Hannity irks Bullhead Council; Talk radio host gets facts wrong about Laughlin bridge

By Neil Young

News West

BULLHEAD CITY - The Bullhead City Council voted Jan. 16, to instruct city staff to write a letter to elected state and federal representatives “outlining the unwavering support” - in the words of Council member Sam Medrano from Bullhead City - for a second bridge connecting the city with Laughlin.

“They need to know we're still behind this project,” Medrano said.

The Council was responding to the Jan. 7 episode of “Hannity's America” on the Fox News Channel, hosted by radio and TV talk host Sean Hannity.

The program included a story on the proposed bridge and was “filled with inaccuracies” and “very slanted,” said Bullhead City Manager Tim Ernster.

Ernster showed a brief video presentation with “clips” from the Fox News story, pointing out the falsehoods in the reporting.

Those falsehoods included their announcing that the Hoover Dam Bypass was slated to be completed this year, when the project won't be done until 2010, reporting that a second bridge between Bullhead City and Laughlin was already under construction, when in fact, the right-of-way for the David Lords-funded bridge hasn't even been secured.

What really drew laughter from Council members and the audience in the council chamber was when the story's reporter showed the Laughlin Bridge almost deserted at what he said was 5 p.m. during a busy time of year with winter visitors in the area.

Ernster pointed out that the week after New Year's is one of the slowest in Laughlin.

The message the program sent was a new bridge is unnecessary, Ernster said.

Discussion ensued with Anderson maintaining that sending letters or e-mails to Hannity or Fox News officials would only feed the ego of Hannity, whom he referred to as a “shock jock.”

Anderson favored sending letters of support to a number of lawmakers who have been supporting the project.

Mayor Diane Vick had e-mailed Hannity, as had Council members Larry Sinagoga and J.B. Wise.

Mike Conner, Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO told the council he had called Fox News and was put through to Hannity's voice mail.

Conner said he wanted to have a conversation with Hannity to correct the record.

The public hearing surrounding the discussion drew comments from several citizens, including council candidate Michael Lipshultz, who backed Anderson's call to ignore Hannity.

Hannity has not responded to any of the phone calls or e-mails.

The council voted to send a letter to Hannity because he has “an ethical responsibility to correct inaccuracies in news reports,” Medrano said.