Hi John: I’ve been reading your blog. We have covered a lot of the St. Mary’s case and are awaiting (today) the judge’s final ruling. The story will be in our upcoming December 2015 edition.Again, Ms Cohen is entitled to cover what she chooses, although in our neighborhood, the Ledger is little more than a nuisance item that goes straight from the front lawn to the trash can. If people don't bend over to pick the issues up and toss them, it's one more way that messages get sent to those who shouldn't get them indicating the resident is out of town. Ms Cohen, is there a way to opt out of this weekly litter delivery?I have spoken with the parties since I emailed you. Please call me at the office number below if you would like to talk more about this case.
Thank you.
Allison
I assume, though, that the Ledger survives by selling ads on the pretext that it's providing some sort of community service. So why not cover the St Mary of the Angels story on a timely basis?
Earlier this year, the Ledger ran a story on how the community room in the bank building might or might not still be available if the parish finds a new tenant for the space. Then it ran two stories on how the parish might or might not rent to BevMo!.
Then it ran a story on how testimony was under way in the September trial, but although the judge issued a tentative decision nearly three weeks ago, the Ledger has made no followup. In other words, it's covered various non-events surrounding the parish since May, but the one thing that's actually happened isn't worth mentioning.
But let's look at some of the coverage. From one of the BevMo! pieces:
The church is currently involved in a contentious legal fight over who is its rightful owner. According to church officials, the liquor retailer also pulled out when it learned of the litigation.Dr Trimpi's name (Allan) is misspelled. Fr Kelley is not "the church’s former pastor". The legal fight was never over who was the parish's "rightful owner" the argument has been over who controls the parish -- its ownership is not and has never been in dispute. A couple of paragraphs down:One side is under Los Feliz resident and long time Los Feliz advocate Marilyn Bush who is listed as the church’s “senior warden,” and another, under Alan Trimpi, an ally of the church’s former pastor Father Christopher Kelley.
But due to the instability of the church and its legal issues, in April of 2012, an overseeing body, called the Anglican Church of America’s Diocese of the West, took disciplinary action against Kelley, removing him from ministry and took control of the church, appointing Bush and others to the vestry.The parish left the Anglican Church in America in 2011. The main legal issue after 2012 was whether "Bush and others" were occupying the property as squatters. Judge Strobel's decision on October 26 established that the "elements of forcible detainer" had been met, which simply says that Bush and others are subject to removal as squatters once the decision becomes final next week. There are other issues: what is the impact on the neighborhood of the vacant bank building and apparent neglect of the property by the squatters? How is Mrs Bush helping the community here?
Isn't that something the community should know before next month? Except that it contradicts a great deal of what the Ledger has said up to now.
