While crime becomes more violent and ubiquitous, the attention it gets from public officials is often episodic.
Reporters got confidences from officials - and kept them out of print on request.
Getting answers from officials about the additional delay can be as hard as finding a parking space.
So he was unable to get the 500 endorsements from elected officials that candidates need to be placed on the ballot.
You don't get that from other officials who are backed by the party.
When it realized its error, they said, it could not get approval from Chinese officials to lower the price in time.
It moved towards the centre-right, getting its support from officials, teachers and littlefarmers of the middle class.
My sense of the reason Bill got a lot of support from local officials is they liked what he was saying about tax reform.
"The answer we got back from public officials was, 'Raise your prices.' "
But working without a press card can be quite difficult because they will not get cooperation from officials in the Government, the military or the police.