Martha Smilgis Leaves N-P

Longtime Gossip Columnist Departs Over “Politics”

FOR THE REAL SCOOP ON THIS STORY, SEE J’AMY BROWN’S MONTECITO
MONTAGE HERE.

The rumors are true: Martha Smilgis (pictured here by J’Amy
Brown), the author of the popular News-Press column “The
Dish,” left the paper last week. According to insider reports
picked up by the SB Media Blog early last week, Smilgis and the
upper management had conflicts over politics. Secondhand reports
suggest that Smilgis’ recent coverage of an event at the Fess
Parker with Bianca Jagger peeved off someone on the top-floor, to
which they told her they didn’t want her covering anything
political. Despite attempts by at least one Independent.com
contributor to reach Martha for the inside scoop, she has not yet
responded.

What exactly the politics of the top News-Press brass
are these days remains quite a conundrum — we’re not entirely sure
what political word combines Libertarian and environmentalist, not
to mention encompassing the seemingly contradictory stances of
anti-tax, pro-alternative transportation, anti-growth,
pro-business, anti-union, pro-suppression of free speech,
anti-journalism, and pro-newspaper ownership. But whatever they’re
calling themselves, it seems that Martha doesn’t quite fit, much
like the more than 30 other editors, reporters, layout people, and
assorted newspaperfolk who’ve also quit or been fired.

One lingering question: Who does? Will it end up being only
Arthur, Wendy, and Scott Steepleton running the show in a few
weeks, plus whatever youngsters they can throw enough pennies
at?