It does not provide any in-depth reporting

February 11, 2003

By AHRC News Services

A Press Release dated February 5, 2003 was issued by the City of San Clemente Mayor William O. Talley

It said that February 22, 2003 was declared "Fred Swegles Day" by San Clemente City Council members Stepahnie Dorey, Paul Gudgeirsson, Joe Anderson, Susan Ritchel and Wayne Eggleston. It continued:

"Members of city council, expressed formal appreciation to Fred Swegles for his commitment to reporting San Clemente's news in a manner that is well researched, balanced, unbiased and reflective of the highest standards of journalistic excellence."

Swegles started with Sun Post News in 1971. Most San Clementeans like this gentle reporter . He has been a fixture in the city for many years, reporting on school activities, social events and topics of general interest.

The problem has been with the owners and editors. Stan Manning was the owner/publisher of the Sun Post for many years. Citizens complained that Manning used the paper to control local politics and to help elect developer candidates.

Tom Lorch, city council member who was not beholden to the developers, was a constant target of Manning. Each time Manning reported on city council activities, he did so in such a biased way that Lorch had to spend his day urging supporters to write letters to the paper with the hope of getting his side printed.

So developer-backed city council members got the kid treatment, and the city also paid the the Sun Post to run all its announcements to the public. It has been a cozy political and financial relationship for the "community newspaper".

In return the citizens of San Clemente get "homesy, folksy reporting", There is never any trenchant reporting on the developer financed council members and city attorney . For example, the city lets builders build homes on landslide- prone hillsides without proper drainage and irrigation, and the Sun Post reports about some local society dinner.

When homes begin crumbling and sliding downhill and homeowners ask the city council not to sign off on bonds by builders, the city attorney advises the council to tell the owners there is "nothing we can do legally".

The city has been shifting the risks of the unstable slopes on to unsuspecting home buyers and passing ordinances that give private corporations ( which are set up by developers)control over the permit process for all home improvement and construction.

For the past 7 years , victims in homeowner associations, have been asking the Sun Post to do in depth stories of problems, lawsuits, ordinances and foreclosures in homeowner associations.

Swegles has said, " I get so many calls on homeowner associations. If I wrote about homeowner associations, I would be writing one story a day."

Schmitz, the editor, ignores requests to publish guest articles about homeowner associations.

The net result is that citizens who buy homes in San Clemente often find themselves facing lawsuits, foreclosures and assessments that wipe out all their life savings. Many have even lost their homes. The Coast homeowner association is one such quagmire.

A genuine community newspaper gives the real news that is happening in a city, The Sun Post has been in a virtual eclipse since its inception, obscured by the special interests who take advantage of the darkness to wreak havoc on its citizens. It certainly sheds little or no light on what really goes on it the city. Hence, the Sun Post should change either its name or its policies.

We hope Fred enjoys his special day. We hope even more that the Sun Post lives up to being a true newspaper.



Following are comments on The Sun Post by an attorney:

"Community newspapers have a responsibility to provide news that informs and educates the community Unfortunately the San Clementeans are being educated in the school of hard knocks .

This new type of community living they call community associations was started in the '60's by slick people trying to maximize profits. They paid off people on the top and built homes on 3600 sq feet.lots instead of 7200 sq feet and put absolute power in a small clique.

The people responsible governance are also not doing their jobs.

All societies go through cycles - and we are in the cycle of corruption." "