Columnist Bob Dunning, who authors the “The Wary I” in The Enterprise, should consider changing the name of his column to “The Forgetful I” as he seems to have a problem remembering what he wrote in the past and getting his facts straight.

In his March 22 column, Dunning claims I should consult my libel attorney because I spoofed his past columns opposing plastic bags restrictions when I wrote, “To hear Dunning tell it, there is nary a wayward plastic bag loose in the city and we would be knee-deep in dog poop if we did not have access to these critically needed and vital products.”

Bob suggests that because he doesn’t even own a dog, he never would have made these bombastic claims. Perhaps Dunning should reread his own column of Jan. 13. Under the headline of “Maybe some sort of doggy diaper?,” Bob wrote, “The city, which one day will no doubt ban plastic bags whether we like it or not, has a tough decision to make when it comes to the plastic bags that dog owners use to clean up after their pets …” He adds, “Clearly, nothing but plastic will do, and just as clearly, these are not bags we wish to have anyone recycle …”

It is one thing for Dunning to make these kinds of outlandish statements without any factual basis. But it is quite another to then claim he never made them at all. My libel attorney says I am on pretty safe ground here.

Also, Dunning claimed it was too bad that my writings in which I made these supposed libelous comments were a secretive “internal document” sent only to the Natural Resources Commission and suggesting that it never would have seen the light of day if it had not been delivered to him via his network of “spies everywhere” and his intrepid reporting. In fact, the document Bob referred to actually was an article publicly published March 1 on the Davis Vanguard blog. Perhaps Dunning also should fact-check his spies in the future.

And if Bob does get around to changing the title and banner on his column, maybe he also would consider updating his photo. C’mon, Bob, it’s not a singles dating site!

Alan Pryor

Davis

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