WWL's Garland Robinette took money from landfill owners: NOLA.com

[the golden boy]

A story from Friday's Times-Picayune reveals that Robinette received $250K from the owners of the River Birch Landfill to opposed the reopening of the Old Gentilly Landfill in 2007. Robinette claims that the money is a personal loan. River Birch is under investigation for alledgedly making bribes in order to keep Old Gentilly closed.

The article does not suggest that Robinette is in legal trouble. The article states, too, that Robinette informed Entercom last year about the loan. Is this about nothing and will blow over, or could Robinette's future with WWL be in jeopardy?

[RFLA]

I think his future ain't in jeopardy with Entercom unless his ratings tank, but his credibility with his listeners may be what will do him in. As he forces his callers to quote where "They" are getting the comments they are making from .. His public may demand the same credibility of him a lot harder now.

[Megacycler]

Garland lost his credibility  in the 90's when he took the job with Freeport McMoran.  He did a 180 degree turnaround and went from attacking a company like Freeport to becoming its number one defender.         

[RFLA]

I can agree with you Megacycler on that, but remember most people have short attention spans and still like him from Katrina. But if he keeps showing these dual headed sides, then if the public does get tired, and they tune off to someone else ,he will be replaced in my opinion..other than that he is safe even with the dual talking out of his mouth

[Megacycler]

Has anyone noticed anything about this on WWL's website?  I've been looking and haven't seen anything. 

[jharmon]

What's the big deal?
These's radio buffoon's take money from clients every day with no guarantee of results.
Here's a idea...Performance based advertising. It works or you don't pay.
Same thing for air talent. Base salary on ratings when you start...
If they go up you get a bonus, if they go down, you get your deal cut.

[Megacycler]

WWL is  running a story about it this afternoon.  That follows Garland's on air announcement this morning that he did nothing wrong.

[stribling97]

what a joke!!!!!!!

what's the explanation?  we are supposed to take his word now that he "did no wrong?"   ha ha ha.......

is anyone else blown away by this nonsense?  doesn't anyone see what the effects of this incident will do to WWL? 

how they can keep him on the air after this is beyond me.  he kept it a secret for how long?   over 3 years?

hmmm......if there is this incident are there others?  did anyone else at the station get a "loan" from any other people in the city?

PEOPLE YOU TRUST.   yeah....you can take that billboard down because people don't trust you anymore.

come clean and talk about what happened and make it clear.  this will not just go away.

[Da V]

So if you lend me 250 grand ( at a better rate than the bank) will  it be ok with you if I slam ya around a lil on the air? A loan or a payment matters not.Thats alot of money from someone that is looking to close a deal and be put n a better light vs the competition as to who gets the landfill deal.Garlands opinion wasn't swayed at all? Why take the money? Why ask for it? This smells like a shrimp po-boy that was left in the glove compartment of a car that was left in the desert for a week.

[eharvey]

It's unfortunate. I really liked Garland, but he had ANOTHER brain fart! Does anybody remember the incident when he got thrown out and nearly arrested for bringing his gun into the Superdome during the Republican National Convention in 1988? He says he did nothing wrong with River Birch. What he did may or may not be legal, that is up to a court of law to decide. However, it is totally improper to take money or a benefit of any kind from a party that is the subject of an issue being discussed on his show. The man has lost all credibility. PEOPLE YOU TRUST? If the Entercom management really meant that, they would have to terminate him, because the longer he stays around, the more the credibility of the station is at stake! I think the management hopes it will all blow over. Maybe it will. If it does, then it's an indication the intelligence level of their audience is not too high.