Weak reporting on the Zisa story

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No matter how many weeks, months or years are devoted to a story at The Record of Woodland Park, the fundamentals are often overlooked. The lazy, incompetent editors weren't anything to write home about when they were reporters, and it shows now on stories big and small they supervise and edit.

The Page 1 follow-up today on the arrest of Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa quotes activists complaining city leaders didn't take action sooner, but neither did the newspaper's crack reporters. Why didn't Staff Writer Monsy Alvarado, who has covered Zisa's legal problems closely for the past year, ever ask the city manager, mayor or council members if the chief should be suspended on the basis of serious allegations in several lawsuits?

And why, in the intense coverage of the last few days, hasn't Alvarado or other reporters asked city residents -- not the activists, not the gadflies, just ordinary folks -- how they feel about the Police Department?

I have lived in Hackensack since the summer of 2007, and believe the city is well-run. I have had nothing but good experiences involving police officers and believe the Zisa-led department was a good one and remains a good one without him. My family feels safe here.

Now that Zisa has been removed, I would like to see Alvarado report more about Hackensack and less about the Police Department. The woman hasn't covered a City Council or Board of Education  meeting for years, for crying out loud, and little else since head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes told Alvarado her mission was to bring down Zisa and former Hackensack Chief of Detectives Michael Mordaga. What a waste.

The major element on the front page today -- "Who's buying up your public file?" -- seems to be much ado about nothing. The reporter never asks the state Administrative Office of the Courts why it doesn't rein in lawyers.


Who is Staff Writer John Brennan's assignment editor? Why was the knuckle-headed former sports reporter asked to interview bus and rail riders on the fare increase Saturday (L-1 today)? How did Brennan omit reporting Governor Christie's cut in state aid to NJ Transit is partly to blame for the hikes of 10 percent to 25 percent? 

You'd think Road Warrior John Cichowski would devote his column to mass transit today, but he's too lazy to leave the office and actually ride some of the buses and trains. He cares only about drivers, and seems to write the same column week after week.


There are more stories about Passaic and Morris counties in Local today than about Bergen County. How many subscribers does The Record have in West Milford? Must be legions, judging by the coverage of Greenwood Lake boating issues.