Editors drop minorities from big story

The old New York Times building. Two Times veterans now work in Woodland Park.

Editor Marty Gottlieb signed off today on a Page 1 story with a hole big enough for one of The Record's Mercedes-Benz delivery trucks.

The "ANALYSIS" of Governor Christie's war on affordable housing is fatally flawed in the first paragraph (A-1).

The story claims Christie wants to give "towns more power to decide what gets built within their borders."

Whites v. minorities

Any fool knows the real issue is whether low- and moderate-income people, including minorities, will be allowed to move into predominately white communities.

Christie is only the latest in a long string of conservative white officials who have subverted the state Supreme Court's Mount Laurel rulings, which said towns have a responsibility to accommodate low- and moderate-cost housing.

Today's long, densely written story doesn't even contain the word "minorities."

The story was probably edited on the assignment desk run by Editor Deirdre Sykes, a small-town resident whose distaste for diversity is well-known. 

Getting a grip

The big element on the front page today is about the Iranian president's grip on power.

Of course, a far better story in a North Jersey daily would be Christie's chances for reelection next year after breaking most of his campaign promises and going after the middle class.

Fur flies in newsroom

No animals were harmed in the making of the story and photo about a Ridgewood kitchen fire, but why is this minor drama all over the front of Local?

Sykes and her minions couldn't find any Hackensack or Englewood news today.

How low can you go?

Is there any connection between the enormously expensive Uniqlo ad wrapped around Page 1 today and the lavishly promotional "story" on the Japanese clothing retailer all over the Better Living front?

In the new Signature section, the editors have taken ignoring readers' lives to a new level with "IN MY OWN WORDS." 

The new feature is described as, "An occasional feature in which reporters, editors and critics write about their lives."

In view of a drastic decline in local news, do readers really want an inside look at the poor job The Record's news staff is doing?

Weary food writer

Staff Writer Elisa Ung is the first up with what appears to be a censored version of her restaurant reviewing.

There is nothing here about her obsession with sugary, artery clogging desserts or the orgasms she has over the "funk" of an enormous dry aged prime steak -- a heart attack on a plate.

She also doesn't discuss the tremendous boost to her family's finances from all those meals she enjoys on The Record's expense account, as well as the leftovers she brings home.

Finally, Ung doesn't address her Sunday column's failure to confront restaurant owners on such important issues as the broken tipping system and serving meat with harmful antibiotics and growth hormones. 

Ex-Times pals in N.J.

Gottlieb hired a pal, Alan Finder, to fill the cushy job of editing Signature, which debuted Sept. 6.

Finder, who took a buyout after 28 years at The New York Times, is married to one of The Record's graphic artists, Elaine Isaacson.

Isn't that nice.