
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor@Blogfinger.
In a bizarre example of what passes for journalism at the Quoaster, the paper filled 3/4 of a page on an assessment of 4 candidates for 2 seats on the Neptune Committee in November.
It is bizarre because the report does not explain how the information was obtained. It is written as if all the candidates were together for a forum/ debate interview session with the Quoaster. But is that how it was done, or did the reporter conduct interviews with the 4 individually, by phone or in person, or maybe 2 at a time by party, by phone or in person.?
Or were the quotes obtained by sending each candidate a list of questions and then receiving the answers by email and then writing the report as if it were a sort of conversation.
I expect it was the latter, because the “reporter” did not report on any questions which he asked the candidates and then had a conversation with followup questions. At no time were the answers challenged by the reporter. This is not journalism.
Regardless of how the information was gathered, there is one bottom line which should interest us: at no time was Ocean Grove or its issues mentioned.
What were mentioned were: taxes, bond ratings, safety, quality of life, attracting new businesses, fighting crime, police resources, crime stats, empty storefronts, Midtown development, and candidates credentials.
If you want to read the report, pick up the Coaster. Note that the candidates barely mentioned political party in this report. Maybe they all want to pretend that political affiliation has no bearing locally, but these days it does, and having 5 Dems run the town does not allow for bipartisan thinking, representation, and philosophy.
Qoaster quote: ” Rizzo said she thinks the committee operates in a bipartisan manner when it comes to important issues.” Really?
The two Democratic incumbents are Robert Lane and Carol Rizzo , and two Republican challengers are Kendra Hogan and Gary Moll.
All 4 candidates will appear together at the Ocean Grove HOA meeting on Saturday, October 26. Who knows if there will be sanity at that meeting after the last session where OGNED was allowed to skirt relevant questions from the audience.
Hopefully citizens will ask pointed questions about OG issues including permit parking, DEP permission for the recent Lake Avenue easement, North End Redevelopment Plan which snatched the proper zoning away from the people, and lack of transparency by the current crew which has shown little concern for the people of Ocean Grove.
I have little hope that the challengers will know anything about OG’s problems, unless they surprise us later, but this report doesn’t raise any hope.
However, the challengers should be elected just to have some opposing voices on the Committee. But their chances seem slim. However, a strong OG vote for them would send a message if not provoke a wake up call for the Neptune Committee.
DEAN MARTIN:
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