I sent an inquiring email to Detective Dollinger that afternoon wondering if I had been somehow overlooked when he had sent the current press release to those on his distribution list. Usually when I have sent an inquiry to the detective I received a prompt response, this time however was different. I never received a response from Detective Dollinger, instead the following day, Wednesday, I received the following email from Middletown Public Information Officer Cindy Herrschaft with no other explanation:
Dear Mr. Morris,
The township has revised the policy regarding the distribution of press releases. Please feel free to check the township website for information updates.
When I received this response coming from Ms. Herrschaft, I was puzzled. I have been receiving press releases for 8 months without any issue and wanted to know why I was now being excluded. I immediately responded by requesting that a copy of both the old policy regarding press releases and the new policy be sent to me so that I could review it. I also stated that no such policy was posted on the Township website for such review. Needless to say, I am still waiting for her response.
After waiting for an answer for almost 24 hours I decided to send an email to Township Administrator Tony Mercantante Thursday afternoon:
Mr. Mercantante,
For the past 8 months I have been receiving MTPD press releases from Detective Dollinger for posting on my Middletown Mike blog. These press releases have been very well received by the readers of the blog and are often the most read feature of the day when posted.
So you can imagine my dismay when I did not receive a press release from this past weekend and subsequent releases issued this week from Detective Dollinger, but found updates on other blogs or websites.
When I sent an inquiry to Detective Dollinger, I did not receive the usual quick response from him that I am accustomed to when I have a question, instead I received an email (below) from Cindy Herrschaft saying that the policy regarding the distribution of press releases had been revised and basically stating that I would not be receiving press releases for the Township anymore for posting.
I responded to Ms. Herrschaft, asking her if she could forward me a copy of the previous press release policy and that of the revised policy, so that I can understand why it seems that I am being singled out from receive township press releases from the MTPD or administration. So far I haven't heard from her and that disturbs me.
If at all possible I would appreciate if you could look into this matter for me and provide me with the simple documents that I requested without having to file an OPRA request.
It would be great if this was just a misunderstanding and my name was taken off Detective Dollinger's contact list by mistake and therefore you could authorize Detective Dollinger to once again include me in his updates.
I appreciate your help in this matter
Again nearly 24 hours pasted without a response, I figured that they were trying to come up with a plausible explanation as why I wasn't to receive press releases any longer because it was becoming evident to me that no such policy documents exsisted.
So as not to be ignored,on Friday I sent yet an other email to the Township, this time to Assistant Administrator James Van Nest:
Mr. Van Nest,
As Assistant Township Administrator I am hoping that you could provide me with an answer to my inquiry below.
It has been two days since I respond to Ms. Herrschaft email notifying me that I have been taken off the contact list and will no longer be receiving Township press releases and almost 1 full day since sending an email inquiry to Mr. Mercantante about it, with no response in return.
I understand that it is the summer and people my have taken off a few days (hence no response from Mr. Mercantante) but I would like to know the true reason why I have been singled out by no longer being a recipient of direct notification of press releases.
In her email Ms. Herrschaft stated that the policy for distributing press releases has been changed. I would like to see in writing what the old policy was and how it differs from the new policy seeing how no such policy is listed on the Township website and that press releases are not always posted there in a timely manner.
Ultimately I would like to be restored to the notification list if possible. If you could be so kind to follow-up on this matter and respond back I would be greatly appreciative.
Thank you for your help in this matter.
They say that the third time is the charm and I suppose in this instance that old adage rang true because a short time afterwards Tony Mercantante finally responded to my emails with the following explanation:
Mr. Morris,
The policy for distributing Press Releases consists of essentially lists that have evolved over time. In order to keep distribution to a manageable magnitude it has been decided that automatic distribution of press releases will be limited to the following:
stablished new organizations and media outlets, whether they be print, online or on air organizations.
Community organizations and homeowners associations that have requested to receive information.
Other governmental agencies and officials.
We are currently reviewing the lists to make sure that all who are on it fall into the categories mentioned above. Blog sites are not included. If you ever become aware of a blog receiving such information automatically, please report it and we will look into it right away. You or anyone else has always the right to request specific information and/or pull it from the web site when it is posted, which is usually within a day.
Tony Mercantante
Township Administrator
That to me was an interesting reply. I responded by stating that I was in disagreement with his response and that it made it clear that there was no written policy in place that specifically dealt with this issue. I pointed out that my blog serves the community as a source of local news and opinion to those that read it and that I believe the township was being arbitrary in it's decision to exclude my blog from directly receiving press releases. At which point Mr. Mercantante replied that all blog would be excluded, not just mine.
I asked him how does the Township differentiate between what is a News site and what isn't and what is constitutes a community group? By definition Blogs and other Social Media outlets are virtually the same and almost impossible to differentiate. Websites such as Middletown Patch, Redbankgreen.com and MiddletownMike are just as much social media outlets as they are news outlets. Any website that allows reader comments to be published in response o columns posted are considered social media.
