Newspaper legend bids farewell for now

I read the column written by Greater Meadia Newspapers' executive editor, Greg Bean, and discovered that he was not going to continue in his position at GM, for health reasons. According to Greg, he will be leaving around the end of the month.

I have known Greg since about late 1996, when I applied for a job as a reporter and I was given the East Brunswick beat for The Sentinel. I worked at GM for about a year and then landed my job at The Courier as its editor, in 1998. In about 2002, I became Courier's publisher.

In knowing Greg, I can admit there were some rough patches in our acquaintance, but I will just as easily admit that, though I might not have always thought he was right, I respected him a great deal personally and professionally.

I can honestly say I had some of my best arguments with him. But when I wrote for him I also learned more about writing than at any time previously. In a profession where anyone can call themselves an editor by plugging their laptop into an outlet in their garage and running off editions on a copier, there are a lot of people who call themselves journalists.

In my time in Central Jersey, I have met darn few writers who merit being called journalists or reporters, let slone anything more than that. But Greg Bean is someone who gets respect the old fashioned way -- he earns it. In an industry plagued with schmucks, he was and is the genuine article where it invovles excellence.

Personally, I wish Greg a lot of luck. He is a good man, and there are fewer of those than there are good journalists. He is a class act and one of the best at the community news game. Of course, it has been my privilege to meet and know his successor, Mark Rosman, some. And, whenever anyone has brought up his name, despite the fact he worked for the competition, I always responded with "one of the best." He is a great editor, and an awesome newsman. I also wish him a lot of luck. No one deserves it more.

While working at Greater Media, I also worked for Adele Young, who Greg noted would be even more involved in the future. And, if there is anyone who knows more about the English language and editing, I have yet to meet them. I still remember her edits and remain thankful for her patience with a relatively new, thought-he-knew-it-all writer. Best of luck to her.

Jim Purcell
Publisher
Courier

To go to Coda go to Greater Media's site at http://www.gmnews.com/.

Bean takes on Appeals Court/Eminent Domain in podcast

Greater Media Executive Editor Greg Bean isn't optimistic about the decision of a N.J. appellate court in the case of eminent domain in Long Branch. Mr. Bean highlights the carnival act that has been Long Branch's redevelopment in his editorial podcast. It's good and worth the listen.

I have to admit this new format takes some getting used to, though, as podcasting is still something new when it comes to me. I guess the march of time goes on, but it sure does remind me that I'm getting older. I still remember when people had to go inside for their banking, stop at a phone booth to make a call if they were out, or needed to sit down to read an editorial. Well, the most important thing is what's said anyway. Click on the headline to go to Mr. Bean's podcast.

Strong 'Red State-Blue State' at GM News

Dave Simpson and Greg Bean have a pretty good "Red State-Blue State" at Greater Media's site. Personally, I think senators John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are each great Americans and good leaders.

However, the issues are the thing. At the end of the day, I believe Sen. Obama will end up with the Democratic nomination, and he and Sen. McCain will be the ones fighting for the job in November.

Click on the headline and go to "Red State-Blue State."

Good 'Red State-Blue State' at GM News

At Greater Media's Web site, there is a great "Red State-Blue State" feature this week. GM Executive Editor Greg Bean makes good points in his part of it, that are worth reading and seriously thinking about. "Red State-Blue State" is a political dialogue between Mr. Bean and a former colleague, Mr. Dave Simpson. Click on the headline and go there.

Bean editorial discusses Corzine recall

Greater Media Executive Editor Greg Bean penned an editorial discussing a recall effort under way regarding Gov. Jon Corzine. He endorsed the idea of concerned residents participating in this. I agree that anyone who is so moved should do that, as it is an expression any citizen should be allowed to do. People should be encouraged to exercise their rights and not discouraged to do so.

Yet, I also believe that is the purpose of elections. I think some of what Mr. Corzine has done is very bad, and gives me incredible pause about ever voting for him again. But, he came up with some lame ideas, and didn't do anything unconstitutional or illegal. If lame ideas were a valid reason for recall in and of themselves, I suggest getting started on the legislature next week.

Click on the headline to go to GM News.

I would like to say Bean is wrong, but can't

In his Coda column this week, GM News Executive Editor Greg Bean says that since the governor's toll hike plan was not accepted by the public (in any way at all), near-term cutbacks are likely to target programs that are most needed by the public (rather than cutting the waste that could actually help streamline government).

The way he put, I go the idea that Mr. Bean thought some of these cutbacks may even be mean-spirited as a result of the non-acceptance of the toll hike plan (which was a travesty that many New Jerseyans could agree upon). His column is cynical, in my opinion. That interpretation may just be me reading into the piece.

Nevertheless, I would really like to disagree with Mr. Bean, and say something optimistic about the intentions of our state lawmakers. But I can't. I think he is right. I would say that it was not one party alone that sunk this state, nor will it be one party alone that revives it. What needs to change is the way government is approached in this state, and how much rope New Jersey's residents give to entrenched politicians.

Often the public argues the merits of various parties, and yet there are vivid examples on both sides of the aisle where party politics has failed the electorate. Only be limiting the scope of arbitrary power institutionally in government, or in some cases spending discretion, can this state begin to heal economically, in my opinion.

