Writing skills= 10/10, References= 2/10

I encourage the writers of such pieces to become informed on the issues before writing about them. Before commenting on a topic, first step I teach in developing a paper as an adult educator is to become informed on the topic. Read the article or report you are going to write about would be the first step. I also like references. For example, I did an interview last year with a reporter from a national news organization on our crime prevention safety audit. It was evident to me and the reporter admitted after the interview, they did not even read the report. So you are commenting and grilling me, and questioning the merit of a report you did not even read? The writer of this editorial should read the by-law first, then ask to read the report by Carew, then provide commentary based on what they read. Being able to reference your material is important as well. The by-law is available on the City web-site. Just my thoughts on what would be logical. Then again, I have also read editorials on city issues in the past that seemed like they were written by someone just shooting their mouth off down at one of the coffee shops without becoming informed on what they were talking about.

Thanks, but no thanks
Published on April 6, 2011
Published on April 6, 2011
Staff ~ The Guardian
Topics :
Summerside
An independent report recommending significant hikes in the honorariums for the mayor and council of Summerside may be well-founded. But no matter how justified, they're still whopping increases, and it would hard to fault residents of the town if they're amazed at the hikes.
A consultant's report has recommended that the honorarium for mayor increase to $38,192 this year, up from $22,968 in 2010; for the deputy mayor, to $19,892 from $14,393; and for councillors, to $17,505, from $11,818.
The honorariums themselves are hardly extravagant, given the time municipal officials devote to council and committee meetings, not to mention the many other events and meetings that require their presence. It's the increases that are jarring, since it would be a fair bet that many citizens would never expect to see such a sudden jump in their own income.
Can council simply refuse the raises, since they've been recommended by an independent consultant? If council gets the message from residents that they disapprove of the hikes, it would be wise to find a way to say thanks, but no thanks.
This editorial first appeared in The Guardian on April 6.