October 28, 2020. The California Grand Jurors’ Association has granted the Best News Media Reporting Award to Alex MacLean for his many articles in The Union Democrat on the report by the 2017-18 Tuolumne Grand Jury, “Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA).”
The grand jury report described many problems with the TCEDA, a Joint Powers Authority formed in 2009 by Tuolumne County and the City of Sonora to promote business within and from outside the county and city.
The grand jury uncovered problems related to budgetary control, terms of the chief executive officer's contract, board personnel evaluation processes, lack of transparency and improper rules of governance (among others). MacLean covered this report with at least 26 articles through May 2019 in The Union Democrat – from the report's release through many meetings that eventually led to Tuolumne County and the City of Sonora dissolving the TCEDA. MacLean's articles were objective and thorough. He captured and reported on the substantial debate on the issues by the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors, the Sonora City Council, the TCEDA Board, and the highly interested public.
The annual Grand Jury Media Coverage Award program recognizes individuals and media that have created positive changes in their communities by increasing awareness of the California civil grand jury system. The award was presented online on October 26 at the association’s annual membership meeting, attended by over 90 members from throughout the state. Alex MacLean attended to receive the award. He was nominated by the association’s Mother Lode chapter (Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties).
The California Grand Jurors’ Association is a statewide nonprofit organization of former grand jurors with the mission “to promote, preserve and support the grand jury system through training, education and outreach.”
California Grand Jurors’ Association
Jim Ragan, President
(805) 591-9253
jimragan@charter.net
No comments:
Post a Comment