From Blog to Bloc: The Report hits 10,000

I will likely never forget the moment I became “empowered.”

It was a Wednesday in 2004. That morning, the Tribune had published my first investigative article detailing the results of a financial probe that exposed what our government officials and employees were spending to “wine and dine” on the backs of Mooresville taxpayers.

I was sitting in my car in the parking lot of Town Hall, nearly in tears, knowing that I needed to look through additional files … but realizing that just beyond those doors were some of the people named in my article. Being a non-confrontational person by nature (if you can believe that), I stared at the front doors of Town Hall for what seemed like an eternity, knowing that within moments I would be face-to-face with people who, that very morning, had grown to despise me. And the thought of that, quite frankly, petrified me.

I picked up my cell phone and called a trusted friend. On the phone with that person, right there in the parking lot of Town Hall, it hit me: I own this place. I help pay the salaries of every human being who earns his or her living in this building and wears a town emblem on his or her shirt – some of whom are the very people who spent hundreds of tax dollars on New York strip and lobster while I, and others like me, ate Ramen Noodles for dinner. Why am I petrified to face them? They should be petrified to face me!

In that very moment, I became empowered. It was a life altering moment, and nothing has been the same since. My deepest hope is that others in my community will find their own source of empowerment – and that one place that they find it is right here, in this blog.

Many have been surprised to hear this, but on March 3, I sent an e-mail to only two dozen friends and family members, announcing the creation of The Gatton Report. That was it. I have not advertised or promoted the blog – short of mentioning it in conversations. I truly wanted to gauge community interest in the kind of local-government watchdog news that’s provided here.

When the blog received its 10,000th hit just over two months from the day it was launched, it became abundantly clear that the people within our community and beyond are, in fact, hungry for such information … and for the opportunity to post their questions, comments and opinions without the fear of reprisal that has regrettably permeated our town for many, many years.

Also with the 10,000th hit, I realized that the Report – created solely out of my passion and conviction to inform, educate and empower taxpayers – no longer belongs to me. It belongs to you, the community. And finally, I realized that the Report is now more than “just” a blog. It’s a bloc – a coalition, a community, a movement.

That’s when I began to think: We need something to identify our bloc – a “brand,” a slogan, a mission statement. My intent was to have all that ready for the moment the blog received its 10,000th hit. However – and I’m certainly not complaining – I didn’t expect that moment to come – and go – quite so fast. In fact, as I type, the blog has received a whopping 11,325 hits. So much for “relishing the moment.”

Though I wasn’t able to develop everything I wanted to by the actual 10,000th hit, perhaps you noticed the most recent commemorative “facelift,” featuring the Report’s new “logo within a logo,” which ties in brilliantly with one of the slogans: Your Government Watchdog News, Delivered from the Underground.



What, exactly, is the “Underground”? Well, that’s you. I am simply the person offering to bring your information, concerns and grievances to the forefront and to serve as an arm between the taxpayers and our government.

A Report commenter, DocW, asked an interesting question recently when responding to a blog entry: “If a person is alone in the woods and they talk, is there any noise?” If it weren’t for you, I’d be here, behind my computer, typing to myself. Now, don’t get me wrong; I’d still be doing it. But it wouldn’t be half the fun as it is having you with me.

I have truly been humbled by the growth of this blog – and, more importantly, by the outpouring of community encouragement and support, from phone calls and e-mails to equipment donations and grassroots advertising. It is my honor to serve as a voice for our community’s growing population of active and awake citizens who expect openness, honesty and accountability from our government.

A huge thanks to each and every one of you who has made, and will continue to make, the Report such a success.

Sincerely,

Jaime