Neale should criticize himself instead of newspapers

The Times provided former NiSource CEO Gary Neale nearly two pages of prime space June 26 for a gushing farewell piece, and the guy has the gall to complain that Northwest Indiana's two major newspapers are "not supporting the business community" and are "becoming tabloids"?

What he means is that both newspapers -- rather than being uncritical, sappy in-house publicity organs -- have done a pretty decent job of covering the way his leadership has actually hurt economic development and new job growth in Northwest Indiana.

In years of representing LaPorte County in its battles with NIPSCO, I have found a variety of reporters and editors at both newspapers willing to undertake tough, insightful reporting on NIPSCO's high rates, poor service and their impact on Northwest Indiana ratepayers.

Neale is used to getting his way and obviously doesn't understand the role that a probing and questioning newspaper is supposed to play, particularly in challenging a regulated monopoly that has a huge impact on the lives and businesses of Northwest Indiana residents.

After leading a utility ranked worst in the nation for customer satisfaction, after outsourcing and offshoring jobs and after pocketing tens of millions of dollars in bonus and stock options on the backs of his long-suffering ratepayers, Neale offers neither remorse nor contrition but instead whines that the newspapers had the gall to report on these travesties.

Shaw Friedman, LaPorte County Attorney