Weekly scoops daily with old news

Two of The Record's editors prepare to sniff out local stories at the morning news meeting in Woodland Park.

The front page of The Record is dominated today by a large photo of a woman few readers recognize -- the ex-girlfriend of former Hackensack Police Chief Ken "I Am The Law" Zisa.

But readers won't find a word about Hackensack residents who have called for the resignation of City Attorney Joseph C. Zisa, a member of the family that has ruled Zisaville for decades.

On Friday, the weekly Hackensack Chronicle reported that at a June 11 meeting of the City Council, residents said Joseph Zisa has recused himself from handling lawsuits against the former chief -- his cousin -- forcing the city to hire attorney Denis Calo.

Squandering taxes

Gadfly Kathy Canestrino said, "We are now paying for two city attorneys -- each of you averaging about $280,000 in charges to the city."

Joseph Zisa said nothing in response to the call for his resignation, the weekly paper reported.

There was no coverage of the June 11 meeting in The Record on June 12 or 13, nor has there been any mention of the potential conflict Joseph Zisa's position represents or of calls for him to resign.

Bored, lazy editors

That's because head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes and Deputy Assistant Assignment Editor Dan Sforza have been enthralled with the soap opera of Ken Zisa and Kathleen Tiernan, who has been described in news reports as the convicted chief's former "live-in girlfriend."

Legitimate news of Hackensack and many other towns doesn't really interest the bored editors, who for more years than readers care to remember have been unable to inspire their staff to turn out a comprehensive local-news report.

Does Editor Marty Gottlieb really think the sentencing of Tiernan to Pre-Trial Intervention,  a probation program, for insurance fraud deserves to be on the front page or to lead today's Local section?

One question Sykes has never answered is whether Zisa ever woke up Tiernan in the middle of the night and demanded, "Baby! Hold my gun."

Kicking butt

Also on Page 1 today, the subtext of a lawsuit filed against American Dream is that the huge Meadowlands retail and entertainment project will prove far more popular than watching the Giants and Jets butt heads on the field (and slap and ream butts in the locker room).

In Sykes' Local section, Sykes found room for a large photo of a fuel spill on a highway ramp in Franklin Lakes (L-1) -- part of the comprehensive coverage of minor accidents she has demanded from her talented staff photographers.

On the same page, a production error led to a word from the sub-headline ending up under a photo -- above the caption -- and part of the caption ending up between the main headline and byline (L-1).

Friday's paper

On Friday's Page 1, Sykes and the other editors continued to nibble around the edges of the obesity epidemic The Record tries so hard to ignore.

North Jersey hospitals have been using double-wide wheelchairs; bigger, stronger beds and operating tables, and other measures "to treat the growing ranks of obese patients," Staff Writer Mary Jo Layton reports.

What about the growing ranks of obese editors who subvert coverage of obesity and wink at photos of an ever larger Governor Christie? 

Fat is good

The Woodland Park daily even has obesity cheerleaders in Food Editor Susan Leigh Sherrill and Restaurant Reviewer Elisa Ung, whose obsession with dessert is well-known.

In Friday's Better Living section, Ung made room for several desserts, including a "tiny, tangy cheesecake," at Latitude 41 Lounge & Restaurant.

After looking over her lukewarm, 2-star appraisal, I could see readers leaping into their cars to sample the fare at this quirky lakeside place in West Milford, which might as well be on another planet for most Bergen County residents.