Thus it doesn't make much sense not to include Blogs or Social Media in the Township's policy, it only makes sense that public information should be disseminated in all possible manners and not excluded for arbitrary assumptions as to what constitutes a news outlet.
Out of further curiosity, I asked Tony Mercantante if Art Gallagher's blog MoreMonmouthMusings, was considered a legitimate news outlet, seeing how often I have seen Middletown press releases on his site well before being posted on the Township's website.
His responded by stating "...we specifically discussed Mr. Gallagher's site and concluded it was a blog and will not be getting automatic distribution of press releases."
At this point in our email exchanges I ended my inquiry but stated that I will be on the look out for evidence to the contrary.
Regardless of Mercantane's explanation and assurances that no other blogs will be included in automatic press release notifications, I can help but think that this petty behavior on the Township's part is in retaliation to negative posts I have published concerning members of the Township Committee. It would not be the first time that the Township Administration tried their hand at childish retaliation against a website.
I was reminded by Carol Schwebel that when Allan Dean, the publisher of the Atlantic Highland Herald, was attempting to help her fight the new Middletown website requirement that users must first register name, address and other personal information before hand to get information, the Administration stopped sending him information as well.
It's just all par for the course I suppose. Why make the system more transparent when you live for it to be opaque? Saying that the reason for such a decision has to do with manageability of lists doesn't cut it, a distribution list is not that hard to manage.
So while the crime of me being officially banned from directly receiving press releases from the Township has been committed, it wont prevent me from lifting press releases from other websites, be it directly off of Middletown web page or others. I wont allow them to intimidate me it such a way. I'll just start posting all the press releases I notice, not just those from the MTDP.
I'll show 'em :-)
16 comments:
Mike,
Middletown's administration and especially one TC member has no qualms about treading on the rights of the people. In the past they have used the township police to conduct surveys that exclude some of the residents affected by serious problems in their neighborhoods in order to reward a politically connected neighborhood resident incapable of the truth who has a talent for defamation of character of any citizen or organization who disagrees with her.
Far as I am concerned this administration has no compunction violating civil rights to accomplish the means to their chosen ends ! It's election time again and "silly season" is getting an early start. The games have begun !
Show 'em Mike Not sure why this 'news' cannot be shared on blogs. Why would they further 'wage war' on you/us/all?
Not terribly surprising the town has done this. They are acting like little children who take their ball and run home.
They must think this is one way for them to get back at you Mike for providing a sounding board for all the discontent amongst the taxpayers.
Their reaction is so childish, they believe no one can have an opposing opinion to theirs.
I wonder if they will print this new revelation in the next edition of middletown matters.
In my opinion, based on what MM has stated in this recent entry, it is very safe to assume that this was never prior established written policy on the subject of press release distributuon, so it must be new policy. Like most policy in Middletown: act first and think later, if at all; only justify if pushed to do so; state the fabricated justification and then put something vague in writing. Kind of like policy by 'osmosis'. This lack of prior non-biased thinking and deliberation (typical of this and past administrations)is what prolonged the response to MM's request for explanation -- needed to clear it with the Middletown Legal Department. So it is probably safe to assume that Brian Nelson wrote, or minimally approved what was written. Is this an example of the Fiore and Murray political campiagn for election in November gearing up and getting in the way -- obstructing -- good government? Is Republican Chairman and grand kahuna campaign manager Peter Carton ultimately responsible for this tactic?
What are the criteria for those now deemed entitled to rececieve press releases; who makes the decision regarding those organizations entitled to receive the press releases. An argument can be made that RedBankGreen is a blog, although the site is positioned as a on-line newspaper. Again what objective criteria determines whether-or-not RedBankGreen, or any other electronic site, is online news, online editorial, online entertainment or all or none of the above. What consitutes a free press needs to be broadly interpreted. Our first admendment protects freedom of speech; this policy makes it just more difficult to exercise that freedom. MiddletownMike is an "established" blog/online that delivers local, regional and national news. The local administration backed by a solid Republican majority of five on the Township committee has crossed the line with the invention of this new policy. The Middletown Republican Party typically has gone too far --it is attempting to supress political and expressive speech.
I wonder where the other blogs and online media stand on this issue. If they just stand by, in my opinion, they are just watching (by ommission helping) the Township administration and Republican majority beat-up and supress a free press. Where does the Fourth Estate stand on this?
Time to contact the American Civil Liberties Union and find out how they might view this situation and all the rest of the situations in this town that need scrutiny and transparency. This township is run by a group of despots in gestapo fashion.
What we have for legal help is wanting in expertise and politics is his only motivator. Remember "second" in command to that "grand kahuna".
Maybe its time for a Letter to the Editor...or maybe you should get in touch with the APP Editorial board to see how they like this form of censorship. If I said it once, I've said it a hundred times...you live in a town where thugs rule the committee.
