The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.
Do Newspapers Need a Bailout?
“Investigators in New York City raided circulation offices at some of the nation’s largest newspapers Tuesday as part of a union corruption probe,” the Associated Press reports:
Police officers working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office searched circulation offices of The New York Times in Queens, the New York Post and the Daily News in Manhattan, and El Diario in Brooklyn, the official said, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
The reader who sent us this tip found this line funny: “Calls to the newspapers seeking information on whether the news operations were involved were not returned.”
But c’mon, if you had one phone call, would you use it for that?
Look for the Union Label
Here’s an inspiring story from the Morning Call of Allentown, Pa.:
In pursuit of an Eagle Scout badge, Kevin Anderson, 17, has toiled for more than 200 hours hours over several weeks to clear a walking path in an east Allentown park.
Little did the do-gooder know that his altruistic act would put him in the cross hairs of the city’s largest municipal union.
Nick Balzano, president of the local Service Employees International Union, told Allentown City Council Tuesday that the union is considering filing a grievance against the city for allowing Anderson to clear a 1,000-foot walking and biking path at Kimmets Lock Park.
“We’ll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails,” Balzano told the council.
Balzano said Saturday he isn’t targeting Boy Scouts. But given the city’s decision in July to lay off 39 SEIU members, Balzano said “there’s to be no volunteers.” No one except union members may pick up a hoe or shovel, plant a flower or clear a walking path.
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For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below “Today’s Columnists.
