Saundra McDavid

Even our newspapers are newsworthy here in Eagle. But not for the content they are providing. A recent Boise Weekly article revealed the motives behind the controversial Eagle Informer Magazine. When I read the first edition of the “Informer” I thought the articles were more of a propaganda and photo-op piece for Mayor Phil Bandy and that the information presented was historical and “re-written.” I know the people of Eagle want information about issues that affect them and want to know what issues are on the horizon, and I didn’t see that information published in the magazine.

I was also surprised that my restaurant, a landmark in Eagle for five years, was not listed in the restaurant section. It was my understanding that this magazine, which was paid for with City funds, was to be representative of the entire City. A brief glance through issue number two again revealed the absence of my restaurant in the restaurant section. This time I noticed a comment had been placed underneath the listings stating if you wanted to be listed you were to call in your listing. This seemed odd to me. Did all of those restaurants which were already listed call in, or were they hand picked by the publisher? That second issue joined the first in the trash and that was the extent of my experience with the Informer. I knew others were voicing concerns about the publication and I was relieved to see the City would not be providing additional funds for the publication.

A call on Monday from Nathanial Hoffman of the Boise Weekly brought new “news” of the Informer. The voice mail he left on my answering machine mentioned something about the Eagle Informer being formed out of the Mayoral Race. I was surprised to hear this and thought “surely not.” It’s always my preference to give people the benefit of the doubt. I know some in City Hall are working towards a better communication with the city and that was a campaign issue. Perhaps this is what he meant?

An early morning phone call on Tuesday indicated that I had been incorrect in thinking that the Eagle Informer was an innocent attempt at better communication. Nathan told me that the publisher not only was a vocal Bandy supporter, but labeled me and my supporters as “the haters.” A newspaper publisher actually said this? On the record? She said this about nearly 50% of the voting population of the city who will be reading her publication? He then went on to say that the publisher, Mary Defayette, had claimed that my restaurant is an example of what is “wrong” with Eagle. So that is why my restaurant is left out of her listing section. A restaurant that has thrived for five years in a downtown struggling with revitalization issues is what is “wrong” with Eagle? Does she think if she doesn’t list it that it will go away? Not a chance!

The phone call left me fuming. We had actually spent city funds on this publication! If Bandy knew the angst and animosity behind the publisher, why did he support the publication?

The last lines in the Boise Weekly are revealing:  Defayette wants “more access to city information—Eagle is notoriously slow in publishing its city council minutes. But if they are depending on Bandy for that information, they are not doing their jobs. “I would like to have those magazines and newspapers do a little bit of the footwork first,” Bandy said. Then he’s happy to edit anything they write, he said.”

Bandy is EDITING the news stories?

Is he that desperate for a PR boost that he has to PAY a publisher to post fluff and allow him to re-write articles in his favor?

The Boise Weekly article can be found here: http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A315761