Lying by Omission — Readers Deserve the Truth.
Residents of Fairhaven, I am offering you back two paragraphs from the Fairhaven Neighborhood News (6/12/25). The first being part of a biased opinion in the editorial. And the second as part of a paraphrased article, on last week’s important Select Board meeting, held on 6/9.
Paraphrasing and lying by omission, can change the entire context of what is really being said. Readers need the Truth.
I challenge all residents of Fairhaven who read the FNN, to see the SB meeting video of 6/9/2025 on fairhaventv.com
Please note, as it appears, these two paragraphs work hand in hand. And notice joggled up paraphrasing in the SB article, that contextually works towards biased opinions, not all the facts.
Writing an editorial with flagrant opinions is one thing, lying by omission is another.
1/Editorial: The Select Board had to listen to a whole lot of bullshit this week. Geesh. People just cannot take no for an answer. Give it up, people. There are lots of reasons why the board can choose a person to be on a committee or board.
2/FHVN Select Board Article: Erin Carr, Cathy Melanson, Patrick Carr, Derek Furtado, and Michelle Costen, all complained about Mr. Sullivan’s appointment, saying the board should have chosen one of the more experienced applicants.
The writer completely omitted the truth of what I said, which is crucial for readers/residents to understand. The writer made it sound like we were all just a bunch of worthless complainers, instead of public citizens truly concerned about our zoning permitting process, by voting in a candidate with zero skills on the ZBA board. ZERO, as I said in the meeting.
The Selectboard has a duty to ensure skill in our planning/ZBA boards.
In the 1st paragraph above, the writer expounds, There are lots of reasons why the board can choose a person to be on a committee or board. Skill should be #1, agree?
We had two more experienced SB board members that the writer did not mention either. SB Chair, Murphy, and Mr. Silvia, who both voted no for Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Sullivan did not even have transferable skills to offer the ZBA board.
Another fact omitted from this important article for residents to know about. Mr. Saunders spoke at the end of this meeting. Mr. Saunders conveyed that he did not know there were ZBA associates with notable transferable ZBA skills, and who were never told about a selection being made for a ZBA board member.
Mr. Saunders may have voted NO, had he known we had ZBA associates with transferable ZBA skills, whereas Mr. Sullivan had Zero planning/ZBA experience.
Mr. Saunders is also a more experienced board SB member and could have been the tie breaker of a 3 to 5 vote. A vote unskillfully motioned by a newly elected member.
Residents can read the article/ watch the video. Truth Speaks for Itself
Maybe it is time reporter retires.
Michelle Costen, Fairhaven
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Click here to download the 6/19/25 issue: 06-19-25 NoKings
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