COGGS TO J/S: HALT "MODERN DAY LYNCHING ATTACKS"

Production Error at Paper;
Story Runs Twice
Yet Coggs Says is Intentional,
Likens to Lynching

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team

Elizabeth Monette Coggs, 10th District Milwaukee County Supervisor, fired off a two-page letter today, Monday April 13th, 2009, accusing columnist Dan Bice and his editors at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel of "modern day lynching attacks."
At issue: a front page Metro section "No Quarter" column today in which Bice wrote about a foreclosure suit filed March 31st, 2009 against Coggs and her ex-husband, Wendell Rufus Jones.
Unfortunately, the article Bice published today (since removed from the paper's website, but here is a version) is "the same story, word-for-word, that you already printed on April 4th," Coggs writes, adding, "Come on! I believe the decision to print the exact article twice in the last ten days was intentional."

You wouldn't think so, since there is no benefit for the paper to reprint old news, and the Hound Dog Team placed a call to Bice to get his side. First, however, Coggs is incorrect when she says the two stories are identical.

The April 4th version begins:
"Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs' bad year just got a little bit worse. This week, U. S. Bank sued the north side County Board member for failing to pay the mortgage on her house."

However, today's version begins:
"Supervisor Elizabeth Coggs' bad year just got a little bit worse. Last week, U. S. Bank sued the north side County Board member for failing to pay the mortgage on her house."
[Emphasis added --Ed.]

Hmmm -- so the Journal Sentinel did not simply accidentally run the same piece twice, but subjected it to some editing to retain its timeliness.
Furthermore, the April 4th column contained this sentence that did not appear in today's story:

"She also had a small claims judgment against her for several hundred dollars from earlier this year."

That would be the $564.40 judgment Rooter Sewer Cleaners won against her.

Coggs hasn't paid that bill either, and her wages are being garnished by court order. She's probably short on cash, what with paying back the tax money she used for a trip to the inauguration of President Obama, a story Bice broke.

PRODUCTION ERROR FAULTED

Bice says the column resulted from a production error. The mortgage story was tagged as having been cut from the April 4th column, when in fact it indeed ran, as the fourth item in a longer-than-usual No Quarter. A copy editor, unaware that it had run (I guess they don't read the paper at the paper either) updated it, trimmed the business about the judgment, and printed the story.
When contacted by Coggs' office, Bice immediately removed the story from the electronic version of the paper, and explained the situation to Howard Mester, board spokesperson.
However, later in the afternoon, Coggs' letter was released to the media.
Written on whimsical stationery that looks like it would be "from the Desk of Hannah Montana," Coggs went off on a lengthy ramble against Bice, unhesitatingly bringing the Lord into the fray. Her communication is a drossy amalgam of State, Church and Race:

"Your paparazzi journalism continues to come at the expense of African-American elected officials. ... Many people in my community are sick and tired of your exploitation of people of color in leadership positions. ... You support the tradition of double standards that overseers had during slavery. Have you ever heard of the Willie Lynch theory? In 1712 he wrote a document titled, 'How to Keep a Black Man Down.' ... I also thank you for allowing the readers to see how lynching still exists today in 2009. It is odd that if you didn't have an Elizabeth M. Coggs, you would have to create one. It seems to me you might want to become a gossip columnist. ... 'Woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus and freedom.' He is my redeemer. Just as my people kept the faith during life's struggles and strife, I still do that today."

Whew!

This is absurd, especially the part about creating an Elizabeth Coggs. Do you realize how much material that would take?
Coggs should have contented herself with a one-paragraph release, and she might have made Bice and the editors squirm a little bit.
But I think she ruined that opportunity by going on and on. Furthermore, she opened herself up to having her words quoted again and again. As she wrote:

"...despite being an elected official, I still embrace my shortcomings as a human being. I know and understand why my constituents continue to see me as an everyday person and a voice for them because I am an everyday person."

Hallelujah!

[Mr. Bice has written a comment on this situation, which the reader may find here.--Ed.]

LettertoBice.pdf