Hi Neighbor, Maybe you’ve heard. The mighty New York Times will no longer make endorsements in local political races, like mayor and governor. Maybe you don’t care.
Frankly, I understand. More and more newspapers around the country no longer endorse political candidates. The Times offered no reason why its Editorial Board decided to stop endorsing in New York elections, but said it will still endorse in presidential races.
My friend, Grasmere Steve, thinks it’s because The Times wants to be seen solely as a national publication – which it is – and figures no one outside of New York cares who is mayor. But a conservative colleague thinks it’s more nefarious. This is New York, he says – a “leading world city.
” Local candidates can quickly become nationally known. Think Rudy Giuliani. For my work pal, The Times’ message is, “Whatever the Dems do in New York is OK by us.
” He’s pretty much right. But I don’t think their endorsements alter that. The Advance still endorses, but it is a decision I’ve wrestled with for a few years.
What is the point in a nation so divided? In a community that leans so heavily in one direction? What is the point, when an editorial meant to offer thoughts and ideas, to explore both sides, to fairly analyze a candidate’s position, to encourage debate, ends up alienating so many? “Don’t tell me what to do,” we are told. Loudly. What is the point when the readership thinks every news site that offers an opinion different than their own, is biased in its news columns? There was a time in the country, and on Staten Island, when Our Opinion counted.
Now? Journalists were stunned in 2016, when 57 major papers endorsed Hillary Clinton and two endorsed Donald Trump. No need to tell you what came next. Today, it infuriates so many of our neighbors if we do not fall in lockstep with their political beliefs.
I won’t even guess how many times readers have told me the Advance should mirror Staten Island’s majority’s opinion. In other words: Think Republican. Endorse Republican.
Vote Republican. We live in a community where, for the most part, differing opinions are not welcome. Believe me.
I know. You should see my inbox after a “From the editor” newsletter that even mentions Donald Trump lands in reader inboxes. The sarcasm, the vulgarity, the insults, the hatred is appalling.
“I’m canceling my subscription,” is the typical threat. And I just don’t get why. Doesn’t story after story on SILive.
com and in the Advance count? Don’t get me wrong. Not everyone is in attack mode. Some even agree.
But some who don’t still keep it civil. “I read you all the time,” a longtime Staten Islander told me the other night. “I don’t agree with you .
. . but I still read you.
” “Thanks . . .
I’m just trying to get your blood pumping,” I told him. Ray Catena, a luxury car dealer in our area, has a motto. Maybe you’ve heard it.
“You take care of your family, your work, and your life,” Ray advises. “We’ll take care of your car.” That’s sort of how I feel about the news.
You take care of your family, your work, and your life. We’ll worry about the news . .
. getting it to you, and then breaking it down in editorials. Although we do call them “Our Opinion,” an editorial’s purpose should not be meant to just sway a voter.
It should explore the candidates’ positions objectively. Our Editorial Board sits with the candidates, together if possible, asking each to address the same issues -- questions we think you would ask. True, we do offer an opinion as to which candidate we think would best serve Staten Island.
But it’s just an opinion. The hope is that our readers analyze the candidate responses and make a decision. We want to filter out the noise and give a clear understanding of where each candidate stands.
Each of us lives in a world shaped by our own experiences. It’s healthy to explore other worlds. Give it a try.
You might discover something you like. But, hey . .
. that’s just my opinion. Brian Oh by the way: I just read Tom Wrobleski’s report that former Congresswoman Susan Molinari thinks her dad, Guy, would have been a Republican for Harris.
Guy did endorse Donald Trump in 2016, after leveling intense criticism in the months before. Guy didn’t have much respect for Donald. It was in the mid-to-late ‘90s when “what to do with the vacated Stapleton homeport” was on the mind every Staten Island politician.
Word was that Trump was considering using the port as an off-shore gambling base. So Guy invited Donald to take a tour. Needless to say, there are no gambling boats docked in Stapleton.
Donald was not impressed. Neither was Guy. “He’s not too bright,” Guy told me after the tour.
.
