I believe in free speech, really I do. But what I have a problem with is when a piece is printed about a group at large and quotes statements from one spiteful member of that group as if it’s the opinion of its entirety. That is exactly what Tyler Hayden did when he wrote the Santa Barbara Public Market article "A Public Market Divided."
My name is Rori Trovato, and I own Rori’s Creamery. Hayden called me, and we spoke regarding my experience at the market. I let him know quite frankly that we were very happy and loved the energy at the market and our fellow merchants. He asked me if I had any questions for him, and I did. He mentioned he wasn’t trying to "stir the pot,” and I told him boldly that he was.
This isn’t a real story; it’s just a fluff piece trying to get the community worked up. If every business that failed due to bad decisions and didn’t want to assume responsibility for those mistakes and, oh, I don’t know, called the press to get publicity, we’d have papers full of these pathetic so-called stories.