The toll hike plan was a bust. Yet, much energy was put into selling it by the administration, and opposing it by detractors (meaning most people that live in Jersey). Suppose the only way that plan could have been implemented was through the passage of a referendum by a 2/3rds majority of voters. Much of the meance behind this plan would have been removed, since it was ridiculous to start. The plan would not have been discussed, because it could never have been expected to be adopted.

What if departments in state government could only be created through referendum, and state budgets that are not adopted by a 2/rds majority in the Legislature decided at the polls -- by the folks that foot the bill. Suddenly, powerful politicians (a dangerous thing) are not so powerful. The public becomes more influential, not to mention more aware of what is being done with its money. And if a spending plan failed, then it would be a failure the entire public thought was reasonable enough to try at the outset.

Politics have failed New Jersey, so no answer that will work is going to be a political one, to my view. I will bet that public oversight and accountability will do the trick where show-stopping, explosive political battles have failed, though. Most of the bad things that happen in governemnt occur in secret. "Executive privilege" is an oft-cited convention for elected people not wanting the public to know what is happening with that public's money; and often there are 'shenanigans' where secrecy becomes an overriding element of governmental decision-making.

Democracy is not the most efficient form of government, but it does tend to author some bright ideas when notions of power are checked where it involves elected personalities (especially in the executive branch). Government that governs least governs best.

Click on the headline to go to Coda at GM News.

Bean makes a point: Coyotes are smarter than N.J. critics

Coyotes are very bright, and apparently brighter than those tracking them in Northern Monmouth County. The coyotes 'plaguing' the Bayshore, which have had their natural habitats infringed upon by condos and other building, in my opinion, are a public subject. Some coyotes have behaved badly -- without doubt.

But people have not had an impressive record of catching them yet (really anywhere -- they're coyotes). Being raised for some part in Southern Texas, if I was a betting person I would put my money on the coyotes rather than the hunters. I think there is a pretty good chance the coyotes like being around people as much as people want them around.

The executive editor for Greater Media Newspapers, Greg Bean, offers comment and insight in this week's column about this, which is well worth the reading. Click on the headline and go there.

Bean has a great 'Red State/Blue State'

Greg Bean has a great "Red State/Blue State" editorial this week, absolutely worth a look. While I certainly follow Mr. Bean's editorials, I don't frequently agree with then, let alone wholeheartedly. This is, in my opinion, an inspired piece. Click on the headlines to go there.

Bean Podcasts about state deficit

Greg Bean, Greater Media Newspapers' executive editor, has a great podcast about state spending and the inevitable march into the fiscal canons that our lawmakers are doing. Click into the headline to go to GM's site and the podcast.

Bean publishes editorial about Truth Squad

Da Truth Squad is a Manalapan blogger in trouble. Manalapan's governing body wants to go after this blogger using public tax money. There's some controversy about it, and Greater Media Executive Editor Greg Bean has penned a piece about it in the recent edition of Greater Media's newspapers.

Click on the headline to go there.

Bean pens piece on hunting in Coda

I genuinely liked an editorial by Greater Media Executive Editor Greg Bean about hunting. He has a perspective about hunting that is insightful, and of worth to the public argument about it. Click on the headline to go there.

Bean, GM come up with strong government series

Greg Bean at Greater Media has a good editorial, wherein he discusses an editorial idea that is probably the best governmental piece I have heard of for a long time. He's talking about a fresh take on governmental reporting that has not been done in recent times in this area, and that staff and Greg deserve a lot of credit for coming up with that and putting it out there.

Usually in local government reporting on the local level everything has been done before. Well, I don't think this has. There is real value here for readers.

Click on the headline and go there.

Bean pens piece about arts center controversy

Greater Media's Greg Bean has written the best common sense editorial about the PNC Bank Arts Center that has been put out yet. It says it like it is. It's worth a read. Click on the headline and check it out.

Bean pens piece about privacy in editorial

Good editorial by GM Exec. Editor Greg Bean this week Online. Click on the headline to go there.

Caption: Glass blower is not Greg Bean: This was a great attraction on Jamestown Island, Va., called the Glass House. The attraction is located in the vicinity of Jamestown Village and the folks there work pretty hard in some pretty tough heat.

Bean pens strong editorial in "Coda"

Great editorial from Greg Bean at Greater Media. Give it a look. Click on the headline.

Bean pens piece about cell phone use when driving

Greater Media Executive Editor Greg Bean has written a strong editorial about cell phone use/abuse. He also offers very thought-provoking insight into the law supposedly banning cell phone use by drivers.

In general, I believe that government trying to regulate the behavior of citizens is wrong, except where behavior directly harms or endangers others. Yet there is a correlation between cell phone use when driving and increased driver hazards to themselves and others. So, for as much as I hate governmental intrusion into the lives of Americans, I have to say this law is probably right.

Coda is pretty good this week

Good editorial from Greater Media Exec. Editor Greg Bean about Imus and Vice President Dick Cheney, respectively. Worth a read.

He's been on a roll lately.