The role of the media in a democracy

Declining public trust - AI

A recent Gallup poll shows that the public’s trust in the media is at an all-time low. The results of the poll are dismaying and ironic, since the role of the media is more important now than ever. 

Just as the U.S. arena is polarized, the poll shows that the levels of trust in the media vary according to one’s political party. Fifty one percent of Democrats say they trust mass media, 27% of Independents ascribe to the media’s accuracy, while only 8% of Republicans trust the media. So, 43% more Democrats than Republicans believe in the news they get from this country’s mass media outlets. 

The Gallup poll also showed that there is a generational divide in the public’s trust in the media, since 43% of older adults aged 65 and older trust the media compared to 28% of those under 65. 

These figures are dismaying since the role of the media has not changed from what its role has always been: to inform, to hold leaders accountable and to provide a forum for public dialogue.

Thomas Jefferson said “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press and that cannot be limited without being lost.” 

So, from the beginning of our country’s founding, local media has been the foundation of our democracy. 

What happens when local media is lost? We can see that happening today with widespread newsroom closures and “news deserts” where communities lack credible local coverage. Protecting and maintaining local news matters because without local news outlets, communities lose oversight of power, civic participation declines and residents are left less informed about decisions shaping their daily lives. 

If we fight for anything in this country, shouldn’t it be for our freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, considering that these freedoms are at the bedrock of our democratic way of life? What do you think? 

You can get information about a recent panel discussion on the media’s role in our local community by viewing the East Palo Alto Today Facebook page

The coming of fall

What did you do on September 22, 2025, to observe the first day of fall? 

That first day is also called the Autumn or September Equinox and it, traditionally, represents a time of balance, clarity, reflection, collection and release. It is a time to harvest. 

 In the astrological zodiac, September is Libra, which is identified by the symbol of the scales, which represent a striving for fairness and balance. This is traditionally thought of as a time when daylight and darkness are of equal length. 

We often think of January as a time of new beginnings, but the fall is also a time to plan for the days ahead and the actions and goals set now chart the course for the rest of the year. 

So, it’s obviously a time to plan wisely, to discard all of the things that no longer serve us, to set goals that bring more meaning to our lives. 

Again, what did you do yesterday? It is a time to reflect upon the past, to be in the present and to prepare for the longer nights ahead.

Are sanctions really necessary?

East Palo Alto City Council members during their contentious Sept. 2, 2025 meeting

When three East Palo Alto City Council candidates were running for a seat on the East Palo Alto City Council in the 2024 election, they promised that, despite their differences, they were not only capable of working together, if elected, but they said they could work together harmoniously.

Well, the three of them were elected to the council. You can see what they said at the time in their video interview that is posted on the EPA Today website and on Youtube. 

As events have taken shape since the election, that harmonious interaction has not happened. Instead, things have reached such a nadir on the council that one long-term council member, Carlos Romero, who ran and won in the 2024 election, is now in danger of being censured or worse by his council colleagues.

A decision will be made this evening at a special East Palo Alto City Council meeting whether Romero will be sanctioned.

You can read what happened to bring all of this about in the article discussing the contentious council exchanges in the EPA Today news article titled, Are proposed city council sanctions in East Palo Alto justified? 

So, where should East Palo Alto's council members be putting their energies and focus - fighting each other or in addressing the critical issues facing their city?

What do you think?

Mass deportations are not the answer

 In 2024, the U.S. deported approximately 142,00 people, an increase over previous years. This year so far, according to the Transaction Records Access Clearinghouse (tracreports.org), there have been 157,948 people removed from the U.S. under the Trump administration.  

Photo by Jason Leung on unsplash.com

While many in this country might applaud these deportations, others will deplore them on the grounds that they cause needless trauma, fear, anxiety and displacements. These mass deportations break up families, interrupt the lives of hardworking residents, disrupt businesses and send ripple effects of distrust through communities. 

The current disturbances in L.A. and San Francisco vividly demonstrate the harm these deportations are causing – negating individual dreams and destroying the normal rhythms of entire communities.

There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. with an estimated 1.8 million in California.

Census data taken in 2023 shows that 41% of East Palo Alto residents were born outside of the U.S. So, East Palo Alto is particularly vulnerable with its large immigrant community, where families often pool resources and support each other.  Since 6.1 million children in the U.S. live with at least one undocumented immigrant, it’s easy to see how deporting a breadwinner can destabilize entire households.         

Yes, Trump did say that he would launch “the largest deportation program in American history,” and it seems that he is intent on keeping his promise.  Weren’t there initially promises to deport criminals and illegal gang members? The answer is yes. But, now, even those with green cards and those appearing for legitimate court cases are being swept up in immigration raids and deportations.     

Considering the negative effects that ICE raids are having on communities throughout this country and the traumatic aftereffects that result, many might rightly conclude that the mass deportations we are seeing need to be condemned not lauded. After all, they fall disproportionately on Black and Brown immigrants and communities, particularly people from Africa and the Caribbean. One has only to look at Trump’s proclamation on June 5, 2025, banning nationals of 12 countries from entering the United States to see those who are being targeted, detained and denied entry.

If mass deportation is not the answer, then what is the answer? There are three approaches that offer solutions. First, it is widely recognized that our immigration system is broken.

 What has seldom been mentioned, and certainly not much lately, is immigration reform. If the U.S. is to act fairly and enact and enforce just immigration policies, then it must reform the current immigration system, so that there are legal pathways for those who seek to enter this country. 

 Second, deportation should focus on those who commit crimes and pose a threat to public safety and not focus on parents, caregivers and longtime community members. Yet, even criminals deserve their day in court before being deported. So, with everyone, there are laws of “due process” that need to be respected.

 Third, countries need to work together to positively address the conditions that force people to seek asylum in this country. Foreign aid programs that address violence, poverty and climate displacement are one step in this direction.

 Surely, mass deportations only hurt not help and we need to find another way of dealing with this country’s immigrant communities. The future of East Palo Alto and of other communities, like it, depend on our finding and enacting solutions that are just and humane.