As for Red Bank Green, a former mayor has a sore back from bending over to kiss the rear of the very youthful Red Bank Green reporter. Is that why that information source will get special consideration.
These five political clowns and their "mouthpiece" and the "kahuna" fool no one !
To Anon at 2:35:
"Settle down, Francis..." (A reference to a great old, movie, I know, but one I couldn't resist...)
I don't know why this policy change -- if it was that -- happened, but harping on it so is making mountains out of molehills.
A blog is little more than a barroom discussion done electronically. No standards, no reliance on the truth, it contains slanted political blather that even the blogger admits is done for partisan political reasons.
When the Police Department or the Public Information Officer send out press releases by e-mail it is done as a courtesy and because the person receiving that information is expected to act favorably with that information.
Don't get the press releases? Tough! Read them from the town's website.
Want proof of what I'm saying?
Hey Mike, can you arrange for me to get an e-mail of every press release put out by the Middletown Democratic Club before it goes to the public? I am starting a blog about the Township's Democrats...
Let's see how far THAT goes...
Anon at 12:43
"sounding board for all the discontent amongst the taxpayers..."
You're killing me... LOL
There are maybe six people who "sound off" here, and most of them are just peeved that their party can't win an election as opposed to being discontent about taxes.
Heck, I outnumber all their posts by myself...
Legion-
Your screen names and alternate personalities alone outnumber the readership of most blogs. A good psychiatrist may be able to help you with that.
Mike-
timing matters- sounds like someone is threatened by your blog's popularity. Keep up the good work!
Ok there Sargent Hulka settled down as you say...settle down.
Any press releases sent to me were always posted without comment or bias, I let them speak for themselves.
The lines between blogs, social media and news outlets are becoming more and more blurred everyday to the point where they are virtually indistinguishable from each other.
The APP, Star-Ledger, NY Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN ect.... all post blogs on their websites and allow reader comments on various post and news items. Locally Redbankgreen and Middletown Patch are no different.
The only true online news scources in the area are the Independent and Two River Times. each provide there own reporting along with printing press releases and they allow for no reader interaction.
The Atlantic Highlands Herald on the otherhand, is nothing more than a glorified blog that publishes only press releases sent to them, no real reporting, and "blog" postings from a handful "regular" contributors that have obvious political slants.
So where do you draw the line? Obviously at those those that you have a political grudge against.
One last thing Legion,
if you would "man up" and provide me with your real name and email address,I would gladly send you whatever "press releases" that the Middletown Democratic Party sends out just prior to my publishing them if/when sent.
Mike, very saddened to hear of this! i was so happy to read your posts regarding the local information regarding Middletown. You had posted news where i never ever read before anywhere. I never Heard of the other news reporting companies. i have lived here over 20 years. Your weekly postings made me more informed of issues in Middletown. I do not get out too much as i depend on what i read Here from you. I Used to be out and about and current with such, I worked locally at EMO for many years until getting ill and placed on disability I Hope you get cleared to start receiving the reports again! otherwise i will be back in the dark again.
Your Fan!
Camille A Curci
Thank You Camille.
I'll do my best to keep you informed without directly receiving township press releases.
Legion (7:02 p.m.)
Sounds like you are talking about Gallagher's MoreMonmouthMusings when you attribute "partisian poltical reasons" to blogging.
Your perspetive that sending out a press release is a courtesy and that the person receiving it is expected to act favorably is an odd point of view when it comes to public information that is being supported by taxpayer dollars. Sounds like the Republican majority is concerned that someone is following in Gerry "Stupid Is As Stupid Does" Scharfenberger's footsteps.
Legion are you related to tom Stokes?
Anon 1:52,
No,she's not related to that man except by party affiliation,just sounds like him.
Legion is Scharfey's "cheerleader" with enough stage names to fill a book ,who can't stand independent thinkers !
Legion,
Thanks for you opinion that a blog is "little emore more than a barroom discussion" with "no standards" or "reliance on the truth". By saying so you seem to establish where you stand and your motivation when it comes to participating in blog commentary --no standards and no truth in what you have to say. It seems your objective is to drive drunk on your own opinions and misplaced sense of how important you are.
If sending out press releases and providing the public with information is a courtesy being done with taxpayer dollars then Middletown needs to stop the practice. The township should stop publishing the public information it provides in Middletown Matters and save a ton of money there as well. Doing both of these things would be more in line with present policy practice by the Republican majority of providing as little as possible information to the public -- keep them in the dark and barefoot. At this point residents get mostly Republican slanted "blather" and factual spin from the Public Information Officer.
Your opinion that there is an expectation that people act favorably with information provided in press releases reeks of promoting suppression of contrary opinion and free speach. Although, this kind of thinking reflects current republican policy and action in Middletown. The kind of speack and act favorably policy that got Committeewomen Brightbill removed from the ticket this year for publically expressing her dissatisfaction with the nonresponsive people responsible for the daily administration of government in Middletrown.
Legion, are you related to Brian Nelson?
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