Thank you for your recent correspondence concerning the inaccuracies you published in the Clayton Pioneer regarding the City Council election. We acknowledge your retraction; however, we find your response somewhat delayed and unclear.
We did see your retraction on your online edition, and we would respectfully request you also place your retraction on the front page of your next paper edition. Posting your retraction only in the online edition and on Facebook seems a bit dubious in how it was explained.
Regarding your request, we will not be posting a retraction for you in the Clayton Watch comment section. Should you wish to address the inaccuracies in your latest article, we encourage you to submit your comment directly on the Clayton Watch website. That’s your responsibility, not ours. Your submission will be reviewed before publication.
You mentioned that the error in vote counting was your oversight and not that of Peggy Spears. Does this imply that Peggy Spears did not author the editorial featured on the front page of your publication and that you are writing on her behalf? Are all editorials attributed to Peggy Spears in the Clayton Pioneer written by you? No matter what the answer, you failed to proofread the story for accuracy before it was published. This seems to be an ongoing excuse from what we have been told, and it raises serious ethical concerns.
With all due respect, your publication needs to enhance its standards and refrain from disseminating divisive and biased misinformation. Your publication is consistently contributing to the division within the community, and the bias is increasingly evident.
For instance, the letter to the editor on the front page of the Clayton Pioneer dated October 25, titled “Local Officials Endorse Holly Tillman for Clayton City Council,” not only raises ethical questions—but also contravenes your policy of a 175-word maximum for letters to the editor. Moreover, the other three candidates for the Clayton City Council were not afforded equal opportunity for front-page exposure in your online publication, which lacked any word count limit.
Furthermore, Peggy Spears (or her ghostwriter) has a track record of publishing negative articles about council members Wan, Trupiano, and Diaz. For example, she asserts in her article that previous votes of the city council were predominantly 3-2, a claim we have confirmed to be factually inaccurate through our analysis of the voting records from recent years.
Earlier this year, your article calling for grand jury investigations and claiming that Clayton is in decline has inadvertently harmed the very businesses that support your publication. We know of real estate deals that fell through due to the fallout from that article. You know as well as we do, there is zero evidence that any of your comments are remotely true.
A clear instance of misinformation from the Clayton Pioneer occurred when you disseminated incorrect and deceptive details regarding the city's budget deficit, asserting it would amount to $629,000, contrary to the $109,000 stated in the City Staff Report. You collaborated with the former city manager and three council members—Peter Cloven, Holly Tillman, and C.W. Wolfe—who were attempting to garner support for a new $400 per year parcel tax, while promoting inaccurate figures.
It would be more beneficial for you to focus on factual reporting rather than attempting to skew the news in favor of certain political figures. In our view, prioritizing objective news coverage over creating narratives would serve the community much better.
On September 9th, you shared your thoughts on Nextdoor regarding your code of ethics, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and fairness. However, it seems you frequently target those in political office whom you oppose. It shouldn't be necessary for us to highlight this bias to the Clayton community, yet for many years, it has been evident, particularly around election season.
In summary, the rift within our community primarily centers on power dynamics; however, the city is currently working towards achieving effective governance that is independent of external pressures. This may be difficult for you to accept, but it is the current reality. It’s time for you to adapt and report accurately.
Just so you know, Clayton Watch is here to stay, and we are actively seeking additional ways to keep the Clayton community informed and will do so regularly as needed.
Wishing you a wonderful week,
The Clayton Watch Team
P.S. For transparency, your email and this response will be published on Clayton Watch and other social media platforms.
Thank you Clayton Watch. I agree with your summery. Unfortunately, I don’t think Tamara will respond. The truth hurts.
ReplyDeleteTamara most definitely won't respond. She thinks that if she ignores being called out for biased and false reporting, it will all go away, except the community is tired of her false and irresponsible reporting. Tamara is no journalist, and she does not tell the truth. All the local realtors should stop advertising in the Pioneer.
DeleteThank you for sharing Tamara's email and the eloquent response to her deceptive, divisive, and biased reporting. I have thought it strange that Tamara wants to tear down such a lovely city like Clayton. Can we take Tamara, the Pioneer, and the Tillmans and dump them all in the garbage?
ReplyDeleteThese guys don’t back down from anyone. It sounds like for years all this nonsense has been going on… No wonder the town is so divided. Clayton Watch should get a an award for reporting the truth.
DeleteGreat job guys. Keep the pressure on.
ReplyDeleteWhat "pressure??" This is a farce website that keeps posting on nextdoor. Give me a break.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what is a farce, because when I go to this website I read some interesting facts and truth. I’m not sure why you keep coming here, maybe you should stay on Nextdoor with all your buddies.
DeleteEd, it kills you that no one cares about what you say or do because you are crazy. Please, go back to your hole where you belong.
DeleteDitto - A farce because Ed disagrees - typical Ed no facts just whining and name calling
DeleteNo one has yet to describe this pressure. The farce is you, good sir.
DeleteOK Ed let's describe the "pressure" how about you defend Tammarra as honest and not bias....You want pressure , lets make a list of those who advertise in the Pioneer and boycott because Ed says are criticism is a "farce" because he disagrees with it...or, as someone has suggested go back to your Nextdoor whiners and censors until you stop calling folks names
DeleteThe pressure is on anyone, particularly Tamara, the pioneer, and Holly Tillman, for their lies and toxic behavior.Holly doesn't know why she is Mayor or vice Mayor. Well, how about all the toxic lies about your fellow council members and spouses? The lack of compassion when a council person's spouse passes away berating him because you are touchy about your sociology degree. How about attacking a consultant and out right calling him a liar. Then there is the foul language you have used on fellow council members and lets add the false allegations about the city of Clayton being a sundown town and our police profile. Holly you are a SNOB. You think you are better than everyone else and you show it each and everytime in council meetings. You make everything about you. Guess what? You are no better than the rest of us and I think I'm going to start selling t-shirts saying oust toxic Tillman
DeleteSure seems like there's an anonymity trend that may be counter-productive to civil tone within the debate. I note there are no named authors for the Clayton Watch commentaries nor the follow-on comments. How does that demonstrate leadership on issues?
