Politics, patronage, police and the press

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Why is The Record of Woodland Park using the front page today to celebrate the coup of Passaic County's sheriff, who unexpectedly quit for a higher-paying job with the Port Authority?


The accompanying political column makes it clear the move is seen as highly favorable to the Republican Party, and has the apparent endorsement of Governor Christie, but the stories do not connect the dots. Here is a cop who knew how to work the disability system and who sometimes reminds you of the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, staying up days to tail a truck filled with tomato paste, not drug money.


Yet the lead story portrays him as a celebrity who danced with Paris Hilton and made a movie with Richard Gere. And do readers really need a third story (A-6) on whether Jerry Speziale will command a nearly $50,000 raise in his new job? 

For the past two days, the Local section reported Speziale was embroiled  in a controversy over whether he had padded his payroll with patronage appointees. "Petty potentate pads payroll" would be a good headline.

Today's coverage shows how newspapers love to shower law enforcers with adulation in return for all the low-down details on crime and punishment. Reporters and assignment editors often cultivate relationships with lawmen, hoping to get those big scoops. Drug busts are promoted as Page 1 news -- to stroke the ego of a prosecutor, police chief or sheriff -- when everyone knows the flow of narcotics will never be stopped. 

A day after A-1 reported that 80% of school districts will have fewer teachers in September, another reporter explains on the front page today that federal aid could save more than 3,900 teaching jobs in New Jersey. Why wasn't that in Tuesday's story?


Editor Frank "Castrato" Scandale decided to run a colorful, patriotic photo from a soccer game on Page 1, and bury real news -- that a major food pantry in Englewood handed out nearly 40% more rations of food (a week's worth) than last year (L-1).

And what does the promotion at the top of A-1 mean by "food pantries need your help"? They need the help of Christie or millionaires like the Borgs, who made the recession worse by jettisoning dozens of employees and then moving out of Hackensack. Food businesses on or near Main Street are struggling or have closed. Solari's Restaurant, once favored by former Publisher Malcolm A. Borg, also has seen business plummet.

There is no Hackensack, Englewood or Teaneck municipal news today.

With Bill Pitcher out of the picture as food editor, an editorial (A-10) applauds U.S. Senate passage of a school-nutrition bill, and notes the Garden State has the nation's second-highest rate of obesity among low-income children 2 to 5.


Of course, because Editorial Page Editor Alfred P. Doblin has been doing so much public relations work for Christie, the editorial  makes no mention of state cuts that will deny free and reduced-price breakfasts and lunches to some of these same low-income kids.

(Photo: Steve Martin as Inspector Clouseau.)