Rebel Media: Drive-by Media

Rebel Media: Drive-by Media

7 months, 1 week ago by Bob Gough

The Quincy Transit Lines depends on state and federal funding. As we know Uncle Abe and Uncle Sam haven't been real good about making timely reimbursements.

So last night at the Quincy City Council meeting, there was a resolution for the Transit Lines to borrow $600,000 from the City's general fund to cover operating expenses until the state and federal money arrives. It's a short-term deal and the City just moves money from one account to another.  It passed with nary a word.

But in promoting their coverage of the meeting, some in the local media were framing this as the City was actually borrowing money from another entity to cover expenses.

When you cover one City Council meeting every three months, it's easy to see why a reporter wouldn't understand some workings of city government.

If the City was running QTL at a severe deficit and taking out loans to cover it, I'm pretty sure it would have been covered here or in the paper of record.

Everyone did pay attention to the story regarding lighting Bayview Bridge. The City Council pulled $100,000 in funding from this year's budget for the bridge lighting, but now that Mayor John Spring and Director of Administrative Services Gary Sparks have raised more than $190,000 in private donations to cover the federal match, it looks like it will pass the Council next week. I believe there will still be some discussion on the matter.

Now about those raises for the mayor, city clerk and treasurer...