city clerk
South Lake Tahoe City Clerk earns Certified Municipal Clerk designation
Submitted by paula on Fri, 12/04/2020 - 3:11pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Clerk Susan Blankenship has earned the designation of Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC), which was awarded by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), Inc.
IIMC grants the CMC designation only to those municipal clerks who complete demanding education requirements, and who have a record of significant contributions to their local government, their community and state.
Wallace and Middlebrook voted in as mayor and mayor pro-tem for South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Tue, 12/01/2020 - 12:11pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a new mayor in town. During its December 1 meeting, City Council unanimously voted in current Mayor Pro Tem Tamara Wallace as mayor and Devin Middlebrook as mayor pro tem.
To start off the Tuesday meeting, City Clerk Sue Blankenship swore in the two newest members to the council after November's election. Cristi Creegan and John Friedrich each began their four-year terms after being sworn in as councilmembers.
Both Wallace and Middlebrook have been on the council for two years, along with Councilmember Cody Bass.
Vote on new mayor, more recovery funds, and emergency order on South Lake Tahoe City Council agenda
Submitted by paula on Sun, 11/29/2020 - 2:26pmEvent Date:
December 1, 2020 - 9:00am
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Following a special meeting on Monday to certify the November 3 election and say goodbye to outgoing councilmembers, newly elected Councilmembers Cristi Creegan and John Friedrich will be sworn in at the beginning of Tuesday's regular meeting.
The 9:00 a.m. meeting on December 1 will also include the following agenda items:
City of South Lake Tahoe seeking applicants for citizen commissions and boards
Submitted by paula on Wed, 11/04/2020 - 10:28pmThe City of South Lake Tahoe is looking to fill vacant seats on four citizen commissions and boards: Planning Commission, Airport Land Use Commission, Building Board of Appeals, and Parks & Recreation Commission. They are soliciting applications for a City Council representative to the El Dorado County Commission on Aging and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Advisory Planning Commission.
Applications are due December 28 for the following positions
Planning Commission
South Lake Tahoe City Council candidate campaign finance reports
Submitted by paula on Tue, 10/13/2020 - 3:46pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The first set of campaign finance reports filed by South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates have been received by election officials and posted to the City's website.
Required forms:
Form 460 - Candidates who have raised/spent $2,000 or more file
Form 410 (Statement of Organization) - Must also be filed once $2,000 or more has been raised/spent
Form 470 - Candidates who do not raise or spend $2,000 or more (or anticipate raising or spending $2,000 or more) in 2020 and do not have an open committee
SLT Council Candidate John Friedrich
Submitted by paula on Sat, 10/03/2020 - 1:23pmSouth Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers will be published in the order received.
Today's candidate is John Friedrich
Profession: Founder and Director, Tahoe Green Jobs Initiative
How many years in SLT: 15
Special City Council meeting to address impacts to South Lake Tahoe and possible fines
Submitted by paula on Mon, 08/17/2020 - 12:59pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An emergency meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council has been called to discuss the impacts of tourism during the pandemic on the community and steps they can take to mitigate the problems associated with the increase of visitors.
The meeting will be held virtually at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18.
One-percent sales tax increase for South Lake Tahoe to be added to the November ballot
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/15/2020 - 11:25pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Council approved unanimously at their meeting Tuesday to send what is being called the "South Lake Tahoe Fire Protection, Emergency Response, City Services Measure" to the ballot in November.
If voters approve the measure, a one-percent sales tax increase will be added in the City of South Lake Tahoe to all taxable purchases to meet funding shortfalls, according to the City.
South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting Tuesday: Tax increase and Grand Jury on agenda
Submitted by paula on Fri, 07/10/2020 - 2:22pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The next meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council will be on Tuesday, July 14 starting at 9:00 a.m. It will be a virtual meeting and log on/comment instructions are at the end of the story.
On the agenda:
Council will vote on a measure, that if approved by voters on November 3, will add a local one-cent sales tax for general city purposes. There has been outreach done with local residents and finding out what their highest priorities are, and this proposed tax increase would meet those requests:
Filing period opens July 13 for South Lake Tahoe elected positions
Submitted by paula on Mon, 06/22/2020 - 2:17pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Election Day in 2020 is on November 3, just 134 days away. There will be several elected positions opening up in South Lake Tahoe and Meyers: South Tahoe Public Utility District, South Lake Tahoe City Council, Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board of Trustees, Lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees, and the Lake Valley Fire Board of Directors.
