Black History Month Profile of Lee Rhyant

When approached by my assignment editor and asked who I wanted to profile for a Black History Month (BHM) story the local icons who were there front and center during what we term the ‘Civil Rights Era’ came to mind.   Truth be known … we’re still in the civil rights era today.  Dr. King’s message was not just for African Americans, but ALL people of color in every hue there is.  In my opinion, we’re still working on it.

I decided not to go with the usual … an interview with Andrew Young or Joseph Lowery.  Both are men I have an unwavering respect for, and owe a debt of gratitude, for like Dr. King, it was on their shoulders that I stood making my assent in life.  A debt I try to repay daily.  Instead I decided to profile someone very few have probably ever heard of … Lee Rhyant, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Marietta.  The company makes cutting edge fighter jets for our military.  One of their test pilots summed up the product quite succinctly.  He said. “We’re not interested in having a fair fight.”

I first met Lee Rhyant when I accompanied my father for a VIP tour of the facility.  The offer of a tour of the facility had been graciously extended to my father because he is one of the few remaining WWII Tuskegee Airman, legends to aviators all over the world.  The plant was most impressive, but the people were even more so.

Rhyant was the last person we met on the tour.  They were no doubt saving the best for last.  I say this not because of the color of his skin, but more so because of the obvious content of his character.  Yes I admit I have invoked a phrase made famous by Dr. Martin Luther King, but I assure you it is applicable in this instance.

We next met in February 09 after he accepted my request for an interview and cleared a spot on his calender.  I have interviewed Presidential candidates, Congressmen, Senators and others of note or fame, but it is extremely rare that I am so impressed.  This was the case during my interview with Rhyant.

Here is a man who oversees eight thousand people, billions in taxpayer money, and bears the burden of having to make a zero defect product, because American lives are at stake.  And he happens to be black.

We can’t all be President Obama or Condoleezza Rice.  People of color need to hear, see and meet more role models that are the guy next door or have made something of themselves from humble beginnings.  Such is the case with Lee Rhyant.  He was extremely easy and comfortable to talk with and had a degree of wisdom that only comes from living a life that sometimes takes you down the road less traveled, having confidence in your abilities (minus the arrogense) and the willingness to succeed despite obsticals posed by innorence, complancy or those disguising  themseleve in sheep’s clothothing who’s real agenda is to  do you harm.

I’ll end here with one of the many pearls of wisdom from Mr. Rhyant:

“I am only as good as the people beneath me.  I do everything I can to stay as close as possible to them, because the higher you go, the less you know about what’s really going on.”

Atlanta’s Water Department

Over the last few weeks we’ve been hammering the Atlanta Water Department about exorbitant water bills people are getting.  We know about these ridiculously high bills because the public contacts us asking for help. That’s a BIG reason why this television news station is here.  To help the viewing public and be the voice for those who feel they have none. 

It flies in the face of logical thinking that someones water bill can jump from $50 to $1,600 overnight.  If it were me, after looking at the bill and expanding my vocabulary with expletives in at least seven languages, I would make a call to the water department and ask ‘WHY?’  If given the response some say they’ve gotten of ‘that’s what you used’, I’d then call a plumber to check for a leak.  A really big leak.  Assuming there’s no leaks … What gives??!!

Water Commissioner Rob Hunter’s handling of his news conference has infuriated people I’ve talked to.  What would be so wrong with saying, ‘Some of these bills I’m hearing about shock me as well.  I appreciate the media bringing them to my attention and we will investigate each and every one of them over the next few weeks.’  Reporter question:  ‘Could these new electronic meters be responsible?’  Answer: ‘It’s certainly possible.  We’re going to check the meters in question.’  DONE!  FINISHED!  END OF NEWS CONFERENCE!! … Then follow through with what you said you’d do.

Where is the city’s PR person on this hot topic?  If you’re reading this you need to tell Mr. Hunter do not duck the media.  It makes you look really, really bad.  The water department is your gig Mr. Hunter … in good times and bad.  And I guarantee you that the viewing audience was cheering when our reporters finally interrupted your glorified rant about what a great job your department is doing.  It took reporters Adam Murphy and  Wendy Saltzman asking you the tough questions for you to finally get to the point.

