You know, we even surprise ourselves when we're right: Richard Goldstein, who has worked at the Village Voice since before most of us were born, was laid off this week. Says the Voice's PR department:

"Richard was laid off as the final step of a restructuring of the editorial department that began last month. It was not an easy decision. We are grateful for his contribution to the paper."

Okay, we're ready for the backstory now, because — wha? We like that "restructuring" plan:

1. Lose media critic Cynthia Cotts [UPDATE: by which we mean, LOSE HER AS AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE SHE QUIT, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD] and get rid of new hire, online editor Matt Haber.
2. Ask the staff to do lots of extra work.
3. Fire executive editor Richard Goldstein.

We'd love to see the napkin that plan was scribbled on at 2 a.m.