Today's edition of the San Mateo Times features the supposed last column by Jerry Fuchs. He recognizes many officials along the Peninsula. He mentions several Burlingamer's including Rosalie OMahony, Joe Galligan and Mike Coffey. He tips his hat to Mike Coffey for "his dedication and committment". Historically, Fuchs never cared much for factual accuracy. His last column is apparently no exception. Coffey has missed numerous committee assignments-in fact he serves the least of all the council as far as committee assignments go; he spends much of his time in Florida; he is not a homeowner in the town in which he governs...this is committment and dedication? I think not.
- Written by Russ Cohen
What alot of baloney his column has always been and his last column is double baloney!
He is right about our former mayor, she is the "consummate politician" ... but Coffey's dedication!?!?!. Such hyperbole! Perhaps Fuchs was trying to be funny. He has to be joking!
Maybe now Fuchs has retired he can attend some of the council meetings he supposedly "covered" and come and see for himself which politicians are "as smart as a whip" and what really happens. Instead of the crud he is fed by his cronies.
He has written so much garbage, including about my family, and so it is with emphasis that I say - Goodbye, Fuchs ol' boy, .... and good riddance!
Posted by: Fiona | January 02, 2005 at 02:08 AM
Fuchs praises and defends his friends, and in turn was traditionally supplied with information in advance of other publications. Some of it was opinion and some was fact filtered through his particular lens. He was the editorial champion of the San Mateo County political machine and was rewarded for his service. So, those against the machine would soon read about it in Fuchs' column. That's the sum total of his contribution here for the last quarter century.
Posted by: politicalblunder | January 02, 2005 at 02:45 AM
The thing that irked me was not his "opinions" but where he was getting his "information" (and I use the term loosely!) Who was whispering in his ear? Those little whispers hurt political candidates, volunteer groups and plain old residents and did seem to come from one direction. I am glad that he no longer has the media to pass along those whispers.
Now those whisperers will have to find another ear! Poor things!
Posted by: Fiona | January 02, 2005 at 02:57 AM
I must say, I will miss ole Jerry like a bad backache or perhaps something just a little lower. Having written him several times with factual corrections before I figured out, circa 1998, that he just didn't care about the facts, it is nice to see the San Mateo County Times upholding good journalistic form by removing him. To paraphrase his old Independent byline and a saying about West Point that we had at the Air Force Academy, Jerry Fuchs had 47 years of experience in journalism unhampered by progress.
Posted by: joe baylock | January 02, 2005 at 11:10 PM
Anyone interested in revisiting the Voice's opinions and commentary about Jerry Fuch's can find them here http://www.burlingamevoice.com/blog/index.php?s=Fuchs
Posted by: Editor | January 03, 2005 at 04:25 AM