Editors reveal Christie's minority strategy

Publisher Stephen A. Borg supports Tenafly officials who have consistently opposed the extension of light-rail service to the old station, above, fearing even more burglars will find rich pickings in the town Borg calls home.

I've been racking my brain trying to figure out what Governor Christie has done for all the minorities in New Jersey.

In 2010, he proposed cutting $5.5 million from the school breakfast program for low-income students, and first lady Mary Pat Christie chose to tackle the hunger problem in the state -- not the obesity epidemic.

A couple of years after the governor got rid of the only African-American state Supreme Court justice, he named a black lawyer to a seat on the high court, but because the nominee also is gay, he wouldn't be able to take part in any cases involving same-sex marriage.

Today, The Record's front page provides a partial answer to the GOP bully's minority strategy:

A state police escort for a wealthy, led-footed African-American pro football player who led dozens of friends in super cars on a 100 mph-plus trip to Atlantic City (A-1 and A-4). 

That item is only one of Editor Marty Gottlieb's bizarre choices for Page 1 of the Woodland Park daily's once-respected Sunday edition.

Editorial fantasy

If the Nets have been losers since they moved to New Jersey 35 years ago, why make them winners by giving them so much of A-1 today?

The so-called essay on the "City of North Jersey" that leads the paper is a fantasy from the uncluttered mind of a lifer whose cushy job has been the talk of the newsroom for years.

Staff Writer Charles Saydah, the error-prone letters editor, completely ignores all the corrupt municipal officials who have stopped any real progress for residents of more than 100 North Jersey towns.

Sure. We have lots of highways. But we're also saddled with an antiquated local-road system whose traffic jams rival the city's infamous congestion, as well as a dysfunctional mass-transit system. 

Unhealthy news

The only serious piece on A-1 today is Staff Writer Lindy Washburn's eye-opening story on the fund-raisers needed to help people left behind by our pathetic health-care system.

On the front of head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes' Local section, the Road Warrior shows he isn't completely brain dead on commuting problems, but he buries any useful suggestions in a discussion of politics that few readers will slog through (L-1).

View from Tenafly

The latest in a series of stories on Tenafly break-ins appears on L-3 -- apparently inspired by Publisher Stephen A. Borg, who nervously tracks the progress of burglars as they get closer and closer to his Churchill Road McMansion.

Borg already is being held up by Tenafly officials for annual property taxes of around $70,000. He got his $3.65 million mortgage from the family bank, North Jersey Media Group.

Words from a sage

One of the paper's legal experts -- Columnist Mike Kelly -- weighs in on the trial of suspended Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa (O-1).

Here is one of the reporter's brilliant insights: "Think of the 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' mud-wrestling with the cast from 'Jersey Shore.'"

You can be sure the gray-haired Kelly isn't wrestling with anything -- least of all his conscience.

More table scraps

Readers of The Corner Table column in Better Living continue to wait for a discussion of restaurant issues that directly affect them, including low wages for servers, tipping and restaurants that dish low-quality food to boost profits.

Instead, Staff Writer Elisa Ung continues to promote owners and chefs.

Today, Ung's review of eco-friendly initiatives at restaurants is interesting, but why didn't she list chefs who donate leftovers to homeless shelters and food banks (F-1)?

Now, that's the most meaningful recycling of all.