Thread by @CombsSeth

Today, after nearly 15 years off-and-on at the paper—starting as a freelancer and then the music editor and then the arts editor and the editor in chief for nearly three years—I was let go today by San Diego CityBeat’s new ownership, the Arizona-based Times Media Group.

I wasn’t given any explanation as to how this decision was made other than that they were making changes, both editorially and financially. They wouldn’t even let me gather all of my belongings and said they’d have them boxed and shipped to me.

I honestly don’t know anything other than that. I don’t know what the future of the paper will be. If I were to speculate, I think they’re going to completely rebrand as a more conservative neighborhood newspaper.

I honestly can’t even imagine how they’ll even put out a paper on Wednesday. Will it even be called CityBeat any more? I don’t know.

Of course I am extremely sad about this. I loved our little paper so much and was always faithful to it. It has suffered over the last few years due to budget cuts and lack of staff, but I always put my heart into it, working multiple beats and often pulling all-nighters.

This isn’t personal for me. I choose/chose to work in an industry where changes are made and budgets are cut and people are laid off all the time even after putting in years of blood, sweat and tears.

I’m not a vindictive person. Whatever form CityBeat takes moving forward, I do not think it will be the same. I’m not just saying this because I’m no longer the editor. I just have the distinct sense that, effective immediately, it will be a different product altogether.

For those who remember what happened to the @LAWeekly a few years ago, you might have a sense of what’s to come.

I just want to say that, with exception of the last month, it was such a pleasure to be involved with this paper all these years.

From the original staff of @kellylynndavis and @drolland to @Kinsee and @maassive and @byalexzaragoza and the brilliant music editors @1000TimesJeff and @_troyjohnson and @PeterHolslin.

And to my crew who rolled with me while I was there, @theryanbradford, @TorreyBailey, @andrealopezvil and especially @carolyndramos. I love you guys so much.

And to the freelancers, past and present, who make it happen every week (too many to list here, but you know who you are), I couldn’t have done this without your dedication and love for what you do.

I’m so proud of the work we’ve done. My agenda has always been simple: to bring an alternative voice to San Diego. A media outlet that gives a voice to the voiceless. To do features and articles on the people who otherwise wouldn’t be featured in other pubs.

As I once put it to a colleague, I want to cover the people that will be featured in the larger publications a year from now, if ever at all.

I think we did that for the most part. I love CityBeat so much, but it’s over in more ways than one. Long live, alt-weeklies. Long live, physical media. Long live, CityBeat!