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| Wednesday's guilty verdicts against suspended Police Chief Ken Zisa mark the beginning of the end for his family's nepotistic rule over Hackensack, the county seat. |
Is the Hackensack Police Department "in limbo," as a big, black headline on Friday's front page declared?
Does "chaos" accurately describe the most populous community in Bergen County and the county seat?
You'd think so, if you've been reading The Record in the three days since a jury found suspended Police Chief Ken "I Am The Law" Zisa guilty of official misconduct and insurance fraud.
The Woodland Park daily has been covering dissension on the police force since June 2009, when two police officers filed a federal lawsuit against Zisa, whose family has ruled Hackensack for decades.
Mordaga probe
But does the truth lie in shrill news stories -- such as today's A-1 piece scolding city officials for withholding comment on Zisa -- or in the clueless columns of Mike Kelly?
No.
If you want to know what's really going in Hackensack, read the letter to the editor from Ron Kase (A-22 on Friday):
'A great day
for Hackensack'
Regarding "Guilty verdict caps Zisa's fall from power" (Page A-1, May 17):Former Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa's conviction on several felony charges has been characterized by some as "not a happy day for Hackensack."That is hardly the case. Zisa's conviction firmly says that sometimes the system does work, and that those in public office who abuse their power and the community's trust will be pursued, arrested, tried, convicted and jailed.It's time for Hackensack's residents to rejoice because the era of the political boss who was also the police chief, a dangerous situation, is over. It's a great day for Hackensack.Ron KaseRamsey, May 17
The editors are so eager to create a crisis where none exists, they slapped an inaccurate sub-headline on Friday's editorial on the conviction of Zisa and his former, live-in girlfriend, Kathleen Tiernan.
"Police chief trades power for prison"
Zisa hasn't had any "power" since he was arrested two years ago and suspended without pay, and he hasn't even been sentenced.
Ignoring real crime
For the majority of city residents, the Zisa story has been notable for being just about the only Hackensack news that has piqued the interest of head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes and her lazy, incompetent minions.
In fact, the biggest crime in Hackensack occurred when Publisher Stephen A. Borg moved printing of the daily to Rockaway, followed a couple of years later by complete abandonment of the landmark headquarters at 150 River St.
The paper was founded in Hackensack on June 5, 1895, and prospered there for more than 110 years.
Borg censorship
Borg apparently ordered editors to ignore the economic impact on Main Street, and has kept city residents in the dark on his negotiations to sell 20 acres on River Street to Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Today's lead Page 1 story on the police force breaks new ground in reporting "a coalition of school board members" fired three administrators as a protest against "Zisa and his politically connected family."
And City Attorney Joseph Zisa -- the disgraced chief's cousin -- is quoted for the first time claiming he has "recused" himself from any matters involving the suspended chief.
For months, The Record and Hackensack Chronicle have been reporting Joseph Zisa claimed it was cheaper for the city to fight than to settle the more than 20 lawsuits filed against the chief, suggesting he had an active role in those cases.
One story we haven't seen is whether Ken Zisa's legal troubles, certain prison term and loss of pensions will bankrupt him.
Glassy eyed readers
On Friday's Local front, readers learn everything they didn't want to know about windows, but are denied a window into the addled brain of Road Warrior John Cichowski (L-1).
In earth-shaking Hackensack news, a bee swarm closed "the 300 block of Main Street" (L-2 photo).
Sykes continues to rely on Staff Photographer Tariq Zehawi -- king of the rollover and other minor accidents -- for filler photos to take up the space of stories Dan Sforza and her other useless sub-editors failed to generate.
See L-3 and L-6 in Friday's paper, and L-2 today. In fact, see almost any Local section published in the last few years.
Obesity news
On L-3 today, a story reports three overweight Bogota residents are suing the town in federal court for cutting down trees that hid their gorging from public view.
Sykes and Governor Christie are expected file friend-of-the-court briefs.
If you don't think Ken Zisa has had any power for two years, then you're the clueless one. Add naive to that, too. Weren't you a reporter? Don't you know that political power doesn't come only from sitting in a corner office? Its his influence. Duh.
ReplyDeleteZisa still has some power. It's illustrated by the fact that he has been convicted but still retains the title of police chief, and most elected leaders are still too afraid to speak out against him. Instead of cheering a nearly week-old, you Hackensack residents should get your heads out of the sand.
Interesting take. I didn't see the paper this way but it's nice to have commentary's version of The Onion to refer to.
ReplyDeleteWho the F cares what his "title" is?
ReplyDeleteAnd to be accurate, it is "suspended police chief," a job without pay he soon will have to forfeit as a convicted felon.
The day he is sentenced will be the last day he holds any title in Hackensack, and then he can spend his time in prison protecting himself from other prisoners who would like nothing more than to screw a police chief.
You just don't get it. It boggles the mind that you were once a journalist. Thankfully, no more. You'd be writing ra-ra stories about how it's a time for celebration, a "new beginning" for Hackensack. Like I said, you're naive if you think this is merely about a job title. But I guess that's the view from the inside of a sand dune.
ReplyDeleteyou should have been at the council meeting last night, maybe you can make the next one
ReplyDeleteYes. I'm sorry I missed it.
ReplyDelete