South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting Tuesday
Submitted by paula on Sun, 06/07/2020 - 5:33pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On Tuesday, June 9, the South Lake Tahoe City Council will hold their monthly meeting. On the agenda is an update to the US 50 South Shore Community Revitalization Project. The Council had asked to be involved in the project to represent the City's interest and ensure public concerns were addressed, and the presentation will include a draft Expanded Economic Impact Analysis.
City Council to vote on economic recovery plan, wireless facility ordinance and reopening plan
Submitted by paula on Mon, 05/11/2020 - 10:55pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The May 12 agenda for the South Lake Tahoe City Council is a full one. The 9:00 a.m. virtual meeting will address the second reading of a wireless communication facility ordinance on private property, the first reading of the facilities on public property, a vote on $1,000 fines, reopening plans for City facilities and a hold on public events on City property until large gatherings are permitted.
South Lake Tahoe City Council agenda: Short-term economic recovery update and budget workshop
Submitted by paula on Mon, 04/27/2020 - 5:57pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - City Council will hold a budget workshop and har from their short-term economic recovery task force during their meeting on Tuesday, April 27 starting at 9:00 a.m.
The task force made up of two councilmembers and local leaders have identified the need for the following financial assistance in order to facilitate the immediate needs of our residents and businesses and to facilitate the re-opening of the city when that time comes.
They will be presenting to Council a need for $6,151,850:
South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting to address cell towers and housing workplan
Submitted by paula on Thu, 04/09/2020 - 2:26pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The City Council will hold their regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 14 starting at 9:00 a.m. with a closed session at 8:45 a.m.
This will be an online meeting that can be followed on Charter Channel 21 or via the City's website, https://cityofslt.us/. Remote public participation is allowed by email or phone (instructions below).
Special South Lake Tahoe meeting to address emergency housing, evictions and vacation homes
Submitted by paula on Tue, 03/24/2020 - 3:07pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe City Council is holding a special meeting on Wednesday, March 25 to discuss three topics related to community needs surrounding the current coronavirus pandemic.
The meeting starts at 1:00 p.m. and remote attendance instructions are available below.
Cannabis business applicants question evaluation scores - File appeals with City of South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Fri, 06/14/2019 - 4:17pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two businesses that were not selected to go further in the process of vying for one of three cannabis retail store licenses have filed appeals with the City of South Lake Tahoe. They are questioning the fairness of the selection process, and one is stating that all three applicants who had the top scores evaluation scores should be disqualified. A third applicant said he is in the process of filing an appeal.
South Lake Tahoe City Council to discuss possible change to Charter City
Submitted by paula on Sat, 06/01/2019 - 6:34pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - When the City formed in 1965 it was incorporated as a general law city for the purpose of having more local control over public services such as police, fire, and snow removal.
Now there is discussion about changing to a charter city. During their March 5 meeting, Councilmember Cody Bass asked that this subject come forward at a future meeting and Councilmembers Jason Collin and Devin Middlebrook said they were interested in learning more about what the differences are between the two, and what it would mean to South Lake Tahoe to switch.
City unveils monthly newseltter to keep public informed
Submitted by paula on Tue, 04/02/2019 - 7:21amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. The City of South Lake Tahoe has launched its new
newsletter - "At Lake Level." The monthly newsletter is written by City Manager Frank Rush and prepared by Communications Manager Chris Fiore in an effort to keep the community well informed about City issues and initiatives.
New Leadership
Residents appointed to South Lake Tahoe commissions
Submitted by paula on Tue, 01/15/2019 - 3:14pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As part of their annual tasks the South Lake Tahoe City Council today appointed locals to several boards. In some cases there were not enough applicants while in the case of the planning commission, more applied that the number of open seats.
Seven applications were received for the appointment of five members to the Planning Commission. Selected were incumbents Diana Madson, Kili Ongoy and Jenna Palacio along with new members Natalia Wieczorek and Mason Hibbard.
City of South Lake Tahoe - Brooke Laine mayor, council members and city clerk sworn in
Submitted by paula on Tue, 12/11/2018 - 12:01pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The three newly elected South Lake Tahoe City councilmembers were sworn in on Tuesday along with the new city clerk, and a new mayor and mayor pro-tem have been selected.
Devin Middlebrook, Tamara Wallace, Cody Bass and Sue Blankenship all took the oath of office in front of a packed City Council meeting on December 11, 2018.
Brooke Laine was unanimously chosen for mayor and Jason Collin was unanimously selected for mayor pro-tem.
Special City Council meeting Monday; Big agenda for Tuesday
Submitted by paula on Sun, 12/09/2018 - 10:00pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be a special City Council meeting on Monday, December 10 at 5:00 p.m.
