Panelists answered the question: Do you agree with Hollister’s idea to start a print newsletter at a base cost of $20,000 annually plus staffing costs?
Ruth Erickson: “It may sound like a good idea but the city is supposed to be saving money. The proposed $20,000 could be drastically reduced in various ways. If the one page in Spanish is supposed to be a summary of the proposed four pages, then a synopsis can tell the same information in English on the reverse. That summarized two-sided page could be sent out with another city billing, splitting the cost of postage if it exceeds the basic rate. A more affordable way would be to send out an electronic version (very easy for residents to access) and also print some paper copies to be disseminated at such places as City Hall, the city’s bill paying office, the library and the chamber of commerce. The Free Lance could write a story based on the information and Benitolink could cover it! By being creative, there are various ways for interested residents to receive their city’s news!”
Mary Zanger: “No. We already have a newspaper. City news could be covered in the Free Lance. In the past a reporter was assigned to all City Council meetings as well as city planning and various board of education meetings, with interviews and activities. If one wanted to know city business and activities one could read the Free Lance where pages were devoted to city news and happenings. Why can’t we go back to the future?”
Nants Foley: “I think this is a really bad idea.”
Marty Richman: “Yes to disseminating information, no to the specific plan which relies on expensive and slow old-fashioned methods. The $20,000 cost for four times a year is way too high – electronic distribution would be less than $1,000 a year for essentially unlimited publication to 10,000 addresses.”
Richard Place: “Maybe this an economic development program. If we spend $20,000 on a newsletter instead of fixing 2,000 potholes we can help all the auto repair businesses in town. They should be doing an interactive page on Facebook.”
Richard Herrera: “I do not. I agree that the city should share information with its residents but an electronic version will be cheaper.”
