Galveston officials restrict media access

Galveston County Daily News (excerpt) ^ | September 15, 2008 | Rhiannon Meyers

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

GALVESTON — Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas on Monday ordered all city employees not to talk to news reporters. She did not say when that order would be lifted.

Thomas and City Manager Steve LeBlanc will be the only officials allowed to talk to reporters. City spokeswoman Mary Jo Naschke vehemently denied the city was trying to clamp down on coverage.

She said emergency personnel and city employees were too busy to talk to reporters. Naschke also said the city had been accommodating news reporters by allowing them access to the island when others weren’t allowed, giving them escorted rides to damaged areas and allowing them to move about outside during a curfew.

But at a noon press conference Monday, Thomas and LeBlanc talked for less than 30 minutes and refused to answer more than five questions. Thomas said she would try to hold another conference today.

Daily News reporters who tried to speak to city employees were denied and told no one could talk except for the mayor and city manager.

~ snip ~

[kms61]

Hmmm. Not to get all conspiracy minded, but this coupled with the flight restrictions, etc, sure makes it seem like they’re hiding something.

[Octar]

The workers are busy working and helping. They don’t have time to waste on some empty-head reporter scratching for a gotcha angle.

[angelsonmyside]

Flight restrictions too? I saw some over head shots and it blew me away. I grew up in Houston, we spent most weekends and summers there. I’m still in shock over the devestation.

[kms61]

I’m thinking it has more to do with the financial crisis, specifically AIG Insurance. They don’t want pictures of the devastation getting out when AIG is teetering on the edge.

[stlnative]

ping

[stlnative]

Well Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas is not the mayor of Crystal Beach, etc on Bolivia Penn. and they have restricted the air space over it also.

http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/notam_print_8_8191.html

[stlnative]

The pictures are out of the structure devastation so it is too late for that. The problem is there are people that lived and are coming out of the area saying there are dead people there in large quanities. No one has verified this yet, but the media keeps asking about the death toll and no one in charge will say anything about it.

[HAL9000]

The NOTAM is in effect because President Bush is going there on Tuesday.

[kms61]

and that’s why it’s foolish to keep the media out. As much a pestilence as they are, in their absence rumors run wild.

[stlnative]

tons of aerial/satellite pictures here
http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/ike/IKE0000.HTM

[STARWISE]

Yep ... and the twisted bloggers are all over it,
in spades. They’ve got to have another BDS
conspiracy for the election.

Those who may have tragically perished and their
grieving and loved ones in shock from the horrors
of this storm deserve respect and privacy, not
frenzied piranhas in the media right now.

Nor do the heroic emergency personnel need yapping
media getting in the way of the serious recovery
process under way.

God bless all who are suffering.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

This “No Fly Zone” is what reeeally Stinks,,,

SAR choppers/fixed wing will be below 1000’ to be able to

see anybody on the ground/water,,,

Seems to me a few News choppers at 3000’ would help not

hurt the SAR effort,,,unless,,,

They want to hide something...:0/

[danamco]

Looks like South Miami 1992

[Octar]

I’m thinking it has more to do with the financial crisis, specifically AIG Insurance.

I don't think they have time to GIS about that. I think what is foremost is the minds of the locals is helping those who are trying to get things fixed without the meddling from ignorant media and their worst-case and blame-driven reason for existing.

[az_gila]

The NOTAM is in effect because President Bush is going there on Tuesday.

---

Negative... it is “TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR DISASTER RESPONSE AND RELIEF OPERATIONS”

Actual TFR text here....

http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_8_8191.html

Standard practice over forest fires, etc.

[az_gila]

The President Bush Notam is here....

http://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_8_8416.html

Is circular (as standard practice) and only lasts about two hours.

[FreedomCalls]

This “No Fly Zone” is what reeeally Stinks,,, SAR choppers/fixed wing will be below 1000’ to be able to see anybody on the ground/water,,, Seems to me a few News choppers at 3000’ would help not hurt the SAR effort,,,unless,,, They want to hide something...:0/

You're into tin-foil-hat territory. The NOTAM is only for altitudes up to 2000'. News helicopters can fly all over that area as long as they don't descend below 2000'.

[HAL9000]

and that’s why it’s foolish to keep the media out. As much a pestilence as they are, in their absence rumors run wild.

Also, the residents who evacuated from Galveston are relying on the news media to inform them of the condition of their property while they're shut out. They want to know if their homes and businesses are still standing. Withholding information will produce a disincentive for future evacuations.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

You’re into tin-foil-hat territory. The NOTAM is only for altitudes up to 2000’. News helicopters can fly all over that area as long as they don’t descend below 2000’.
~~~
I very well could be,,,

That it matters,,,

From what I have read it was for the whole air-space

in that area,,,

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2081430/posts

IIRC the FAA put a lid on it from day one,,,

Fox reported today that they were being allowed a ride-along

for the first time,,,

FWIW,,,FReeper jpsb ain’t checked in yet from San Leon,,,

Some of us are getting sorta worried...