CONTENT: APRIL 29, 2015 From The Editors n the industry of journalism, the debasing which took the first runner-up spot, is con- of information currency is both danger- tinually heralded as a city on the rise, one to Features Ious and unethical. According to its pre- which other cities should look for inspira- amble, the Society of Professional Journal- tion and motivation. 12 — The Truth About Our Trash ists believes “that public enlightenment is “In this view,” write the paper’s authors, the forerunner of justice and the foundation Edward L. Glaeser, Joshua D. Gottlieb, and An environmentalist searches for answers to of democracy,” and that “ethical journalism Oren Ziv, “humans are quite understandably questions about Erie’s trash collection system. strives to ensure the free exchange of infor- willing to sacrifice both happiness and life mation that is accurate, fair, and thorough.” satisfaction if the price is right,” ultimately Editors-in-Chief: 30 — Neighbors Helping Neighbors To uphold this mission, SPJ identifies “four concluding that “the desires for happiness Brian Graham & Adam Welsh principles as the foundation of ethical jour- and life satisfaction do not uniquely drive Erie’s Homeless Find Help and Managing Editor: nalism and encourages their use in its prac- human ambitions.” Ben Speggen Hope at Our Neighbor’s Place tice by all people in all media.” These four Humans, in other words, are complex, Contributing Editor: principles — to seek truth and report it; to complicated beings that weigh more than a Jim Wertz minimize harm; to act independently; and single factor when deciding where to live — Arts & Culture Editor: to be accountable and transparent — serves which explains why mass exoduses of New Alex Bieler as the guide to drive good, fair, responsible York, Pittsburgh, and yes, even Erie, weren’t reporting, with the further understanding witnessed after the publishing of this study. Contributors: News & Opinion Lisa Austin, Civitas that journalists should take seriously the re- So to briefly report nine months after the Mary Birdsong 4 — Evaluating Wolf’s Budget sponsibility that comes with the relationship fact that Erie is unhappy according to a study Katie Chriest their respective media platform provides — without a frame of reference or examina- Pen Ealain Will legislature follow the Governor’s bold lead? them because they are in the business of en- tion of the entire research — isn’t thorough Rick Filippi suring our information currency hasn’t been reporting and isn’t an accurate portrayal of Eric Kisner 4 — Erie At-Large bankrupted. the authors’ purpose and conclusion. James R. LeCorchick On April 17, the Erie Times-News published “Individuals make trade-offs among com- John Lindvay Douglas Mark Hughes delivered 535 letters Jim Martin’s “Survey says Erie is an unhap- peting objectives, including but not limited Lili Morton to congress, and they’re worth noting. Bob Protzman py place.” At best, the headline is an incom- to happiness,” the authors add. “If we choose Dan Schank plete truth narrowed by the confines of print only that which maximized our happiness, Jess Scutella 7 — Street Corner Soapbox space available that should be completed in then individuals would presumably move to Tommy Shannon the body of the story; at worst, it’s lazy click- happier places until the point where rising Ryan Smith Everything is changing, everything is the same. bait, content designed to entice readers into rents and congestion eliminated the joys of Jay Stevens reading a story without much substance or that locale.” Rebecca Styn 8 — News of the Weird thought for the sake of racking up an eyeball The fact is: The majority of Americans ar- Sara Toth count. en’t scouring the Top 10 Happiest Cities list Bryan Toy Jim Wertz 8 — Just Toying Witcha Unfortunately, that 336-word story failed to and, deciding to relocate to those places provide any clearer context or understand- based solely on its findings. And even if they Cover Design: The 100% Effective Method! Leah Yungwirth ing of the survey. did, the happiness factor would be dimin- The 65-page paper, titled “Unhappy Cities,” ished based on — amongst many things — Photographers: — issued in July 2014 by the National Bureau of a swelling population stressing those cities’ Ryan Smith 11 Country Fair Celebrate 50th Brad Triana Anniversary Economic Research housed in Cambridge, infrastructure. Mass., does — as its title suggested it would We’re not alone in our concern regarding Designers: Erie’s favorite, homegrown convenience do — identify the “unhappiest cities in the “Study says Erie among most unhappy re- Liz Venuto Leah Yungwirth store hits a milestone. U.S.,” providing top-10 lists for happiest and gions.” “The editorial staff at this newspaper unhappiest