A.S.I. official responds

I am writing in response to an editorial that appeared in the Daily Forty-Niner on Sept. 6. The article is entitled, "Don't question ethics" and was written by Jamie Eggleston, Daily Forty-Niner Production Manager, in response to an article in the Long Beach Union. The article in question reported that the circulation staff of the Forty-Niner had left over two cubic yards of uncirculated Daily Forty-Niner newspapers at the Recycling Center.

Ms. Eggleston writes, "I am sorry to have seen what looks like a garbage bin full of Forty-Niners-however, I can't be sure what is actually in the bin other than what's on top." The fact of the matter is, these newspapers were deposited at the Recycling Center prior to its opening at 7:30 a.m., Aug. 28. A member of the Long Beach Union was among those that observed this. These papers were weighed at the Recycling Center (1,384 pounds) by Recycling Center personnel and all copies were found to be uncirculated issues of that day. 1,384 pounds is upward of 4,800 issues. Moreover, I reported this to the Circulation Manager of the Daily Forty-Niner on Aug. 29.

What happened that day is not an isolated incident. Staff members of the Recycling Center have reported circulation personnel of the Daily Forty-Niner leaving large quantities of the current day issue early in the morning for quite some time. Recycling staff have informed me that they have been leaving a large metal trash bin outside the gate at the Recycling Center for the circulation staff to drop off substantial amounts of newspapers. Sometimes, as many as twenty-five bundles of newspapers are dropped off. This has been going on since January.

Ms. Eggleston asserts that the business manager of the Recycling Center and the Long Beach Union is the same person and this provides and opportunity to "snag some advertising." This is not a question of the Union needing more advertising sales.

All copies printed should be distributed. There is something wrong with papers going directly from a printer to a recycling center.

-- Fred Sanchez
A.S.I's Director of Administrative Services.

Editor's note: Sanchez is the Union's former business manager. Georganne Sparks, the Daily Forty-Niner's circulation manager, said upon investigation the center was locked up and she couldn't see the papers  Tuesday. In other incidents, she said it was the previous days' issues. Sparks said she couldn't verify the quantity of the issues .