The explanations given for the mind numbing water bills is unacceptable.  Nobody is buying it.   What’s even more disturbing is the appearance of the departments acceptance of a 5% customer dissatisfaction rate.  The only way evil can succeed, is for good men and women to stand by and do nothing.  We expect more from our city government.

Thoughts on President Obama’s Inauguraton

I covered President Obama’s Inauguration from a viewing party at Emory University today.  It was held in Harland Hall, which I thought would have been a bigger venue, but it was packed nonetheless.

In an attempt to not interrupt anyone for an interview during the really important moments of the inauguration, I sat at the front of the room with the big screen to my back and looked out on the sea of faces assembled.   Looking at the hope and inspiration on those faces was almost as moving as the reason for this day.

I was born at a time when segregation was still previlant, and racisum was much more overt. Back then you could tell who the bigots were.  They didn’t hide like they do today.   In kindergarten at ‘nap time’, I was forced to take my nap behind the bookcase away from the white students.  My mother recounted to me a teacher in elementary school who told her she couldn’t possibly pass me on to the next grade, because I was black and how that would look if I graduated to the next grade with the white kids.

My father lived through the Great Depression, endured racial hatred and segregation, put up with the comments and taunts as he became a WWII hero piloting the P-51 Mustangs as a Tuskegee Airmen and his inability to buy a home when he got back from the war in a Long Island subdivision because he was black.  But on this day, he accepted an invitation to the Capital, and got to see first-hand history in the making, the election of the first African-American to the office of President of the United States.  On a personal level, this day has been moving to say the least for my entire family, myself included.

But here’s the most important part:  A man was judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin.  Is this the pinnacle of Dr. King’s dream?  I’m doubtful of that, but it certainly is a significant step in that direction.  President Obama symbolizes the endless possibilities out there for the future.  Only history will tell if he and his administration follow through on the promises and hopes of the American people, but we can only hope he will wield the power of his office in a thoughtful and responsible way with the interests of this country in mind.  We can also hope he will continue a trend of bi-partisan government so his administration can accomplish great things.

If you have a comment, please post one here.  I welcome your thoughts.  Also if you have a great story idea, I’d like to hear that too.

Bill Gaines

My nickel’s worth on Brian Nichols

The tragic events for which Brian Nichols finds himself standing trial with his life hanging in the balance, happened shortly before I joined CBS 46 News.  But with as much as I’ve read about it, spoken about it and seen archive video of it, I feel like I was there that day in 2005.

Hopefully we’re nearing the end of this trial.  Yes, I know …  I’ve heard the mantra about every person deserves ‘due process of law’, a jealous defense and to be tried by a jury of his/her peers.  But if there ever were a case for skipping all the rhetoric and getting right down to the meat and potatoes of sentencing … the Nichol’s trial would be it.

Fact:  He admits to all the killings.  He admits to everything, every gruesome detail.  The only catch is he says he was nuts when he did it.  What??!!

His attorney’s say we need to remember that he had the opportunity to kill more people, but didn’t.  That one really got me.  How about this idea … He needed to conserve every bullet he had, otherwise he might never have made it out of the Fulton County Courthouse!  He didn’t look disoriented or like he was suffering any break from reality when he made his move on the Sheriff’s Deputy beating her to a pulp.  Nichols appeared to me to be a bad man seizing a tactical advantage at a moment in time when he would have a distinct advantage.  He knew he could physically overpower the guard.  He knew she was the only person with immediate physical custody over him.  He knew he was in a confined small place with hard solid walls (both he could use to his advantage and did) and by moving quickly and getting her out of closed circuit camera view he could disable her and prepare himself to execute the next step in his plan to escape.

Killing the Judge was next.  From the evidence we’ve been privy to, it appears that wasn’t an accident or a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  It appears to be another calculated move.

I’m all about justice, but in this case more than a million (maybe a few million) of taxpayer money has been spent on a person who decided to stray drastically from acceptable social behavior with what appears to be a blatant destine for public morals and public safety.  Had this been a crime of passion or truly a case of someone who was mentally incompetent or mentally diminished at the time, then maybe this exorbitant expenditure of time, money and manipulation of the legal system might be more palatable.

