'Let's just cover the mostly white towns'

The Mother Hen threatens a reader.

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Given the consistent lack of coverage of Hackensack and Englewood -- two of Bergen County's most diverse towns -- isn't it possible head Assignment Editor Deirdre "Mother Hen" Sykes held a meeting and said the following in laying out priorities for her municipal reporters?

"OK. Everyone, come closer. You know Deirdre likes to keep her 'chicks' nearby (followed by shrieks of laughter). In view of the downsizing of The Record and Herald News, and the move out of Hackensack, today we're going discuss which towns will get good coverage and which towns we'll try to ignore.


"Now, I met with Frank [Editor Frank Scandale] and Stephen [Publisher Stephen A. Borg], and they want us to ignore most of our diverse communities -- including Hackensack, Teaneck and Englewood -- and cover the mostly white towns -- such as Ridgewood, Glen Rock and Tenafly. They're our kind of people, our kind of demographic.


"OK. Monsy [Alvarado, the Hackensack reporter], that means when you're through with the Michael Mordaga probe -- and that should be soon, because it has dragged on for nearly three years -- you are immediately to start hounding Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa, and don't write any story that doesn't include the chief or the Police Department. So just ignore the city budget, tax hikes, schools, development and so forth.


"Now, Giovanna [Fabiano, the Englewood reporter], that means forget about segregated Englewood schools, forget about the Jamaican community (they're only good for making the rum cake I can't keep my hands off at Thanksgiving), forget about the city. Write as  much as possible about that publicity hungry rabbi -- Botox, Boteach, whatever -- and the Libyan-owned mansion next door. Nothing like a mini Arab-Jewish conflict close to home. 


"Yeah. That brings me to you, Joe [Ax, the Teaneck reporter]. You're covering Teaneck too much. We might have to send you some place like Haiti. Let's hope the country gets hit with an earthquake, and then we'll just ignore the township.


"Now, Mary Jo [Layton], you're one of our medical writers so keep close tabs on the controversial proposal to expand The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, and write as many stories as you can. Don't bother to investigate any of the claims of the white protesters -- just rehash them time and again. That makes good copy. And don't say whether a bigger hospital will pay higher taxes, easing the burden on all residents.


"Anyway, Frank and Stephen say the paper is in favor of the expansion, because of the extra advertising revenue that will bring in, and Stephen is on some kind of hospital council, but we have to make a good show of giving voice to the opponents. Editorial Page Editor Alfie Doblin is on board with the mixed message.


"OK. Chickies, go do your thing." (More howls of laughter.)

Today's paper


Staff Writer Mary Jo Layton was assisted by two other reporters in covering the Ridgewood Planning Board approval of The Valley Hospital expansion, which is the main element on Page 1. This guarantees many more stories on the Village Council vote, site plan review, even a possible lawsuit, so Mary Jo can make a career out of the story and please her boss, Deirdre.


Take a look at the Page A-6 list of groups that were going to lose state aid, but now will receive it, under a deal between Governor Christie and Democrats. It's clear Christie has been waging war against higher taxes on behalf of the Borgs and other wealthy folks at the expense of poor schoolchildren, the disabled, the mentally ill and others.


If you count the Ridgewood story on A-1, there is coverage today of about six towns among the 90 or so in the former Hackensack daily's circulation area -- but nothing from Hackensack, Teaneck and Englewood.


"Mother Hen" Deirdre, you and your "chicks" are doing such a great job.