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Dr. Talley, I’d be grateful if you’d clarify (assuming it’s true), that by "first section" of the article bearing my byline, my name–my reputation as an honest journalist reporting in good faith information from my interviews, that you’re referring to the sub-headline, which unfortunately reads, "How the homeless contribute to water pollution." As we discussed when I called you after I saw for the 1st time my article with that sub-head, I did NOT write those 7 words. Most readers will miss a key point in your comment: you mean the EDITOR-written sub-headline is problematic because it does exactly opposite of what you & I took care to convey in the actual story. You were clear that people experiencing homelessness are not to blame for the bay's imperfect water quality. Those who read the article itself will see that society’s homelessness crisis, not people experiencing homelessness, is one among many contributors of water pollution. I’ve now asked multiple times that the subhead be changed. I’m a freelancer who occasionally writes for the SD Reader. I’m grateful for the work. But I’ve never been inside the Reader’s newsroom. Former editor, Ernie Grimm, who just left the publication after 26 years is a supremely ethical writer’s writer. We didn’t always agree on everything, but my respect & gratitude for Ernie is immense. The new editor will no doubt reply soon to my requests to change the subhead. I’ll follow up again Monday & reach out to the publisher if I get no reply. I doubt that’ll be necessary. My own experience says a new job managing a bunch of freelancers is a lot in the beginning. Again, I did not write, nor did I see the subhead prior to publication. Otherwise, I stand by my reporting in the body of the article. Another problem I have with the subhead: I try never to refer to human beings who have nowhere to live as "the homeless." Referring to “the homeless” leads to singularization of the plural, turning "the homeless" to "a homeless." That makes a person who is experiencing homelessness sound like a different species, making it easier for some to ignore and/or harm them, whether by violence or negligence, As an adult who experienced homelessness when I was a child, I’m keenly aware of the importance of respecting & honoring our fellow humans with no shelter. One need not have experienced homelessness to get that there's no such thing as "a homeless." There are people who have no home, and we must fix that. To readers & to Dr. Talley, I fear the bay story may be overshadowed by this comment thread. I urge readers to note the understanding I share with Dr. Talley & return to the article to take in its substance. Lastly, Dr. Theresa Talley is a passionate, gifted scientist & a San Diegan seeking to reveal facts about, & suggest solutions to improve, the quality of San Diego Bay and this region's natural environment. -Thom Senzee Freelance Journalist— May 22, 2021 2:05 p.m.