The councilmembers will officially accept the November 6 election results. Per Elections Code the City Clerk must certify the results of the election to the City Council.
For South Lake Tahoe this means certifying the fact that three councilmembers, Cody Bass, Devin Middlebrook, and Tamara Wallace, won the election along with Sue Blankenship as city clerk, Dave Olivo as city treasurer, and Measure T passed.
Measure T to ban vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe on way to passing
Submitted by paula on Fri, 11/30/2018 - 9:29pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What should be the final count of ballots for the November 6 election in El Dorado County was released today, giving clarity to a hotly contested ballot measure in South Lake Tahoe. The citizen generated Measure T calls for a ban of all vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe except for those in what is called the "tourist core."
Election update: 47 votes separate nays and yeas on South Lake Tahoe Measure T
Submitted by paula on Fri, 11/16/2018 - 9:36pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Another round of votes were released Friday, narrowing the gap between yes and no on Measure T once again. The citizen generated measure call for a ban of all vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe except for those in what is called the "tourist core."
49 votes were added to the Measure T count, 19 "for" and 30 "against."
There were approximately 2,600 vote by mail ballots still to count this week for all of El Dorado County which includes provisional ballots and 160 conditionals ballots from South Lake Tahoe.
That leaves about 1,800 left to tally.
South Lake Tahoe's measure to ban vacation home rentals moves closer to passing
Submitted by paula on Wed, 11/14/2018 - 9:11pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Measure T, the South Lake Tahoe ballot measure that proposed a ban on all vacation rentals outside of the tourist core area starting in 2021 is a bit closer to passing.
In the second incremental release of votes counter after Tuesday, November 6, the Yes on T vote is at 3265, with No on T counts at 3207 - less than one percent difference. 267 ballots were tallied in this last release for Measure T.
No on Measure T closes the gap - down by 25 votes as of Friday
Submitted by paula on Fri, 11/09/2018 - 5:29pmThe gap between the yes and no votes on Measure T in South Lake Tahoe got much smaller, with the measure now passing by just 25 votes. The South Lake Tahoe City Council and El Dorado County Supervisor results remain the same.
El Dorado County had over 24,000 votes to count after election day, and they have now counted 16,919 of them. 1,655 of those were from the City of South Lake Tahoe and 2,907 for the Area 5 Supervisor district.
As a recap, here are the results on election night: http://southtahoenow.com/story/11/08/2018/over-24000-ballots-yet-be-counted-el-dorado-county
Over 24,000 ballots yet to be counted in El Dorado County
Submitted by paula on Thu, 11/08/2018 - 10:10amWith a narrow margin in the ballot measure concerning the future of vacation rentals in South Lake Tahoe, and other races still close, everyone is awaiting the release of more results from Tuesday's election.
You'll still have to wait a bit longer.
On Friday, November 9, El Dorado County Elections will post the next round of results, but it won't be the last as there are over 24,000 ballots yet to count.
13,372 mail-in ballots were dropped off at the polls
2,614 provisional ballots
South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County election results
Submitted by paula on Tue, 11/06/2018 - 9:05pmUpdate - 1:20 a.m. 11/7/18: With a large voter turnout the processing of ballots is taking longer than normal. A power outage caused by a car hitting a power line near Blackwood Avenue caused some excitement for voters but did not delay the count as there are procedures in place for such an incident.
Letter: It's time to vote for Tamara Wallace
Submitted by paula on Sat, 11/03/2018 - 12:04amDear Citizens of South Lake Tahoe,
Round two of campaign finance reports for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County
Submitted by paula on Wed, 10/31/2018 - 10:15amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The second deadline for political campaigns to submit their Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 460 in South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County has come and gone. Required by the Fair Political Practices, all campaigns for positions and measures need to file if they have a committee and if they spend or receive over $2,000.
The Form 460 is the
comprehensive report that discloses all receipts and expenditures of a
Letter: Ellen Palazzo is right choice for City Clerk
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 10/29/2018 - 12:07pmDear Voters,
Ellen Palazzo is the right choice for our next South Lake Tahoe City Clerk. She brings a rich background of education and experience to this job.
● Graduated from LTCC with AA degree
● Certified Municipal Clerk
● Enrolled in Master Municipal Clerk program
● 22 years experience in the City Clerk’s office with 15 years as Assistant City Clerk
● Notary Public
Letter: A positive change in the City Clerk's office with Sue Blankenship
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 10/29/2018 - 6:16amHello, my name is Susan Blankenship, Assistant City Clerk, and I am running for City Clerk of South Lake Tahoe.