We’ve heard from more than ninety witnesses, including Nichols mother which was somewhat eye opening.  It might lead some to believe he had ‘Mommy Issues.’  Heck .. A lot of people have Mommy Issues, but they don’t snuff out the lives of decent people in a blood bath.  We also heard a recorded jail-house conversation where Nichols says he could have saved the prosecution time and money … that he’s not crazy and wasn’t at the time of the killings.

We’re going through all this for a man who thought he was bad-to-the-bone during his ‘daring escape’, but now that he’s caught and it’s time to face the music, he wants to pick the tune.

I don’t know about you, but I think more than enough of my tax dollars have been spent on this.  What do you think?

Drop me a line here.  I’m listening.

Racist Letters

Once again racism has reared its ugly head here in the Atlanta area.  Granted … It’s not like it’s not present on a daily basis (which it is), but now it’s a little more overt.  The stupidity and ignorance of people who like to consider themselves Big Thinkers is now showing up in the form of very scary (please read the words ‘very scary’ in an Elmar Fud voice) letters being left in people’s mailboxes.  It’s sort of like the obnoxious little neighbor’s boy who sneaks up and rings your doorbell then runs away in an attempt to annoy you.  It’s the same kid that cries like a baby when he gets pants-ed on the schoolyard.

First we reported on the letters being left in a subdivision in Clayton County.  Now people are finding them in a Kirkwood neighborhood.  For the moment authorities are saying they aren’t sure the incidents are related, but the rhetoric is the same.  It’s the same tired ole taught using the ‘N’ word (often misspelled by these types of folks) and the raging diatribe about gays and any other segments of society they see as a threat to their existence.

So, how does a community deal with an infestation like this?  I’m interested in your thoughts.  Post your comments here on my blog, and I might read your comments on the air.  Please keep in mind kids may be watching, so keep it tasteful.

Thanks

Political Debates

Here at CBS 46 News, we’ve been covering each of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates.  Following each debate we have devoted half of our 11pm newscast to post analysis of the debates.  The most recent Presidential debate was arguably nothing new according to our analysts who represent the Republican and Democratic view points.  Having watched each of these debates, it seems there’s a deliberate attempt on the part of the politicians to not answer the questions put to them.  I’m talking about a direct answer to a direct question.  ‘Would you commit US troops if Israel were to be attacked by Iran?’  Granted … the public may be war weary at this point, but what would be wrong with an answer that started with a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ followed by the reason why?  Instead we get a party-line shoe shuffle which ends with a statement that suggests a possible yes or no answer, but never comes right out and says it.

This same kind of rhetoric is heard in response to many of the questions posed to the candidates.  This is a time in our history that requires clear decisive leadership.  It can not be politics as usual from either side.  It is imperative that regardless of your political persuasion that you vote on November 4th or before.  The choices are what they are.

As we quickly approach election day, we’d like to know if your concerns have shifted or been re-prioritized given the recent events on Wall Street, the employment situation, the housing crisis, gas crisis etc.  Maybe there’s some element in all this we’re missing?  What would you say is the top five things that matter to you in order of importance?  Consider this an impromptu non-scientific blog survey.  I appreciate all your comments and may read some of them on the air during our newscasts.

Our Financial Meltdown

For a number of weeks now, we have been watching Wall Street continue to crumble before our very eyes.  We have all listened to the ‘experts’ give their ‘opinions’ on how to solve the financial mess we find ourselves in, but not once have I heard any of them entertain the idea of giving that $700+ Billion back to the taxpayers.  It is our money to begin with.  So what’s the worse that could happen?  We’d take the money and put it right back in to the economy.  People would save their homes from foreclosure, purchase gas, food, clothing and instead of the trickle down method of revitalizing the economy, you reverse the process and make it a trickle-up situation.

The other part of this catastrophe in the making has to do with giving that monumental amount of money to the very people who got us in to this mess to begin with!  The players haven’t changed.  What makes anyone think the outcome will?  A lot of people at the top have built substantial financial wealth and amassed a phenomenal amount of material things on the backs of the working stiff and now it is the people on the lowest rung of that ladder who are left holding the bag, which is now empty.

