Oakes. Again, it is up to our readers to draw their own conclusions about the news story and poll.
Given the fact that EyeonDare had introduced the poll to our readers, not knowing it would be pulled by the Pilot, EOD felt it appropriate to report on the events that followed. As we explained to Oakes and the Pilot, our readers are smart enough to draw their own conclusions.
Chris.....you are allowed to have your opinion. Based on the history of this subject, and the number of times the Mayor and some members of the Board have embarked on new assaults on the will of the voters relative to sand pumping, I for one would not put it past them to challenge this story and poll in the VP. Anyone that would champion the submission of a shamelsss claim for sand from FEMA assistance at the same time as people who lost all they had......well, I rest my case.
southcreek, you like to argue both sides of the fence. you complain when your local taxes go up to pay for a much needed project and you call your local politicians shameless when they seek outside resources to pay for that same project.why dont you contribute all of your social security income to the people who have lost everything. fema funds and social security both come from the federal budget.
I didn't know Bob has a brother named Chris----oh, well, blood's thick, ain't it?!
Nor that Ray had one named johnr :-). Go figure.
Hey, Weim----good one! BTW, Ray and I don't always agree on things---- :)
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