The Record turns its back on the middle class

A reader of "Eye on The Record" calls jitneys the "McDonald's of mass transportation in North Jersey," referring to the low-wage workers who drive them. We'd all be better off if we patronized businesses that paid their employees a living wage and benefits, and boycotted those that don't, including McDonald's and Walmart.

By Victor E. Sasson
Editor

In letters to the editor today, one reader called The Record's endorsement of Governor Christie "insane," and another said the GOP bully's agenda "is not in the interests of working- and middle-class families" (A-12).

The editorial, which ran on Sunday, is full of the same distortions, omissions and half-truths voters are finding in Christie's campaign ads.

Under the headings of "Christie's a leader" and "Governor deserves four more years," the editorial sanitizes the conservative's first term by failing to mention all the vetoes he executed to get his way on issues ranging from a hike in the minimum wage to a tax surcharge on millionaires.

Spiking the tea

More troubling is The Record -- presumably with the support of the wealthy Borg family -- adopting the no-tax mantra of the crackpot Tea Party (Sunday's O-2).

And many readers are puzzled by The Record's dismissing the governing skills of state Sen. Barbara Buono, the Democratic challenger, when Christie's highest elected position before he won the Governor's Office was as a Morris County freeholder.

Of course, the endorsement by Editorial Page Editor Alfred P. Doblin is no surprise after months of favorable news coverage and adoring columns that ignore the crippled state economy and disappointing shore tourism this past summer.

Typically, the Woodland Park daily ran another analysis of Christie's politics on A-1, and coverage of Buono's campaign on A-3.

Sandy lingers

After two solid days of upbeat coverage on the recovery from Sandy, The Record's front page reluctantly reports on all those who have nothing to celebrate today, the anniversary of the devastating storm (A-1).

A second story on shore ads continues to polish Christie's image as he positions himself for a presidential run in 2016.

Filler photos

In Local, Deputy Assignment Flunky Dan Sforza couldn't fill his section with news.

So, he took a page from his absent boss, Deirdre Sykes, and ran two filler photos of minor accidents, and didn't even bother to get the identity of the drivers or possible causes (L-2 and L-3).

One caption informed readers "the car [was] towed away."

How's that for breaking news?

Second look

Friday's front page carried a follow-up to the murder of Mary Greff, 23, of Waldwick, focusing on her boyfriend's inability to adjust to fatherhood after their child was born.

Who thought this story was the appropriate place to attempt a clever play on words?

The first paragraph noted Greff and suspect Mark Spatucci argued over "child support and custody of the infant," followed immediately by "now Spatucci, 22, is in custody [jail]."

Editor Marty Gottlieb also thought Friday's Page 1 was an appropriate place for another sports column by Tara Sullivan, the paper's Vagina Monologue.

Solid blue line

Friday's Local front informed readers the Alpine police officer involved in an accident in Paterson, where he allegedly ran a stop sign, had just accepted a traffic-safety award on behalf of his department.

But Paterson and Alpine police continued to stonewall reporters seeking information about Matthew Kent, the traffic officer, and the cause of the accident.

Was liquor served at the banquet where Kent accepted the award, and did he consume any? Readers are left guessing.

On Friday's L-7, a photo shows five Paterson police officers standing around the motorcycle that collided with the Alpine police cruiser, raising a natural question:

Why aren't they fighting crime and gun violence in the Silk City?

Living appetizers

In Friday's review of Rose Persian Restaurant in Teaneck, Staff Writer Elisa Ung reports the owners plan "to add outdoor tables on Teaneck Road where customers can smoke hookah," presumably while wearing fall clothing (Better Living).

She also said the menu offers "spunky" appetizers, but doesn't explain how food can be both "courageous and determined."