This is not a personal tirade, this is what I hear from viewers and the general public in grocery stores and at my kid’s football games and practices, and I can’t say I disagree.

I’m interested in your opinion.  It’s fine if you disagree because I’m interested in what you have to say.  Please feel free to post your opinions and comments here on my blog.  We might just read some of them on the air.

Answering some of your questions.

I started to blog about this recent rash of Smash and Grab robberies and these annoying Blue Jean Bandits, but it quickly turned into more of a rant than a blog.  So, in an effort to bring my blood pressure back into an acceptable range, I thought I would answer a few questions I’m often asked.

“Is the news recorded?”  Nope … It’s all live all the time.

“When do you get to work?”  2:30 in the afternoon.

“Do you guys go home between shows?”  No.

“Who does your makeup?”  Sad but true … We do it ourselves.  I consider myself a pretty ‘manly’ guy, but I can put on my makeup and be ready to get in front on the camera in less than five minutes.

“Do you write a lot of the stories yourself?”  The vast majority of the stories in our newscasts are written by talented people you never see on television.  They are the producers and writers.  But it is extremely rare that you will ever hear a story I’m telling you that I haven’t tweaked in some form or fashion.  On occasion I might re-write a story in its entirety.   The same holds true for my co-anchor.  We need to be able to read the story in our respective ‘voices’.  I also see it this way:  If someone else took the time to write it, then I should take the time to read it before it goes on air.  It’s also my responsibility to correct any grammatical or factual errors before it gets on the air.  To complain about it after-the-fact is too late.

‘What do you guys talk about during the commercial breaks?’  The conversations can be about virtually anything.  We talk about stories that just aired or are about to air.  We say all the things we wish we could say on the air, but can’t.  Mind you … We have to be very careful because with the push of a button, every word we say might end up on the air.  Nothing is off limits during our conversations.  It ranges from busting the chops of a member of the floor crew in the studio to a serious exchange of political views.

We often joke that if viewers were able to hear just half the stuff we say during commercial breaks we’d have the highest ratings of any TV station on the planet!  And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the sense of humor that’s pervasive in a television news environment.  There’s always something to laugh about … sometimes to the point of tears.  There have been more than a few times I’ve been laughing so hard I’ve had to wipe tears from my eyes seconds before we returned from a commercial break.  Humor is a very necessary commodity in this business which is filled with far too many negative things.

If you have a question or comment about my blogs or a story we aired, please feel free to leave your comment here or email me at bill.gaines@cbs46.com.

The 911 Operator Story

Gina Conteh’s most recent failure as a 911 dispatcher has been plastered over every local television news station in town.  CBS 46 has been first in breaking pretty much every element of this tragic story, but I believe there is at least one element we have not focused on in depth.

If you spend enough time as a 911 dispatcher or as a cop, you will inevitably develop some psychological luggage that can be difficult and in some cases impossible to lose.  To put this in personal terms, I was a Police Officer for more than a decade.  During that time I bared witness to things no one in their right mind would ever want to see.  Somewhere in the dark recesses of my gray matter is a room filled to the brim with ‘luggage’.  And we’re not talking carry-on sizded items here folks.  We’re talking specially made steamer trunks.  Any shrink would have a field day if they ever got in there, but over the years I have successfully booby-trapped the entrance.  So consider this … Any 911 dispatcher who’s been on the job for any length of time is going to have a certain amount of square footage devoted to their luggage as well, and this can wear you out.

