Today, Citizens Voice will become the Red Phone. It’s a change
in philosophy and purpose we think will bring a lighter touch to
issues of community concern.
Dear Reader:
Today, Citizens Voice will become the Red Phone. It’s a change in philosophy and purpose we think will bring a lighter touch to issues of community concern.
Is there a broken streetlight in your neighborhood that’s been ignored for weeks? Call the Red Phone. Do you know some of the juicy back story behind an important local government vote? Call the Red Phone. Got a comment on the news? Dial the Red Phone.
We want readers to use the Red Phone to give us insider insight on local events and politics and to use the crimson hotline to report problems that need fixing. What it won’t be is a space for personal attacks.
Toward that goal, callers no longer will be allowed to leave anonymous messages. The Free Lance will require a name and phone number for verification purposes, and to follow up on tips that could become news stories. The identity of the caller, however, will remain anonymous and the comments will be published anonymously every Wednesday and Friday in the Red Phone column on Page A2. The Red Phone ground rules and number will be published on page A2 daily. The Red Phone also will appear on our Web site, www.freelancenews.com, so readers can e-mail comments to the column.
The Red Phone will be an interactive feature where readers can comment on San Benito County life. We believe it will be an entertaining column, one that mixes humor and credibility with the power to get things done.
Tired of that stoplight that takes five minutes to change? Make the call: 635-9219.
