Since you guys will probably hear about it soon enough, Wake County school board vice chairwoman Debra Goldman's son was arrested on a shoplifting charge.
As noted in this online article by Thomas Goldsmith, Matthew Goldman, 21, was arrested on Feb. 4 on a felony larceny charge for allegedly disabling an anti-theft device to steal an Xbox 360 Kinect at a Target store in Raleigh. The charge was reduced today to misdemeanor larceny as part of an agreement between Goldman's attorney and prosecutors.
Wake County Clerk of Superior Court Lorrin Freeman said this kind of agreement to reduce charges was typical of the disposition of similar cases. Goldman was placed in a first offender program.
In case you're wondering why this is news, the N&O reports on the arrests of children of elected officials. Although Goldman gave a different address when he was arrested, he's still registered to vote at his mother's address.
Comments
Muckraking
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 11:29 — CHSmom97I totally agree with JThompson. My kids have done stupid things and I would not want someone dragging me through the mud because of something my 21-year-old son supposedly did. I do want to know how this has anything to do with school board business. This is plain and simple muckraking by the N&O.
It seems odd to keep calling
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 17:47 — woodstockIt seems odd to keep calling this 21 year old man a "kid." However, I generally agree with your point... for instance, I don't believe anyone thinks less of Martin Sheen because his son has gone looney tunes for all the world to see, so I doubt this reflects much in a negative way on Debra Goldman... especially if this is a one-time stupid mistake.
As for the N&O, it is not muckraking, it is "policy."
The value of unconditional
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 18:21 — DrActualFactualThe value of unconditional love is priceless. Everyone makes mistakes and learns as they travel thru this lifetime. How will we ever find public servants if we continue to erode their family privacy. This didn't seem to affect her ability to perform her work one bit so it seems unnecessary to discuss it further.
Shame on you N&O
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 10:53 — JThompsonNC41Shame on you N&O. Is this all you have to write about? We have much bigger issues with our school system that we need to be worrying about. You are attacking a school board member because of something their son did. I am a parent and there but for the grace of God, go I.
Why are you repeating this story Keung?
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 21:40 — IDoverA few years ago when Dana Cope assaulted his neighbor and was subsequently arrested for it, you stated that "there is a wall of separation between departments". You would not post this info about Cope even though it was reported in another part of The N&O. However, at every other opportunity, Cope was your "go to" person to get a quote.......
You're co-mingling things
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 23:47 — KeungHui (author)You're co-mingling things here. I've said there's a separation of departments between the editorial department and the news department. I wouldn't say that Cope, a non-school board member, being arrested is the same as the family member of a school board member. I've blogged when he tried to sell his home to stay in the Lacy base or when he tried to raise campaign money. By your logic, would I blog all those things about John Tedesco considering how often he's quoted?
I don't know what you mean about repeating things. If you haven't noticed, I tend to blog about stories involving school board members. If Chris Malone's son or Kevin Hill's wife got arrested, I'm pretty safe in saying there would be a blog post.
Hmm...
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 11:10 — Bob_SconceI recognize that the N&O's policy is to report when children of elected officials get into trouble. I'm not sure that's fair, though. Reporting on what elected officials do is fair game -- it's part of the bargain you make when you run for office. But, the kid didn't make that bargain. Heck, he was, what, 19 when his Mom ran, so there's not even anyway to claim that she made the decision on his behalf.
And, yes, I think the same thing about Bristol Palin (at least pre- Dancing with the Stars) and others. Once you make the decision to go into the public eye, you're stuck with the consequences. But, nobody can make that decision for you.
who cares?
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 08:49 — Yasminahthis is the kind of BS that passes for news these days. hey reporter dude -- srsly?! how about a real story about Ms. Goldman and the school board and what they are doing to progress in Wake County instead of this? He's an adult and whatever he did is his business, not hers. Stupid and yet another justification for why I no longer subscribe to the N&O.
I see you are reading
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 09:02 — gregishereJust like a liberal... wanting a news handout and not wanting to pay for it.
Yes, it is news ....
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 08:22 — AgentPierceI have no problem with this being "news". Families of high profile members of the community are indeed fair game when their conduct dictates.
This is the SECOND story on this Goldman family issue. That is one more story than the N&O did on the recently fizzled Bill Barber/NAACP street rally. The N&O did promote the rally with several enthusiastic advetorials ..... however when the turnout was embarrassingly low, there was only one brief account, and that had to be corrected because the original attendance estimate was over 300% inaccurate.
That both young Goldmon and the Barber Rally outcome are "news" is agreed. To what extent the N&O chooses to report on them is also newsworthy.
So the N&O....
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 08:19 — bpuli9999looks up the Board of Elections public records for information whenever someone is arrested? Or is this reserved for elected officials and their relatives? Is this valid / permitted use of Board of Elections information? The publishing part - not the looking up part. Any lawyers on the forum willing to express an opinion?
Read "Right to Privacy", and
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 18:37 — jsneezeRead "Right to Privacy", and you'll learn that, if your name or your family's name shows up in the newspaper more than four times in a year, any of your public actions are fair game. Now, whether or not this amounts to good reporting is a different story, but it's totally legitimate.
Are you serious? So, if
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 12:36 — DrActualFactualAre you serious? So, if Mr. Hui quotes frequent speakers from the BOE meetings comments more than four times throughout the year, they are fair game? Does that include the "tag" listing in the blog headings?
Public Information -just
Tue, 03/01/2011 - 08:24 — shank56Public Information -just like real estate ownership, your property tax bills and (if you are delinquent). All fair game, just like The Slammer.
All
Mon, 02/28/2011 - 22:58 — HereWeGoAny of our kids could do something stupid.
what a shame.
Mon, 02/28/2011 - 22:35 — CaryCurmudgeonwhat a shame.