cities and regions, but it also re- seems to relish in writing negative, defeatist, Interns: veals that “young people are still willing to and demoralizing ‘news articles,’ about our Michael Iverson — relocate to them for a good job opportunity region all too frequently,” write David and Zach Knight 34 ER Sports or lower housing prices,” further suggesting Carol Hutzel in an April 25 letter to the editor Candice Martone Women’s World Christopher Sexauer that “people may be deciding to trade happi- in the ETN. “We challenge anyone to serious- ness for other gains.” ly look into this ‘study’ to find a credible, val- 1001 State St. Suite 901 In short, people choose to live in a city not id, and thorough investigation.” Erie, Pa., 16501 solely based on their self-described happi- On July 31, 2014, admitting he was “late to [email protected] ness. game” to discuss the paper published earlier The Erie Reader is the local voice for Arts & Culture Instead of analyzing the study — which can that month, Managing Editor Ben Speggen news, arts, and culture, and is Erie’s only be purchased on the NBER’s website, and is wrote about this study, noting that those dis- independent, alternative newspaper. Founded in 2011, the Reader has quickly 18 — Calendar free to journalists upon request and proof cussing it at that time were losing sight of become the region’s award-winning source of employment — Martin briefly concludes the overall finding that happiness isn’t the for arts coverage, a strong cultural compass, and a dynamic resource for news and 28 — Music Reviews that “according to one of the study’s authors, lone deciding factor in a city’s vitality and opinion. With a dedication to long-form ‘Our research indicates people care about progress. journalism and a commitment to provoking thoughtful discussion, the Reader tells the 32 — Geeked Out more than happiness alone.’” Just as stories must be read beyond their stories of the people and places making and shaping Erie, while highlighting the events The abstract to the study reports that one headlines, so must studies. Although these and issues influencing life in northwestern Netflix Debuts Marvel’s Daredevil. interpretation of the data is that individuals 973 words may fall short of capturing the Pennsylvania. The Erie Reader is published every other week at The Corry Journal, 28 W. “willingly endure less happiness in exchange breadth of “Unhappy Cities,” we hope for the South St., Corry, Pa. 16407. The Erie Reader for higher incomes or lower housing costs,” sake of David and Carol — along with anyone is distributed at over 250 high foot-traffic locations in Pennsylvania from North East to meaning happiness isn’t the only nail upon else unnerved by the base presentation that Girard to Edinboro. In addition to appearing which we hang our hat in our hometown. Erie is an unhappy place without established in print, Erie Reader adds new content daily at ErieReader.com as well social media sites. For proof, one needn’t look further than the and explained criteria — we’ve shed some All rights reserved. All content © Flagship most unhappy metropolitan area with great- light on Glaeser, Gottlieb, and Ziv’s contri- Multimedia, Inc, 1001 State St., Suite 901, Erie, Pa, 16501. No part of this publication er than 1 million residents: New York City. bution to the NBER’s working paper series. may be reproduced without permission. The It’s safe to assume that New Yorkers aren’t For anyone seeking a fuller discussion of opinions of our columnists and contributors are their own and do not always reflect fleeing simply because a study finds it to be the study or a chance to read it in its entire- that of the editorial board or organization. the most unhappy large city in the United ty, please contact our offices at Contact@ Direct inquiries to 814.314.9364 or contact@ ErieReader.com. States in which to live. Likewise, Pittsburgh, ErieReader.com or 814.314.9364. April 29, 2015 ErieReader.com | Erie Reader | 3 NEWS & OPINION to fund our schools. Up until this age the devil is in the details may pressed to my office that this Evaluating administration, there was not ring true for some and does for budget proposal is rooted in the political will to tackle prop- the many that have contacted common sense. We’ve got to look Wolf’s Budget erty tax reform, but we now find my office to voice their opinion at this outside of a four-year win- ourselves at the proverbial table about the increase in personal dow, and we’ve got to have the Will legislature follow the talking about an alternative way income tax as well as the pro- political will to fully vet tough Governor’s bold lead? to fund our schools. posed changes to the sales and issues. The General Assembly, According to the numbers from use tax.