Why we're doing 'Live From the Newsroom'

Last night is a perfect example of why I wanted to start a local, live Internet broadcast on our website.


It gives us the opportunity to bring in the people who are literally making the news that affects people’s lives here in Delaware County.


Writing about them is one thing, hearing it directly from them is another.


Last night’s “Live From the Newsroom” tackled the controversial issue of the Delaware County SPCA’s plan to get out of the animal control business.


We had a great panel, including Justina Calgiano, community relations director from the SPCA, and Rick Matelsky, interim SPCA executive director, debating the issues with Tom Hickey, a member of the state Dog Law Advisory Board, and Springfield Police Chief Joe Daly.


If you missed the broadcast, you can see the replays here.


I cam away from the session more convinced than ever of one thing: All of these people bring a passion to what they do, and neither has any intention of backing down.


Calgiano reviewed the reasons why the SPCA decided, almost a year ago, to get out of the animal control business and move toward being a no-kill facility.


Hickey and Daly urged a one-year delay in the move, saying the county and municipalities simply were not yet ready for the change and predicting dire circumstances on July 1, when the change is supposed to go into effect.


You would think these two sides could get together and at least consider a delay. That would be up to the SPCA board, according to Matelsky.


If they don’t get one, I see either the county or state going to court in an attempt to block the move.


At any rate, I was glad that all four decided to come on and air the issues. That is what this weekly program is supposed to do.


Do you have an idea for a show you’d like to see addressed? Post a comment on this blog or e-mail it to me at editor@delcotimes.com.


Here’s one I would like to do. I would like to have at least one parish priest, and maybe one official from the archdiocese come on to discuss the child sex abuse scandal that is quickly turning into a conflagration.


Do I have any takers?

Comments

Kim Butler said…
There are a few things about the "great debate" that have prompted this response. #1-not one representative from Delco Council saw fit to attend. I think all of us-each township, and the county council-has to look at the big picture and realize this is not just up to each municipality to solve, but the county as well. In fact, it may be easier and more expeditious for the county to setup a county-run municipal shelter. #2. Having a mandatory spay/neuter policy in place in Delaware County would go a long way towards helping control the stray population. Believe it or not, this kind of legislation is in place in other parts of the country. If mandatory S/N can't be achieved, then make the licensing fees for unaltered dogs so much higher than for altered dogs that it makes economic sense for owners to have their dogs S/N. #3. More low-cost S/N options like The Spayed Club clinic are needed-they can't do it all. #4. Address the stray and feral cat population with a county-wide TNR program (trap-neuter-return).

Obviously these are big ideas-and big ideas require funding. Perhaps Corbett could see fit to tax the drillers and earmark a small portion of the drilling tax towards animal control issues because it's not just happening in Delaware County, it's a state-wide epidemic.
March 15, 2011 at 7:44 PM
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