Stay Woke, San Leandro
Let's start with how we got here: people just can't read good. To the point that over half of Americans can't read beyond a 6th grade level. Their attention spans are fried. They can't focus long enough to read past a misleading news headline, let alone long enough read a book. If they can read a book. And most people have become so polarized that they've positively calcified in their petty little bigotries. People have tempers shorter than the shoestrings holding this country together.
Now, none of this should be surprising. We're seeing it everywhere, from our neighborhoods to our capital buildings. It was the entire reason that certain "politicians" dismantled public education over the past 40 years going back to the Reagan era. It's why they ban books. It's why they keep trying to make it a crime to call out lies, talk about the issues, and even write them down.
I know from experience about that last one myself. Seems there are a lot of people who don't like me telling you any of this. They don't even like the idea of truth, let alone the harsh reality when truth comes crashing down all around them and us. Because that's when we're really in danger.
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In fact, there's a great speech in a show about Star Wars which has been making the rounds lately after Disney's ABC suspended/fired Jimmy Kimmel because he said Charlie Kirk's murderer was from MAGA world and condemned political violence made Donald Trump sad. It goes like this:
"I believe we are in crisis. The distance between what is said today and what is known to be true has become an abyss. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest."
If you don't think this exactly describes the moment we are currently living through, then you aren't paying attention. Keep reading. (If you do know this, keep reading anyways.)
The best defense against ignorance and apathy is knowledge and compassion. Unfortunately, I don't know how to explain to you why you should care about other people. But I can help you get better at knowing better so you can do better. Most people have access to the collective knowledge of humanity on the same device in your pocket that they use to play Candy Crush or stalk Facebook or even to read this very post. And I'm going to help you find it to help stop the fascists and save democracy. Or at least put up a fight.
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Let's start with some basic media literacy. When reading/watching/listening to anything, including this post, you should be considering these basic questions:
1. Who created this? It could be an individual, a corporation, politician, a lobbyist, a pundit, an artist, an activist, or even a foreign nation that wants to disrupt our government in order to take over a neighboring country. Any of these people or groups have their own opinions, agendas, and biases.
2. Why was this created? The intent of a piece of media may be to persuade (an op-ed piece or an advertisement), to inform (a news story or how-to article), or to entertain (a funny tweet or text message). Increasingly, the intent in most media is to misinform (give you bad information), make you feel bad (angry, afraid, even outraged), and keep you clicking (because that's how they make money).
3. Is it credible? Are the facts factual? Are the truths truthful? Look for direct evidence of the claims being made. Support for an argument can include statistics, quotes, infographics, or research from esteemed sources, opposing views, and links to further information. Support for an argument doesn't usually include two guys on steroids in a basement telling you to hate women, invest in their crypto scam, and subscribe to their podcast. Always cross-check the information you encounter with multiple credible sources.
4. Are we sure about this? Read past the controversial headline. Do even a cursory Google search about the major claims being made. Use fact checkers like Politifact, FactCheck.org, Snopes, Media Bias / Fact Checks. See what actual American media organizations are reporting. No, not fascist propaganda networks like Fox News or OANN. I'm talking about unsatisfyingly "both sides" platforms like CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post, The Guardian, The Atlantic, ProPublica, Axios, Reuters, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, the BBC, Bloomberg News, Time Magazine, Rollingstone Magazine, NPR, PBS, and C-SPAN. Ask the experts, whether those are scientists, doctors, engineers, basically people who have academic training and professional experience on whatever subject you're dealing with. Those people can tell you things you never knew. Yeah, all of these options have drawbacks and they do make mistakes, but they also care about the facts. They live in reality and they want to know the truth.
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After you've asked yourself those questions, you probably have another question: where do you find this for San Leandro? Well, good media literacy needs an equally good media diet and that means eating your fruits and veggies as much as binging on fries and chocolate shakes. Fortunately, I have all of that available!
