There Will Be No 'Fake' News In Middletown, Working Reporters Are A Pet Peeve of Settembrino

  Kevin Settembrino Photo by Muriel Smith • The Monmouth Journal

When I first read this article after it was brought to my attention Wednesday night, "Middletown’s new mayor holds meet and greet with local media", published at The Monmouth Journal (which you can read HERE), I was astounded by the arrogance of it, but I can't say that I was surprised by it because very little that comes from those currently running Middletown surprises me anymore.

According to the article, Middletown's appointed mayor, Kevin Settembrino (who made it very clear that he was the man in charge) called for a, "friendly session with local media personnel as a means of getting to know reporters better, as well as a way to introduce the township’s Public Information Officers, Tara Berson and Jessi Ticino, to the media. Township administrator Tony Mercantante was also present along with editors and journalists from local media outlets."  Settembrino went on to state that, " he wanted a good working relationship with the media, he also said requests from reporters working on a tight deadline for quotes or information is a pet peeve of his. What’s more, he doesn’t like surprises and discourages reporters from seeking information from other members of the Township Committee." ... " “I don’t want to be reading information you got from a member of the Township Committee,” he said. “I’m not happy about that.” "

Can you believe that statement? The audacity and arrogance that it takes to make such a statement is astonishing. Middletown's appointed mayor doesn't like reporters who ask questions or are working on deadlines, it's a "pet peeve" of his? You've got to be kidding me, it's like he's Middletown's own little version of Donald Trump! There will be no 'fake' news in Middletown, all questions must be submitted in writing and given directly to the public information officers first! Oh, and by the way don't speak to anyone but me!

Oh my God, that's a new level of chutzpah even for me!

Back in the day of lazy reporting of Township Committee meetings, former Public Information Officer Cindy Herrschaft, use to hand press releases with statements from the Committee, to reporters with highlighted talking points addressing things that were going to be spoken about during meetings.   For those that attended meetings back in the day, if you picked up a newspaper several days after a the fact, it was as if the meeting you were present at didn't happen. It was a crazy alternate universe that we seemed to live in.

Does Settembrino's statements above also mean that because he wants to be the ultimate control freak, that he is officially putting a muzzle on Tony Fiore? We all know that Tony Fiore has quite the presence on social media and likes to bait, chastise and insult people that have an issue with what is happening in and around Middletown. Fiore speaks on behalf of the township all the time when he is not authorized to do so and as a result creates some of his own 'fake' news with gross mischaracterizations and exaggerations on events both past and present. He  seems to think that people are misinformed and ignorant of facts, so they will unquestionably believe what he says.

This town is long over do for change on it's governing body. Middletown doesn't need arrogant 'A'holes like this, who think that the public is ignorant and doesn't know what's best for themselves or the town. November can't come soon enough!

Owner Of 365 Fitness Interested In Middletown Swim Club

According to an article published in the Monmouth Journal and appearing online Bob Meyer, the owner of 365 Fitness has expressed an interest in operating the Middletown Swim and Tennis Club.

The article, "Fate of swim club still unknown", is mostly a rehash of events that has taken place since Middletown suddenly announced that the swim club would not be operational this season. For those keeping up on the story, there really isn't anything new in the way of news about the efforts of  the swim club members group, Save Our Swim club (SOS), who are fighting to keep the swim club operational this year while they come up with a viable plan to take over the swim club from the township. Unfortunately however, it seems that no matter what the SOS group comes up with the they are being rebuffed and turned away by the Township.

The one new piece of information contained in the article  is about how Robert Manse, leader of the SOS committee, approached Bob Meyer for help in saving the swim club and how now Meyer has expressed a potential interest of 365 Fitness to  take over the swim club maybe a difference maker.

Robert Manse, who heads the SOS committee, has approached Bob Meyer, owner of 365 Fitness, which is also located on Harmony Road. Meyer enlisted his consultant, Deana J. Valente of Santomauro Group, to come up with a proposal for saving the club.

Meyer said, “This club has been in this town for over 50 years. It’s a landmark, and a good thing for the community. We need to come up with a plan.”

According to Valente, who works extensively with fitness and recreation facilities, there is great potential for the club.

She said, “We would like to operate this for the municipality, and make it profitable.”

Both Meyer and Valente feel the club could easily be a 12-month operation, vs. its current 80-day season. They also see opportunities for synergy between the swim club and 365 Fitness.

Will the expressed interest of Meyer and his 365 Fitness be a difference maker in saving the Middeltown Swim Club? For those that are trying to keep the club open and operational you would hope so but Ii don't think it will unless 365 Fitness is willing to purchase the property outright from the Township.
 
Those that operate Middletown want the swim club returned to the tax roll and off it's books. They have no plans to allow it to remain an asset of the township and remain a drain on precious budget resources.