ReplyDeleteYou want names so you can insult the messenger and completely ignore the message. So on your case you prefer a name, Peggy Spear, attached to a fake article with fake facts. For you that fake article is truth because it has a name attached to it. A citizen wrote a letter pointing out the lie in the local newspaper but you are upset because it doesn’t have a name attached. You prefer to be lied to as long as there’s a name attached to the lie.
DeleteDavid Brown, the email response to Tamera clearly states the Clayton Watch Team is the author. It is not anonymous.
DeleteDavid Brown - Anonymity enables people to express their views without disclosing their identity, ensuring their personal privacy and security. In this community, there are individuals in certain groups who can be quite vengeful. Additionally, how can we be certain that you are indeed the person you claim to be in your comment? David Brown really! Sounds about as real as John Smith!
ReplyDeleteThe results mistakenly picked up the mail ballot vote count. What the hell does that mean. Who is results? There were no mistakes in the totals. If you replace the word “results” with the word, “Tamara” or “Peggy”, the sentence might make sense. Sounds like something our vice president would say. In other words, a word salad.
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
DeleteI see the “real” Tillman was back at last nights council meeting. She believes she should be vice mayor. I didn’t “understand” her rationale other than the fact she believes the city owes her the position. #Hollyonly. She needs a good therapist.
ReplyDeleteEven the newest council member didn’t support her. She had to self nominate. What does that say about Holly when 4 council members don’t support her? When none of the others are even willing to nominate her? She’s accused all of them at one time or another even the newest council member. Last meeting she was accusing him of Brown Act Violations and getting the city lawyer on him. He wasn’t even elected yet or sworn in! Holly demands to be made Vice Mayor but it’s pretty obvious none of the other 4 trust her at all.
DeleteThat is so very true! She wants an investigation, but what it would find is that Holly is the common denominator causing all the problems. She must be censored!
DeleteFantastic job Clayton Watch! You are under Tillman’s skin and it is fabulous!!! Keep up the spectacular work!!
ReplyDeleteWhat's next for Tillman? A demand for Reparations??? If or one can't wait for all those 4-1 votes 😊
DeleteOf course you need to mention "skin" here. Unbelievable!
DeleteNice try Mr. Ed. This has nothing to do with skin color. It has to do with competence and the ability to do the job and work as a team.
DeleteHolly only knows me, me, me.
DeleteWhen in a hole stop digging.
DeleteNot Ed nor Holly. They don't know any better.
DeleteIf anything should be investigated it should be “Holly.” What happened to our police profile, the town is racist and is sundown town? Maybe an investigation could find out. Also what happened to all the people Holly said wouldn’t come out of their homes at night because they feared for their safety? Maybe she solved all these problems in her first term. And maybe that explains why she never mentioned any of this in her new website. If you believe this, I’ve got a bridge to sell you in the middle of the ocean.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone read Maria Shulman’s post on ND about Tamara and the Pioneer? I am happy she is speaking up and surprised Holly thinks there is nothing wrong with what Tamara did. Holly is over there trying to gaslight people into believing videos taken directly from council meetings are fake. Incredible! Holly needs to call out her friend's behavior (Tamara), and Holly, you have besmirched your name. Did someone buy you a word of the day calendar?
ReplyDeleteHas anyone read Maria Shulman’s post on ND. There’s a great exchange on Nextdoor about Holly lying about reviewing the budget. To learn the truth, you just need to watch the following video. Holly's Mis-Information and Lies About Her Voting Record! https://www.claytonwatch.org/p/hollys-mis-information-and-lies.html
DeleteI'm curious: why is Tamara and her pioneer insisting Clayton Watch supported Enea, Diaz, and Shulman? From what I can find, there was an open opportunity for ALL candidates, including Tillman, to present their statements. Holly was the only one who chose not to present a statement because she had Tamara's rampant support. Tamara did all her dirty work against the other candidates. There was no statement of support for any candidate on Clayton Watch. It’s Tamara and Holly’s false information again and again and again. Isn’t the community tired of Tamara doing this to residents? Stop advertising in such rubbish. It doesn't look suitable for legitimate businesses
ReplyDeleteI regularly read Clayton Watch and ND to gauge the mood of the Clayton community. The group that supports Holly Tillman is nasty. I say this because they demand people defend her and her antics but do not do the same for other community members. The owner of the pioneer, Tamara, has been in Holly’s backside for some time, never calling out her bad behavior. Tamara, instead, has doubled down in her paper, making biased claims about candidates, community members, city employees, and Clayton in general. So the question to ask is, why are they doing this? What is the end game? I am sick of the double standard Holly presents. Why is it Holly can speak her voice but then tries to shut down anyone else from doing so? Holly has brought so much discontent to this community with her lies and claims about Clayton. The only one who is openly racist is Holly and her husband. They actively promote and support only black organizations and causes, and I think their so-called white friends are afraid to speak up for fear of them calling them racist and unfriending them. It’s reverse discrimination on the part of the Tillmans and, frankly, disgusting behavior. Holly, I know you read these, and it's about time you stop. You are the problem, and more people will call you on this behavior. You are fake through and through.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the Clayton Pioneer website, Peggy Spears no longer works for the Pioneer. Interesting. I wonder if it was by choice, since Tamara was supposedly caught using her name in articles.
ReplyDeleteWhat a surprise...
ReplyDelete