Animal shelter reporting

Dear Editor,

I just have to respond to your Media Watch [column on Aug. 2 entitled] "Missing a good story" in which you lambaste the Richmond Times-Dispatch for "missing a story worthy of front page coverage. It's a story of secrecy and fear..."

Well, if this isn't the pot calling the kettle black I don't know what is.

Secrecy and fear? Where was the Chesterfield Observer's coverage of Eileen McAfee's talk [during citizen comment] to the last Chesterfield Board of Supervisor's meeting in which she told of attempts by the police to arrest her after she and others spoke to the board last year about animal abuse at the county animal shelter? And of Supervisors King and Miller's intentionally false accusations against her at that meeting? And of the chief of police organizing speakers to portray her as an animal rights terrorist even though her husband is a doctor, and she also works in the medical profession?

As for secrecy, she questioned the board as to why the minutes of last year's meeting do not include the fact that Mr. Miller ordered a bailiff to remove her from the meeting because he didn't like what she was saying. She also complained there is no videotape of the meeting available to the public, though tapes of other meetings are [available].

Unlike Chesterfield County, the RTD is a private enterprise. Its management is not elected. They owe the public no explanation. What's the county's excuse other than operating in secrecy and instilling fear in anyone who dares to criticize them?

Sidney Artz

Richmond