I have served as the Assistant City Clerk since May 2016. Prior to coming to work for the City, I served as Board Clerk for the State Allocation Board and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. These positions provided me with the work experience I needed to transition to working for the City Clerk’s Department.
Letter: Ellen Palazzo has heart to respectfully serve the city and the community
Submitted by paula on Tue, 10/23/2018 - 7:58pmThe following is a Letter to the Editor from Ellen Palazzo, candidate for South Tahoe City Clerk.
My name is Ellen Palazzo. I am an experienced Certified Municipal Clerk with 22 years of service in the City Clerk’s office. I am currently working towards my Master Municipal Clerk designation. With new city leadership coming on board, it will be essential to elect a City Clerk with the highest integrity and intuitional knowledge to help move our city forward. I have the heart to serve the city and the community in a respectful manner.
Some of my accomplishments include:
No on Measure T leads 2018 campaign donations and expenses in South Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/22/2018 - 9:14pmAt the first required filing of campaign paperwork, South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates raised just over $47,000 for the 2018 election season. Mayor Wendy David's $13,499 led candidates, which included a $10,000 loan to get her campaign started. Funds raised by a group formed to challenge Measure T, which bans vacation home rentals in the City outside the tourist core area, has raised $270,112.77 with most of it coming from the National Association of Realtors, local realtors and companies associated with the rentals.
Meet the Candidate: Hal Cole says his experience and calm leadership will guide City
Submitted by paula on Sat, 10/06/2018 - 8:31amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.
Today, Hal Cole gives his responses as he attempts to return to the South Lake Tahoe City Council:
Meet the Candidate: Tamara Wallace wants City to concentrate on basics - police, fire and roads
Submitted by paula on Thu, 10/04/2018 - 9:21amSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Each of the nine candidates for City Council answered the same ten questions that were given to them by South Tahoe Now. For nine consecutive days the candidate's responses will be shared in the order received.
Today, the first-time candidate Tamara Wallace gives her responses as she seeks a seat on the South Lake Tahoe City Council:
Letter: City has failed to deliver effective VHR enforcement
Submitted by paula on Mon, 10/01/2018 - 5:00pmMayor Wendy David has stated that it is okay to have Vacation Home Rentals in residential neighborhoods as long as there is 'consistent' enforcement. Sorry Wendy but planning and zoning are not determined by enforcement. What has been ‘consistent' is the city's failure to deliver effective enforcement. When a neighbor calls in to complain about a problem with a VHR, a warning call goes out to the agent or owner of that VHR to warn them of the complaint. By the time the Enforcement Officer arrives the lights are out and the report reads: "Quiet on Arrival".
Referedum against South Lake Tahoe cannabis ordinance gets enough signatures
Submitted by paula on Fri, 09/28/2018 - 11:09pmSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be no legal sales of adult-use marijuana in South Lake Tahoe until at least 2019 after the referendum against the City's Cannabis Ordinance passed. Assistant City Clerk Sue Blankenship certified the results of the sample signature count by the El Dorado County Elections Department and now it's the City Council's turn.
Next steps for South Lake Tahoe's cannabis ordinance
Submitted by paula on Wed, 09/26/2018 - 9:38amThe City of South Lake Tahoe was set to start accepting development agreement applications for the six cannabis licenses up for grabs after City Council approved a cannabis ordinance on August 21, 2018.
That is on hold after 1,687 signatures were gathered and submitted to the South Lake Tahoe city clerk's office to prevent the ordinance from taking effect for now. Only 1,019 signatures were needed but those collecting the signatures wanted to make sure they had enough.
Candidate forum to feature 20 candidates seeking office on South Shore
Submitted by paula on Tue, 09/25/2018 - 11:13pmEvent Date:
September 27, 2018 - 6:00pm
The South Lake Tahoe Democratic Club is hosting a candidate's forum on Thursday, September 27 at the California Conservation Corps in Meyers at 6:00 p.m.
Meet and talk to twenty candidates seeking election to South Lake Tahoe City Council, South Tahoe Public Utility Board, El Dorado County Board of Supervisors Area 5, Lake Tahoe Unified School District, Lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees, El Dorado County Recorder Clerk, South Lake Tahoe City Clerk and City Treasurer, and the Tahoe Paradise Improvement District Board.
South Lake Tahoe police chief outlines political campaign sign rules
Submitted by paula on Mon, 09/24/2018 - 6:57pmIt's election time which also means it's time for political signs to be found throughout the South Lake Tahoe community.
City of South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler is reminding candidates. their committees and supporters about the rules for signage placement.
