In an act of insensitivity to the African American community in West Orlando, WFTV Channel 9 is seen as misrepresenting and attacking Orlando City Commissioner Daisy Lynum, after a recent news report aired regarding a letter written by the Commissioner to OPD Chief Michael McCoy.
Viewers who saw the report believe that it painted a negative picture of the District 5 Commissioner and distorted the contents of the letter, which was written in response to constituent complaints.
WFTV refers to the Commissioners’ letter as an “attack on OPD”, without referencing where in the letter she actually attacked the department.
Using the terms, “witch hunt”, “scathing”, and “dramatic”, to describe the letter, WFTV appears to have touched a nerve in the African American community. Viewers in district considered the WFTV report an attempt to minimize their concerns and stir up racial insensitivities.
Others saw the news report as a vicious, race baiting attack on the commissioner and have recalled previous instances in which WFTV’s coverage of news relevant to the African American community was slanted or demeaning.
As recently as 2005 and 2006, WFTV was seen by many as having a vendetta against State Senator Gary Siplin, who is also an African-American elected official. In two separate reports, WFTV is seen as ridiculing and embarrassing Siplin, even capturing his avoidance of news cameras as he went over a fence.
In a brief conversation with The Pine Hills West Orlando News, Lynum gave her account of the letter.
“I wrote a letter to the mayor sharing with him what I had been told by third parties,” said Commissioner Lynum. “Thats what you’re supposed to do, isn’t it?”.
The first paragraph of the letter written April 10th reads, “The purpose of this correspondence is to share with you and my colleagues on the city council two reports that I received this weekend that shocked me and apparently the witnesses to these incidents”.
Ms. Lynum goes on to describe a third party account of a black juveniles’ misdemeanor arrest and his alleged attack by a police dog. No where in her letter does Lynum accuse the Orlando Police Department of any wrongdoing.
In the second incident, although it was captured on video, Ms. Lynum used the term “reportedly” twice. The video documented a black juvenile being forcefully shoved by an Orlando police officer.
Sources tell The Pine Hills West Orlando News that this was a possible prelude to a story the news station plans to run regarding a State Ethics Commission ruling, regarding an ethics complaint filed by a former member of that commission.
The complaint stems from a phone call Commissioner Lynum made to Orlando Police Chief McCoy regarding a racial-profiling incident involving her son Juan Lynum, who is also an attorney.
In that incident last May, Juan Lynum, called his mother from a cell phone, while an Orlando officer checked his registration and license. Lynum later learned that he was pulled over because of a broken tail light, which the officer refused to disclose when asked.
The commissioners’ call to the chief and subsequent referral to the white officer as a “white-boy”, led to a major controversy in which a few in the Orlando police union label Ms. Lynum a racist.
The news stations appears to take issue with every aspect of the letter, referring to her repeated calls for the installation of audio-visual equipment in patrol cars as something she wants, and therefore unnecessary, while minimizing the fact the Orlando Police Department would also welcome the equipment being installed. Lynum has recommended that the equipment be used to protect police officers as well as the public.
Channel 9 news also fails to mention the compliments given the department by Ms. Lynum, in which she states that the department has a great reputation for professionalism, and excellence, and her interest in protecting that image.
“As you know, the Orlando Police Department has had a great reputation since 1983 for its college graduates, professionalism and tactical skill”, said Lynum.
After viewing the news report, several West Orlando residents stated that the WFTV report was just another example of white owned and dominated media stirring up racial politics and going unchecked.
Borrowing from the Kanye West reference to President Bush, following Hurricane Katrina, one resident said, “Channel 9 don’t like black people”.
