Didn't Christie decision affect cost of Obamacare?

The vast majority of readers commute on NJ Transit buses and trains, not on jitneys, such as the one shown above, so why is The Record's John Cichowski spending so much time reporting on the so-called Spanish buses and so little effort addressing public transit problems that affect nearly all of us? See the Road Warrior column on L-1 today.

By Victor E. Sasson
Editor

I searched today's Page 1 story in The Record for Governor Christie' role in the cost of health insurance under the federal Affordable Care Act, but couldn't find even a mention of him.

The Woodland Park daily already reported that Christie's refusal to set up health-care exchanges in New Jersey would limit the choices that are expected to reduce costs dramatically in New York and other states.

Today, The Record's Lindy Washburn reports New Jerseyans will have fewer plans to choose from than residents of most other states -- and save less money -- "largely because only three insurance companies chose to participate in the new marketplace."

But there is no mention that Christie's decision to allow the federal government to set up the state's exchanges led to that limited choice.

Christie booster

Is this another example of Editor Marty Gottlieb sanitizing stories during the gubernatorial campaign to put the GOP bully in the best light possible?

That's what a campaign manager or a defense attorney does. It's certainly not what newspapers should do.

Deceptive TV ad

Readers have to turn to A-6 today, and search the story for reporting on a deceptive Christie TV ad that accuses challenger Barbara Buono of voting to raise "taxes and fees on hardworking New Jersey families" and then raise her own salary.

It turns out "hardworking New Jersey families" is a reference to millionaires who aren't paying a tax surcharge thanks to Christie's repeated vetoes.

And the raise in legislative salaries to $49,000 from $35,000 occurred more than a decade ago, was sponsored by a Christie ally and signed into law by a Republican governor, and raised the state executive's salary to its current $175,000.

Media won't help

Sadly, Buono can't rely on The Record and other media to get her message across that Christie is hiding his record of economic failure and attacks on the middle and working classes.

On A-2 today, out of the thousands of errors in Road Warrior columns in recent years, the editors correct the spelling of a reader's name.

'Zisa' is dirty word

The lead story in the Local news section today reports a settlement in "the most extensive" civil lawsuit brought against Hackensack and its infamous police chief, Ken Zisa, alleging "corruption, intimidation and retaliation" in the Police Department (L-1).

Zisa was convicted last year of official misconduct and insurance fraud, and the department is now being run by Police Director Mike Mordaga.

Stomach turning

The Record's mindless promotion of food trucks offering low-quality fare has landed a hot-dog vendor in hot water with the city of Englewood (L-6).

From Staff Writer Elisa Ung's rave Sunday column, readers might think Rosario D'Rivera was selling grass-fed filet mignon, not Sabrett beef hot dogs pumped full of harmful additives.

After the article appeared, Englewood ordered D'Rivera to move her Rosie's Weenie Wagon from a corner in the city's industrial section.

The real loser

"I lost an incredible amount of business, D'Rivera is quoted as saying, claiming she has only $20 in her pocket.

For that, she can thank Ung.

The overweight restaurant reviewer uses The Record's money to stuff her face and promote unhealthy food, and the merchant takes the heat and a big hit to her income. 

Don't you love newspapers?