Here is the law pertaining to signs as outlined in City Code 6.14.130A:
- Only on private property with permission from owner (no public easements)
- Size limited to 12 square feet—(for example: 3’ x 4’ or 2’ x 6’)
- Not “intentionally illuminated”
Letter: Candidate asking for support from the South Lake Tahoe community
Submitted by paula on Fri, 09/07/2018 - 7:29amTo the South Lake Tahoe Community:
City Council agenda includes renaming street policy, the budget and VHR report
Submitted by paula on Sun, 09/02/2018 - 10:30pmThe next meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council is Tuesday, September 4, 2018, starting at 9:00 a.m.
During the meeting they will discuss, and or vote on, the following topics:
The 2018-2019 Municipal Budget will be presented in a workshop. Discussion started in April for adoption this Fall. The largest expense in the budget is $640,000 which covers Animal Control costs. Salaries and benefits equal $27,387,222 of the
budget which is being presented as $86,487,692.
DA finds South Lake Tahoe City Council had "possible" Brown Act violations
Submitted by paula on Sat, 08/25/2018 - 8:21pmThe El Dorado County District Attorney's Office has released their review of Councilmember Brooke Laine's allegations in April that there was a "complete disregard on the part of politicians and appointed officials for state law, transparency, and honesty to the public."
November ballot filling up: Nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council
Submitted by paula on Fri, 08/10/2018 - 11:45pmThis story has been updated to include Lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees candidates.
Nine South Lake Tahoe residents have qualified to run in November and thrown in their hats for three open seats on City Council.
The three incumbents, Mayor Wendy David, Mayor Pro Tem Tom Davis and Councilman Austin Sass will all be running for reelection. They will be joined by some veterans of local politics as well as newcomers.
Letter: SLT City Clerk tells community goodbye
Submitted by paula on Fri, 08/03/2018 - 5:21pmTo the community:
On August 4, I will begin my retirement from the City of South Lake Tahoe after 32 years of public service, 16 years as your elected City Clerk. It has been an honor and privilege to serve our community and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve and the generous support provided to me during my tenure. I have been extremely fortunate to have worked with so many wonderful community members who genuinely care about our community, and I have also been blessed working with many hardworking and dedicated city councilmembers and city employees.
November ballot filling up for South Lake Tahoe voters
Submitted by paula on Thu, 08/02/2018 - 10:02pmThere are still a few days left for those interested in running for public office this November, but several candidates have completed the process to qualify for the ballot. The following number of seats will be open: El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (1), LTUSD School Board (2) , City Council (3), City Clerk (1), City Treasurer (1), South Tahoe Public Utility District (3), Tahoe Paradise Recreation and Park District, and Lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees (3).
The deadline to complete the candidate process is August 10, 2018.
Filing period open for Lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustess
Submitted by paula on Tue, 07/10/2018 - 5:51pmThere are several opportunities this election season for South Lake Tahoe area residents to represent their community on the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (1), LTUSD School Board (2) , City Council (3), City Clerk (1), City Treasurer (1), South Tahoe Public Utility District (2), Tahoe Paradise Recreation and Park District, and now, Lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees (2).
The positions all have residential requirements with both LTCC and LTUSD have further area boundaries.
The filing period opens on July 16 and ends at 5:00 p.m. on August 10, 2018.
Likely South Lake Tahoe voters to see two VHR ballot measures in November
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/23/2018 - 2:23pmTwo South Lake Tahoe community groups have submitted petitions to get their vacation home rental (VHR) initiatives on the November, 2018 ballot. The first group, Tahoe Neighborhoods Group, submitted 1,651 signatures to the City Clerk on April 30, and the second group, Sustainable Community Alliance, turned in 1,827 signatures on May 21, less than 30 days after they started collecting them.
Anti-VHR group submits signatures to get initiative on ballot
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/30/2018 - 12:03pmThe first of two groups trying to get vacation home rental ballot measures to the voters in November has submitted signatures to the South Lake Tahoe City Clerk. On Monday, April 30, the Tahoe Neighborhoods Group turned in 1,651 signatures on petitions they circulated through South Lake Tahoe. Those signatures will now be sent to the elections department of El Dorado County for certification.
Opinion: Saddened by Laine's stunningly secretive display, hope we can find a path back
Submitted by paula on Mon, 04/16/2018 - 11:00amThe last few months have been some of the most difficult for our City Council, for our City and for our community. Similar to the national conversation, with immediate access to social media in many forms, controversial opinion pieces go immediately out to the public, even before the accused have an opportunity to hear the allegations. Soon after, public comment and “opinion” on the opinion begins with little interest in whether there is truth.