Grand Rapids Press sports writer chimed in today about his marijuana conviction and his great fortune in getting his old job back.
In a time when newspapers are trimming staff and cutting costs, for a guy to get his job back after being convicted of a drug felony is pretty much a miracle.
I do not know David Mayo and believe in second chances and forgiveness, but I've known other employees who have lost jobs at Booth for far less transgressions than this.
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14 comments:
Dear GR/Newhouses,
This non-drug addict at The Ann Arbor News needs a job.
Mayo didn't have to write his "comeback" column in his own blood, but it doesn't seem contrite. In fact, he admitted it was a condition of his return to his job and that's exactly how it reads. And for a guy who brags about how smart he is, it's no journalistic masterpiece.
The excuses are lame (too addicted to language (?!)for my own good, too into exercise for my own good) and it's short on details. Sorry, unless you're Cheech AND Chong, seventy-one plants is a lot of pot for personal use. How did this guy get any work done?
The episode also raises questions about preferential treatment. How did Mayo and his wife get out of this without forfeiting the home? Would a black factory worker or Hispanic restaurant owner get this kind of break, especially in West Michigan?
But again, maybe Dan Gaydou took a cue from the sports pages ... such as MLB ignoring steroid use for so many years or the NBA's unofficial policy of letting star players choke coaches and throw chairs at fans. As long as Mayo wasn't running a dogfighting enterprise(no one wants to invoke the ire of PETA or the Humane Society), maybe Gaydou decided Mayo was a valuable "franchise" player in the GR Press organization.
Gaydou is known for his acts of mercy within Booth. And one can understand and even appreciate his Christian extension of forgiveness and redemption.
However, these are different times. Aside from the fact that this decision makes it difficult for the GR Press to ever take a hard stand on drug issues, it must seem cruel to those being pushed out of Booth who are NOT running a pot farm in their basement.
I've never done drugs in my stinking life, except for Novocain for wisdom teeth removal. Where's MY writer job?
One of the people who left a comment made an interesting point: If it was for personal use, why was the pot divided into one-ounce increments? Sounds like it was cut up to sell if you ask me.
"We provide job security to all full-time, salaried employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. This means that no full-time, salaried employee will lose his or her job because of new equipment, technological advances or lack of work . . . this unique job security pledge applies to you as long as you continue to perform your assigned tasks satisfactorily, do not engage in misconduct and this newspaper continues to publish."
-- "Your Employee Benefits"
Apparently, running a pot farm at your place does not constitute "misconduct." Then again, when this wonderful family made reference to "technological advances" they apparently weren't thinking of a medium that could replace the printed word on paper.
I worked for this company for many years. I did my job well. I did everything asked of me. I never embarrassed my workplace, my family or my community. I certainly never broke the law. And these people broke their word and fired me. No option for a pay cut. No option for a transfer. But elsewhere, someone who should have been fired immediately gets to keep his job, despite the printed word saying he would lose it were he to commit "misconduct." Kiss enough butt, and you can do pretty much anything, I guess.
Translation: The word of the Newhouses is worthless.
And because of that, I truly hope this entire chain goes up like a California forest toward the end of a 6-month drought.
Utter crap. Imagine if GR Press reporter Gary Bond were convicted of the same charge. He would have been fired the day of his conviction.
If you guys are so pure, then why are you posting anonymously?
Grow a spine. Post with a name if you are going to fling careless accusations.
There is zero credibility to any of the previous posts. 15:53, who was fired, apparently has no clue about journalism, and the paper is better off without that person.
...and your momma named you rknil?
Newhouse lawyers make you hide: Nondisclosure, no bashing the company rule for us severance people. You know, the Jim rule. FYI: I am 10:32.
rknil, talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Your credibility level is like your name ... NIL! Post a real name before trying to call others out.
rknil....please elaborate on what you consider "careless accusations" in the posts above and then compare them to the accusations in your post.
Who are you to make the determination that "There is zero credibility to any of the previous posts." ?
Are you the person who determines such things on the internet ?
It would seem that of all the posts on here, you have been the most guilty of flinging a careless accusation. (actually several)
It's as if rknil is Greg Mayo or a close friend
Rknil, why attack people for legitimately questioning the Grand Rapids Press' decision to let an admitted felon back on its payroll despite 1) a "zero-tolerance" drug policy and 2) the fact that it is firing perfectly good employees who have followed the rules and worked their butts off?
This guy had WAY TOO MUCH pot in his house to be just growing it for personal use.
He was a drug dealer. Plain an simple.
Jim's right. People in Booth have been fired for far less offenses in Booth.
The Daily Derelict has more commentary here:
http://thedailyderelict.blogspot.com/2009/07/proof-even-heavy-drug-users-dealers-can.html
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