More guessing games for readers

The former Fairmount Avenue station in Hackensack. The pink building has been a gift shop since the 1960s. (Wikipedia)

Are the Page 1 mug shots of two burglary suspects from Hackensack supposed to tell readers the only way to get the attention of the editors is to commit a crime?

In the past three years, numerous stories about the investigation, indictment and conviction of Ken Zisa, the former police chief, ran all over the front page and Local front of The Record.

But other news about the county seat and the paper's former home has been scarce, especially when compared to coverage of much smaller towns.

Marty the Jock

Editor Marty Gottlieb could hardly find room on Page 1 today for what may be the first time Governor Christie has retreated from one of his initiatives (an income-tax cut) since he took office 30 months ago.

From the perspective of the Woodland Park newsroom, burglaries in Wayne and baseball are much bigger stories than the governor's continued assault on the middle class. 

Questionable news

Gottlieb, head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes and Deputy Minion Dan Sforza keep readers guessing:

Why is Road Warrior John Cichowski writing so many columns about pet safety and ignoring the region's massive commuting problems (L-1)?

Why are so many of Cichowski's columns based on reader e-mails and not on independent reporting?

What are Editor Liz Houlton's news copy editors smoking?

Burning questions

A photo caption on L-1 today informs readers "the perils of driving can sometimes include flames."

The photo shows a man wearing a safety vest and talking into a walkie talkie, but the caption says, "Authorities giving attention to a car that caught fire .... "

On L-3, a photo caption doesn't tell readers where a car flipped on Route 80, forcing them to look for clues in a highway sign and on the uniforms of firefighters.

Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!

Why are L-2 and L-3 filled with so much court and lawsuit news? Where is the municipal news?

More indigestion

Does anyone edit the undisciplined Elisa Ung, whose favorable review of Pho Thai-Lao Kitchen in Maywood appears in Better Living (BL-16-17)?

Consider this gem:

" ... like the table next to us who had driven in from the city."

It's enough to make you want to throw up your pad Thai.

Nor does she tell readers $25 for a whole red snapper is a lot more expensive than at most ethnic restaurants.

Are brown rice or vegetarian dishes available? Your guess is as good as mine.