By one definition, a watchdog is someone who looks carefully for illegal or unethical conduct. This definition most aptly describes the purpose of my new print column and blog.
“Watchdog,” which publishes every other Wednesday in print, will serve to investigate stories that are important to you. No topic is off-limits.
I’m also launching this new blog with the same name. My “Watchdog” blog will solicit input and ideas from you, update you about the progress of certain projects, as well as offer tips that help you better become your own Watchdog.
Of course, investigative stories take work. Some investigations will require days. Others will require weeks. The most meaty of stories will likely take months or years to compile.
That’s why I will commonly team with other reporters to bring you this important information. Advocate education reporter Rubi Reyes and I have already begun work on a local story all parents should know.
When you see the “Watchdog” logo – whether that be in here or in the newspaper -- you’ll know what to expect.
To fill the void between long-term projects, I will also report on less time-intensive subjects, and give you the tools to make well-informed decisions.
I hope “Watchdog” will uncover stories that will help us all live a better life – and expose the crooked side of our community.
Share your Watchdog stories
If you have a story you want the Advocate to investigate, e-mail watchdog@vicad.com, post in here or call me, Gabe Semenza, at 361-580-6519.
Tip of the Day
Did you know you can view thousands of records about those who contribute money to presidential candidates? By visiting www.OpenSecrets.org/pres08, you can view all the money donated to President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain.
Is Mexican drug war violence headed Victoria’s way?
The Advocate spent three days in Nuevo Laredo to learn the answer. On Sunday, the eighth installment of the "Fatal Funnel" publishes. This installment documents the violence in Nuevo Laredo at the height of the drug war in 2006, as well as the state of the Laredo corridor today.
During our investigation, we met Rusty Fleming, a Dallas-area filmmaker who spent three years on the border and in Mexico to document the drug war violence. His film, "Drug Wars: Silver or Lead," premieres in Victoria on Tuesday at the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts.
For more about the movie premiere, click here. For more about the film, click here.
We hope you'll attend this FREE film premiere. The movie begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.
I joined a trailer of the film to this blog. View with caution. Some images and video are graphic.
Parting thought
Now that I've introduced my new blog and column to you, I say let's get to work. Do you have any Watchdog story ideas? Any tips we should investigate? Please reach me in here, or if the information is sensitive, call or e-mail me.
I look forward to working with you. Best wishes and Happy Holidays,
Gabe Semenza/Advocate public service editor
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Gabe,
December 29, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.If you are going to investigate whether or not County employees got an extra day off...you might well take a look at how many days off the employees of The Victoria College received. It's my understanding that they closed for the Holidays on Wednesday, December 17 and will not open again until January 5th...a total of 13 days of paid time off. In addition, they always receive another 5 days at Spring Break. That's in addition to MLK Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving days off. That's a total of over 5 weeks paid time off, in addition to their vacation time. That's our tax dollars at work...or NOT at work, in this case.
County employees receiving 1 extra day pales in comparison, I believe. Also, from my understanding, the extra day was a one-time thing only...due to Christmas being on Thursday this year...why make people travel back to town for one day of work and then have the weekend off again?
It would be nice to know what the new President of Victoria College thinks about all this time off and if he plans to do anything about it. There are people who work all their lives at one place of employment and never receive that much time off. A person just beginning at the College automatically is eligible for all that time off...at our expense!
Thanks.
Good question, BIGJ. Thanks for posing it.
December 28, 2008 at 1:32 p.m.Same goes for you, sandwhichh. I'll call Monday or Tuesday about that.
Cleric: As funny as your question is, I plan to find the answer. "Watchdog" doesn't always have to be serious, right? :)
Just Wondering: Great questions. It may be a bit time-consuming to find the answers, but we'll dig into them. The VISD question may actually deserve a story in and of itself.
Thanks -- Gabe
What's the deal with corn nuts? Is it corn, or is it a nut? Who are these people?
December 26, 2008 at 1 p.m.Watchdog,
December 25, 2008 at 10:45 a.m.I wonder what the budget status is of the VISD bond to do construction for new/refurbishing the schools. It seems things have changed quite a bit in the economy since the bond was agreed to by the voters. Is it possible that with the downturn in the economy we could actually have agreed to more than enough to pay for the projects. Or, are we going to be woefully underfunded to complete the projects.
Another opportunity would be what are the proposed routes for the rail bypass around Victoria. We heard a lot about the idea some time back, however I never saw a planned route. South of town, right?
Thanks for the new blog. I think if the citizens of Victoria get their head out of the sand, they could prevent trouble in the future.
Here's one. Why is the owner of the Victoria Hobby Store and HIPro Audio so damn grumpy?
December 24, 2008 at 3:23 p.m.I got one for you.
December 24, 2008 at 2:27 p.m.Why did the the Victoria County Tax office close at 2pm on the 23rd? That's almost 3 1/2 days off for Christmas. And the other county offices close for 3 days?
Now, I am all for being off Christmas eve and day but this is a little too much abuse of taxpayer money UNLESS one of those days is unpaid which I am not sure of. Word I got is that all were paid. At a time when we are all having to cut back because of increase prices, layoffs, etc. I believe it is out of line for our taxpayer funded agencies to abuse the system like this appears to be.
Ernie Cash: Good to hear from you again. I'd say the major focus of the columns will be on local stories -- those stories that are unique to Victoria and the Crossroads. If you have a great regional, state or national story idea, share that, too, though. I can work on those outside regular business hours.
December 24, 2008 at 10:57 a.m.This column will look into all sorts of stories, not just politics. I hope to cast a wide net and cover an array of topics.
onewhoshappy: Thanks for the tip. Interactivity editor CJ Castillo and I talked about that one this morning.
Your Suddenlink idea illustrates an important point I'd also like to convey in here. We have to be careful that our discussions are constructive. Often, those sorts of tips can be one-sided and unfair to the other party. If you are upset about a particular local company, politician or product, the best way to share those tips would be by e-mail: watchdog@vicad.com.
That way we can look into your complaints without prematurely and publicly tarnishing a person, company or product.
Editor Chris Cobler and managing editor Tom Martinez describe the purpose of this blog in this way: It's a Watchdog blog, and not an Attack Dog blog. I hope that makes sense.
Thanks again for sharing your ideas -- Gabe
How deep can we go with this, Gabe? Local politics? County? State? Or can we at least try to nail some of the big boys to the outhouse door?
December 23, 2008 at 8:40 p.m.I'm really not aware of - or have any convincing evidence of - corruption in local politics. A few things have looked pretty fishy to me in the recent past but as I'm sure most here already know, attempts to bring that to light were not successful. There are some activities I'd define as less than the wisest course of action but there's a big difference between just being wrong and being crooked.
On the other hand, there's some insanity at the federal and corporate level that I'd really like to get to the bottom of: $1.7 billion in financial institution bailout funds going to compensate 650 or so banking CEOs being not the least of them.
We've got to get the "little people" (like me) involved in the goings-on in D.C. and, for that matter, in Austin before their shenanigans make Texas and the entire USA nothing more than a fond memory.
Ernie