The San Leandro Times. This is basically broccoli. It's so boring that you just know it's good for you and you're not going to find another outlet that covers all the random San Leandrama more than your local paper. Sure, they've got a lot of nonsense, from real estate to gardening tips to plagiarized recipes. But they also report on city hall and the school board. They cover local protests and police activity. They have reporters who actually go to the meetings, talk to people, and write down what was said or what happened. They also have some hilarious fights in the letters to the editor section. I read it regularly, but not enthusiastically. Speaking of reporters...
Local reporters: Michael McGuire and Michael Singer. Think of them like apples and oranges, because they really that different despite having the same first name. McGuire was recently honored with an award by the Big Tent, a local community organization, for his leadership and service to the city. Singer was a managing editor at the local paper and now actually helps the city with its mult-media needs. I always look for their bylines in any local paper, press release, or other media.
Patch News. This should be your bread and butter. It basically compiles most of the news about San Leandro published online and reposts it in a single place. The quality and quantity will vary. Its got annoying ads. Its got random stuff from other places mixed in sometimes. But if you're looking for an easy source of local news that you can browse while you pump your gas, this will do in a pinch. I try to scan it every few days.
The Marinade Podcast. With Lee Thomas, a former city councilman and local business owner. He's also helped by Steven Tavares, another local reporter (more on him below). The podcast itself is like a healthy salad smothered in ranch dressing and grilled chicken covered in grease. You get to hear from actual elected officials, city staff, and local leaders. You also get a lot of fluff about "the good old days" and softball questions. Don't get me wrong! The barbeque they're eating sounds delicious, but the hosts rarely ask hard questions. But you will learn a lot about San Leandro politics, history, and the stories people still tell that control what happens in this town. This is part of my regulation rotation when new seasons are out.
East Bay Insiders. From Steven Tavares, formerly an investigative reporter with multiple Bay Area outlets. Nowadays, he's like too much dairy -- it's gonna end badly in the bathroom. He was a muckraker, after all. In measured doses, you will get real reporting on San Leandro that often can't be found anywhere else. But if he's the only outlet you check, you're gonna make yourself sick with stale obsession for certain city councilmembers and regurgitated talking points from the old boys Breakfast Club. Read at your own risk.
San Leandro Bytes. Run by the infamous Mike Katz-Lacabe, a local activist and gadfly who has been successfully annoying city hall for decades with crazy ideas like morals, ethics, and integrity. Think of him like those fries and chocolate shake I mentioned. He's not a frequent poster and he doesn't focus on general news, but he does hit the spot with hard-hitting reports on actual events, from gossip to scandals. He goes to community forums, posts what happens in real time, and will absolutely catch the moment when someone (like the mayor) says something completely sideways. Definitely worth indulging as a treat.
San Leandro Social Media. We've got a subreddit. We've got a Nextdoor. We've got multiple Facebook pages -- San Leandro Peeps, San Leandro Community, San Leandro for Black Lives, What's Happening San Leandro, and dozens of other little ones. You might even be reading this post on one of those platforms right now! The content varies wildly from based to bigoted, and everything in between. You can read rants from anonymous Republicans against immigrants and homeless people. You can also hear about the upteenth lost dog, gunshot vs. fireworks debate, and next restaurant opening. I think of these platforms like Taco Bell at 3 AM. It's not good for you and you're definitely gonna regret eating it, but sometimes it's the only thing open after a long night and maybe you're feeling a little bit bored anyways.
Wait... so where does my content fit into the food pyramid? Well, I'm not sure, to be honest. I guess that depends on you, dear reader. You tell me.
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This post isn't about trying to convince you that I'm right and you're wrong. (Although I am and you might be.) This is about teaching you how to think for yourself again. It's about poking at that grey matter between your ears for signs of life. Stop assuming everything's going to be fine. Not just because it isn't, but because you'll never know unless you learn for yourself. Stop living with your head down and your eyes closed. Look around and see what's going on in the world. These posts are about helping remind you how to speak, how to see, and how to listen. I know nobody likes their alarm clock, but I'm here to wake you up anyways. It's time to get to work and build a better a San Leandro for everyone.
Take note and take care.
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CASL, AEJIS.
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