There is a small group of SeaWorld supporters (apologists?) who have directly taken on the OB Rag and editor Frank Gormlie. They have a blog and posted a recent article calling out Gormlie by name in a headline refuting his claims about SeaWorld.
About a month ago, Gormlie wrote an article entitled “Why SeaWorld Can’t Build a Hotel at its Location on Mission Bay“, citing the proximity of the old Mission Bay landfill which is known to contain toxic materials.
The article must have touched a nerve somewhere; it did anger the SeaWorld supporters, who have a small blog called Orca Action Network who has the following slogan:
Join us in fighting the agendas of animal rights activists.
Just below the blog’s name is a giant poster advertising various well-known San Diego hotels owned by the Evans family. And, of course, it’s Evans who has pledged to SeaWorld to get them a hotel. Any connection between this “action network” and Mr. Evans? You think?
The SeaWorld supporters came back the other day and slammed Gormlie and the OB Rag with their post entitled: “Sorry, Frank: SeaWorld’s Future Hotel Isn’t Affected by Toxic Waste“. The opening paragraph takes us on:
Lawyer, OB Rag founder, and self-proclaimed “grassroots activist” Frank Gormlie recently posted an article on his opinion website OB Rag on “Why SeaWorld Can’t Build a Hotel at its Location on Mission Bay“. He argues that because of SeaWorld’s proximity to a former toxic waste dump site, the hotel project which SeaWorld announced recently will not be able to go forward. Luckily, this claim is not true.
Differences of opinion or fact?
One thing immediately should be known. The site that sits at South Shores Park and other areas – including the SeaWorld east parking lot at the very least is STILL a toxic waste dump site. Even the Orca Action Network folks admit it was a “toxic waste dump site”. It was never cleaned up. The City study over a decade ago found that everything would be okay as long as the site was not disturbed.
The other issue is the “proximity” of the old landfill site to SeaWorld and any future hotel diggings.
The OB Rag stated that it was too close to call.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Good going, Frank. Looks like you hit a nerve. For those of you who may not be familiar with the local oligarchy, the Evans family is most decidedly a big part of the problem.
Awesome. Keep up the great work Frank!
It’s what having an electronic free press is all about. They’d have simply ignored it if it didn’t have substantive truth behind it. SeaWorld’s Orca Abuse Supporters ignored “Blackfish” for a long time to their own detriment, and then it was too late.
Way to go, Frank! Keep it up!
What a message “Join us in fighting the agendas of the animal rights activists.” Someone goofed using that as a rallying cry.
As far as I know, the agenda of animal rights activists is, well, animal rights. Who would want to fight that? Maybe people who believe the only rights their animals have is to make money for them.
Well done- “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight with you…then you win.”
Congratulations on winning.
Lori said it perfectly. Frank, you are already in the end zone, please put up 6 points.
I’m lucky when I get hatemail to tell me when I strike a nerve – a whole hateblog is cause to celebrate!
Am I the only one who reads “…because of SeaWorld’s proximity to a former toxic waste dump site, the hotel project which SeaWorld announced recently will not be able to go forward. Luckily, this claim is not true…”
as “Luckily, we’re perfectly fine with building a hotel next to a toxic waste dump!”
Well, it’s only for tourists anyway…
Sea World will disappear………Slowly.
Alright Feisty Frank! Some people are not afraid to speak truth to power!
Posted in the Reader …. lawsuit on proposed expansion of pools
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/jan/05/ticker-what-about-mission-bays-toxins-seaworld/
If the OB Rag wants to “debunk” my article, please feel free to do so, but next time, please let me know you have done so. That’s good journalism.
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
I will be responding next week, and I will email you to ask for comment and provide you a link to the finished product (like I did last time).
“I will be responding next week…..”
I’m sure Frank is sleepless & shaking in his boots waiting, after smashing into the next zip code your comical hit piece on him.