During the course of any single day, a 911 operator is taking dozens of calls from frightened people begging for help.  The caller is rarely calm and rarely thinking clearly.  As a dispatcher you must reassure them.  You have to maintain your cool so you can help them.  And you have to get the information right.  So how emotionally draining do you think it would be if you’re the dispatcher listening to someone screaming for help on the phone.  How difficult do you think it is to get every detail correct?  Now take in to account language barriers, regional accents and education levels.  Maybe it’s a mother gasping for breath to get the words out that her child has just been hit by a car.  Maybe it’s a Police Officer you know who’s just been shot and is lying alone in the street somewhere bleeding out.  Think of a time that was emotionally draining and/or stressful for you.  Maybe you found out your wife, husband, boyfriend or girlfriend was cheating on you?  Or maybe it was something as simple as a major argument with your parents or spouse.  Maybe you were the victim of a crime?  When the dust settled, do you remember how tired you were?  Did you get all the facts right the first time?  Now try doing that for eight to twelve hours a day, five days a week.  The way I see it, Ms. Conteh made a mistake.  She sent help to the wrong address.  A human error.  A bad one, but a human error.  We have heard nothing thus far that suggests any malicious intent on her part and she will have to live with the truly unfortunate consequences of her actions.  The death of Darlene Dukes is tragic on so many levels.

But here’s the flip side of the argument.  There is absolutely no excuse for what Gina Conteh did.  Policy dictated that breaks were to be given on a regular basis to combat fatigue.  Also keep in mind that we aren’t talking about the employee of the year here.  Based on what CBS 46 uncovered, Gina Conteh’s personnel file was more than two thousand pages thick, filled with countless reprimands for a list of things that read more like a list of all the things you could do to be immediately fired.  Physical altercations with co-workers, sleeping on the job, not answering calls, not responding to calls … and the list goes on.

But here’s the topper to it all.  Ms. Conteh wants to go before the Personnel Board to get her job back???!!  I think Ms. Conteh has been justifiably raked through the coals by the print and broadcast media (maybe even a little too much), but if the city or county even thinks about giving this woman her job back … or worse … comes to some ’settlement’ with her to kill the bad publicity … Well then that’s an even bigger story.  The best thing Ms. Conteh can do for herself is to quietly evaporate into the night and find another profession.  The best thing the Dispatch Center can do, is agree to an interview with us, answer the tough questons, fix the problems and move on.

What’s buggin me today …

My wife and I have two beautiful little boys.  That’s not the problem.  Our little one (Will) recently turned two (That’s not the problem either.)  Our eldest is Hunter and he’ll be ten next month.  This is the problem.  He’s coming in to his own now in some respects and there’s that internal tug-of-war over protecting him, but not being over protective.  I use to think our job as parents was to keep them from killing themselves before they were 21 by doing something stupid, but have since realized this will be a life-long dilemma.  If you have a son you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Here’s an example.  Hunter has done exceptionally well in school.  We’re blessed and couldn’t be more proud of him.  He made Honor Role and is a straight A student.  I ride a motorcycle (a Harley if you were wondering), and he loves going for rides with me, so I just bought him his own motorcycle last weekend.  It’s a dirt bike and it’s used.  I thought it made absolutely no sense to buy him a new bike knowing full well he was going to do all the stupid things I did when I got my first bike.  I believe it’s a DNA thing with Dad’s and their boys.  I often tell my son that before he even has a thought … even an inkling of something dumb he’s considering doing or saying … I’ve done it before and will know what he’s up to.  This brings me back to the bike thing.  The very first bike we went to see he wanted to try it.  Knowing that this was something he had never done before, he did exactly what I expected him to do.  He cranked open the throttle and went flying off the back.  Because of my premonition of what was to come I already had a good grip on this shirt and was there to pluck him off the bike before he ended up wearing it.

So I bought him all the necessary safety gear in an attempt to encase him in a safety bubble, but I know all too well the risks involved in riding a motorcycle.  There are only two kinds of riders.  Those that have been down … And those who are going down.  I feel it best to have him experience going down in the dirt on a trail, then on an interstate with six thousand pound vehicles whizzing by at 70 mph.  So how do you let go and allow a child you love so deeply to experience things on their own that you know involves risk.  Sure … I could have skipped the bike and this dilemma would be solved.  But he’s playing contact football this year and there are risks (very real ones) associated with that!

I worry about him crossing the street, closing the car door on his hand (I recently closed my car door on my head … but we’ll leave that for another time), riding his bicycle or getting on the school bus.  So when do you let go?  How do you let go?  Then how do you live with the consequences when something bad happens, regardless of how minor.  When your child is in pain, it doesn’t matter if it’s a splinter or a splint.  You hurt for them just the same.