Reporting, analysis, corrections and clarifications

The story on the American Council on Historic Preservation’s letter to the Secretary of the Navy last week, reported as “urged to put on hold” plans to add 36 Growler Jets at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, brought a Council response for a correction, that the letter urged accepting and carrying out the Council’s recommendations but not a hold on the expansion.

There is a clarification on this page today, but not a correction. Here is why:

The editor’s responsibility, as it is citizens’ or any institution’s, is to think and not merely repeat. Having gathered information, the paper’s obligation is to lay out an analysis to its readers.

The Council’s letter recommending reopening negotiations and additional monitoring means, if the Navy follows the recommendations, there will be a delay, or hold, while those assignments are planned, discussed, carried out, analyzed and completed.

If the Navy follows the recommendations, they will have to reschedule the project expansion while they engage with local and state organizations and citizens and monitor existing levels of jet noise.

The Council wants its recommendations followed. So does the state’s Historic Preservation Officer, various local governments and institutions, the Sound Defense Alliance and citizens.

Once the Navy pursues negotiations, jet expansion will be on hold.

The Council is to be commended for its principled following of its mandate to preserve the nation’s historic buildings.

It is clear that saving our history takes time.