Jeff Worrell, former leader behind CarmelFest and current commissioner for the Carmel Redevelopment Commission, recently launched a new Web site called Good Day Carmel, which aims to tell the positive stories about our fair city.
While many have praised Worrell for trying to create a new outlet for positive news about Carmel, others have told me that they think the Web
site is just trying to shed a good light on Mayor Jim Brainard and those who agree with his vision. These critics point to the fact that columnists/podcasters on the Web site include Brainard, City Councilor Ron Carter (also president of the Carmel City Center Community Development Corporation), CRC Director Corrie Meyer and Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, CEO of Carmel’s Center for the Performing Arts. Worrell himself has been rumored as a candidate for Carmel City Council.
These critics tell me that they believe that deciding which stories are “positive” can be subjective. If City Councilor Rick Sharp criticizes Mayor Brainard for his budget, is that considered “negative?
Much of Worrell’s Web site, Good Day Carmel, could to be in response to a longtime Internet message board called CarmelChatter.com. An objective viewing of this message board shows a majority of posts express criticism or skepticism of Brainard, the CRC and the 4CDC. Although there are some posts that defend Brainard’s vision. Frequent posters on this site had strong opinions about Worrell’s new Web site.
Worrell did not name that message board in his interview, but he did say that he was tired of hearing so many people focus on things that they don’t like about Carmel when he says he feels like he lives in one of the best cities in America.
Now, since I heard about some of this criticism, I just asked Worrell about it straight up and his response is that there’s no political slant to his Web site. It is not an attempt to push any one political point of view or endorse any specific opinion, he said.
Worrell said anyone can submit articles to his Web site, although he said he might try to balance it so one person isn’t getting all of the attention. He also clarified that his Web site isn’t a place for debate or “responding to other people’s columns” because there are plenty of political Web sites or message boards where people can debate issues.
In addition, Worrell said it’s important to note that Good Day Carmel is a Web site but not a news organization. He will continue to write columns for Current in Carmel and he hasn’t tried to sell advertising or compete with Current. He said the two have different missions.
I don’t take sides, but here’s my personal conclusion: Give his Web site a shot. Worrell says it’s a site for everyone, so take him at his word. Submit a positive item to his site and participate instead of criticize. Now, if your submissions are rejected because of your political opinions — which I know can be tricky to prove — then we can talk. But let’s try to get along. Whenever anyone says they want to work with everyone, then take them up on it. Maybe we can find things we can all agree on, especially when it comes to what we love about Carmel.
