THE WATSON WHISTLE
Truth hurts. We print it anyway.
By Lyle Baker
Vol. 1 | Issue #1
Truth hurts. We print it anyway.
By Lyle Baker
Vol. 1 | Issue #1
Welcome to the Show
If you're reading this, you already know the score. Night City doesn't hand out truth easy. It hides it in sealed contracts, burnt-out warehouses, and bodies no one bothers to count. Most of the time, people just look away.
Not here.
I'm Lyle Baker. Used to work the political circuit—comms man for one of Watson's more slippery councilmen. Saw too much. Stayed too long. Now I'm on the other side of the game. No PR. No hush money. Just stories that need telling.
The Watson Whistle is for those of us who still want the truth, however messy it gets. It's your feed from the street up, one issue at a time.
Let's get into it.
Street Sweepers Down Their Brooms Over Pay Scandal
Watson's sanitation crews have always worked in the background, cleaning up after gang shootouts, corpo crackdowns, and the occasional joy-toy malfunction. They've never asked for much—just fair pay, working gear, and the promise they won't be the next stain on the sidewalk.
That changed this week.
Depot 4, based just off East Hargreaves, saw a sudden walkout after veteran street cleaners discovered new hires were being brought in at nearly double their hourly rate. No back pay. No renegotiation. Just a memo and a reminder to keep their heads down.
They didn't.
According to workers I spoke with, the new hires came from a recruitment firm tied to a Petrochem affiliate—one that allegedly secured the latest contract after a quiet bidding process that skipped the usual transparency protocols.
One worker, speaking anonymously, said this: "They told me to train the new guy. Kid's never held a mop. Gets twice what I make. They said it's 'market pressure.' I call it a con."
City Hall refused comment. The streets stay dirty.
New Tower in Watson Raises Old Concerns
If you've been through Watson lately, you've seen the new high-rise going up near the docks. Skyline Residences, they're calling it. All chrome siding, smart-glass windows, and promises of luxury for the right kind of tenant.
But there's trouble under the gloss.
An internal audit, leaked from a contractor with boots on-site, outlines a series of construction violations. Missing fireproofing on structural beams. Sub-grade insulation. Elevators running uncertified firmware from a manufacturer that went belly-up last year.
The construction company, Horizon Structures Ltd, has a history. Two prior builds collapsed under weight stress in Heywood and Vista del Rey. Civil suits are still pending. No convictions.
Occupancy permits were granted early. Marketing's already started. Units begin at 380,000 eddies.
If you're looking to move in, bring more than your wallet. Bring luck.
We Run on Noise
The Watson Whistle is independent. That means no corp sponsors, no paid placements, no bosses whispering in my ear. What keeps the lights on is you—your tips, your creds, your willingness to give a damn.
Got a lead? A whisper worth chasing? You know where to find me.
Send data securely to: LYLE_WWHISTLE
Support the feed: Credit ID 0xB4K3R-TRUTH
Got pull? Sponsor a column. Just don't try to steer it.
Stay sharp, stay loud. I'll be watching.
— Lyle Baker
Watson Whistle Editor
