EDITOR'S NOTE: In June 2004 I began a new venture as managing editor of both Northfield News and Faribault Daily News. This column originally appeared in the Northfield News on Oct. 20, 2006.
Look up the word illusion in the dictionary and you find a definition something like: "an unreal, deceptive, or misleading appearance or image." Propaganda is another good word. In the dictionary it is defined as something like "ideas, doctrines, or allegations so spread: now often used disparagingly to connote deception or distortion.
Both words come to mind when trying to describe the "Freedom of Speech Banner" unfurled at the corner of Second Street and Minnesota Highway 3 chastising Mendota Homes and Doug Speedling Builders for not upholding local standards.
For weeks now, the thousands of motorists a day that pass by the long banner have seen a half dozen or so people standing behind it, some wearing "Carpenters Union" vests, some not. And the sign holders have given passing motorists the impression that they are group of loyal carpenter's union members picketing The Crossing development, the development company and one of its contractors for vaguely not upholding standards. But unfortunately for the owners of The Crossing, its contractor and the public at large, the banner is more of a publicity stunt than a genuine concern about what's taking place there.
The News has received on average about two calls per week about the event, people wanting to know why we weren't covering the "big protest." Didn't we know the developer and contractor weren't meeting local standards? Early on we found out things were a little fishy with the story, and we waited. And then a couple of more weeks passed, and the developer and the contractor each submitted a letter to editor to speak to our readers. They felt the need to get out a message and we said fine, and we waited some more without doing a story. Had the union responded, we would have published that as well, but we never received one. All the while, we kept getting fishy reports about things involving the "protesters." Again, we decided that everybody had the right to protest in public if they had an ax to grind, but it didn't mean that it constituted news. So we waited.
And then this week came along. The developer called us with a few more bits of fishy news and pleaded with us to get the story out. They wanted us to tell the story, and we received a couple more calls from readers. Well, we figured, it was time to seek out those protesters and get the low down, just what it was they're concerned about. They evidently weren't just going away.
Turns out, the "Freedom of Speech Banner," as the event is called because they are specific not to call it a protest or picket, is the brainchild of local resident Ben Miller, who is a representative of the Lakes and Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners, more commonly known as the carpenter's union.
Miller graciously met me at the site and agreed to an interview, something he rarely does, he said. Miller handed me the flyer that is handed to any passerby asking questions. It charges that Doug Speedling Builders pays below-market wages, fails to provide workers and families full health insurance and fails to provide a "real pension." And Mendota Homes is indicted in the flyer because it hired the contractor. At first blush, they seem to be some significant charges, but that's problem: Most of the public doesn't get by the first blush, and it seems that's been done by design.
Despite the prominently displayed carpenters union vests, the carpenters union logo on their propaganda and contact information to where else, Miller's carpenter's union office, Miller insists the issue isn't a "union issue." It's about substandard wages, and the fact that The Crossing was subsidized by the city, he insisted, so therefore should be held to a higher standard.
So, OK, the "Freedom of Speech Banner" wasn't a union issue and it most certainly wasn't something that Mendota Homes or Doug Speedling Builders should take personal. Miller said it was just "business." He certainly wasn't going to say anything bad about either company.
After that was established, I asked if I could play devil's advocate, you know, just to ask the questions so many are anxious to ask. Again, Miller graciously agreed. So I started:
Why, if the "Freedom of Speech Banner" was specifically referring to the contractor's wages and benefits issues, then does the sign vaguely give the impression that the public should question the building standards of the project? First, Miller said it was not he that made the sign, and second the carpenters' union was in no position to judge the quality of the construction. The sign just refers to what's on their brochures and anyone who had questions about what the sign meant could stop to get a brochure. They were not meaning to insinuate anything.
Why if it's not a union issue do the sign holders wear union vests? Answer: ... It's not a union issue.
Why if it's not a union issue weren't they standing with "Freedom of Speech" banners at the many more development sites in Northfield where thousands of cars per days don't pass by? Answer: "You certainly wouldn't want to put yourself in an ineffectual spot" to raise awareness about your cause, Miller said. But it's not a union issue.
If it's not just a publicity stunt by the union, why aren't the sign holders allowed to answer questions of those who do stop to ask questions? Answer: Because their brochure tells the story and they don't want to confuse people with the wrong message. The more people that talked about their message, the more chance there would be for a miscommunication. And besides they didn't want to provoke anyone into a confrontation there on the street corner. That wasn't their intention. So they just hand out the brochures.
Could they provide the information necessary to prove the contractor allegedly paid below-market wages, didn't offer health insurance and "real" pensions. Answer: They could, but they didn't want to be drawn into a quibble over figures that could be disputed. That certainly would be inconvenient, wouldn't it? Besides, even if the companies involved dispute Miller's accusations, which they do vehemently, it's for the readers to judge who's right. "We're sticking by our flyer and what it says," Miller said.
Why are you using paid temporary workers to stand here and hold the sign, but give the public the illusion they are carpenter's union members. Answer: Well, the people who aren't union members are volunteer supporters from the local colleges and "homeless shelter" who are being paid for their volunteer time. "No one works for free," he said.
Would you be at this site if it didn't involve public financing and make for a juicy story? Answer: "I can't answer that. Depends a lot on the mix of things. You don't want to go to the least effectual spot to support your cause." But it's not a union issue.
You get the picture. Miller and I spent a good 30 minutes talking and to his credit he did answer every question I posed, but the spin doctoring grew tiring and I knew we'd been sucked into a story that I never wanted on our front page to begin with. But now we've told their story, and we'll see what happens with the "Freedom of Speech Banner" now that they've received their local publicity. Will they pack up and stop making dangerous accusations about two companies working to reshape the downtown? Or will they continue with their illusions and propaganda, just to spread word about their cause, which most certainly doesn't involve unions.
Coincidentally, talk to the developer and the contractor and see how they feel about the illusions and propaganda; see if it's just "business" to them; see if they're frustrated that a small group of people can launch a publicity stunt that could besmirch their companies' reputations. And then you decide. That's exactly what we've done, but as Miller so appropriately states, I guess it's up to our readers to make up their own minds about the validity of the "Freedom of Speech Banner." We have.
- Devlyn Brooks is managing editor of the Northfield News. He can be reached at dbrooks@northfieldnews.com.
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