Herald admits it lied – corrects story that falsely attacks Commissioner Dawn Fantasia
/Update to the story below. The New Jersey Herald has issued a correction.
By Sussex Watchdog
There are two reporters from the New Jersey Herald who need to resign immediately. Because they lied. Because they simply made up something to push a political agenda.
The New Jersey Herald is subsidized by the property taxpayers of Sussex County. That subsidy is in the form of public notices, required by law to be published in newspapers like the Herald. Millions of dollars worth each year. That’s millions of property tax dollars in the state with the highest property taxes in America. The taxpayers deserve better. They shouldn’t be forced to subsidize lies.
This is the headline from the story Bruce Scruton and Lori Comstock wrote, published, and distributed in the New Jersey Herald today:
Sussex commissioner cites false facts to push anti-hate resolution to include BLM, antifa
These are the first paragraphs from the story Bruce Scruton and Lori Comstock wrote, published, and distributed in the New Jersey Herald today:
NEWTON — During a heated discussion about anti-hate resolutions last week, the head of the Sussex County Board of Commissioners brought up two instances of vandalism and a reported shooting near the home of Sheriff Michael Strada last summer.
Board Director Dawn Fantasia cited the incidents before proposing a resolution to condemn antifa and Black Lives Matter on Wednesday night. That came amid a debate with local residents over an earlier proposal to condemn white supremacy, neo-Nazism, white nationalists and the riot by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capital Jan. 6.
Here is the text of Board Director Dawn Fantasia’s resolution. Please note that this is also part of the official audio and video record of the Board’s proceedings. It is the official record. There is no getting past it in a court of law:
Anti-Hate Resolution
Whereas, those acting on “hate” generally do so from a perceived superiority (ethnic, racial, or other) or certainty about a particular ideological or religious point-of-view. Examples include Pol Pot’s exterminations in Cambodia, the Nazi Holocaust in Europe, the Soviet Holodomor in the Ukraine, and the Ottoman genocide in Armenia; and
Whereas, history informs us that hate-motivated violence has often been made worse by the interventions of governments. Examples of this include the sectarian “Troubles” in Northern Ireland, the ethnic conflicts in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, the genocide in East Timor, and the on-going genocide of Muslims in Myanmar and China; and
Whereas, the word “hate” is a deeply subjective term influenced by any number of cultural, socio-economic, religious, and family influences; and
Whereas, acts of violence against people or property are crimes defined by statute; and
Whereas, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines a “hate crime” as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity”; and
Whereas, not all crimes of violence fall within the FBI’s definition of a “hate crime”. For example, the heinous terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, that caused the deaths of 2,977 human beings are not counted as “hate crimes” by the FBI; and
Whereas, it is in the public interest of the citizens of the State of New Jersey and this great nation to condemn, in the strongest terms, any “hate crimes” or any other “crimes of hate” (such as the attacks on September 11, 2001) motivated by a perceived superiority (ethnic, racial, or other) or certainty about a particular ideological or religious point-of-view; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Sussex County, New Jersey:
1. This Board strongly condemns “hate crimes” or any other “crime of hate” (such as terrorists' attacks like the attacks on September 11, 2001) motivated by a perceived superiority (ethnic, racial, or other) or certainty about a particular ideological or religious point-of-view. In addition, this Board strongly recommends to all its constituents to abide by the timeless values expressed in the "Golden Rule" (Matthew 7:12), that we "do unto others as we would have them do unto us”.
2. The Governor and the Attorney General are encouraged to provide State assistance to victims of “hate crimes” and other “crimes of hate” (such as terrorists' attacks like the attacks on September 11, 2001) and to enhance security measures and improve preparedness at locations that could be the targets of such crimes.
3. Copies of this resolution, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the Board to the Governor, the Lt. Governor, the Attorney General, and to the Leadership of both Chambers of the New Jersey Legislature.
Bruce Scruton: Liar.
Now, we would like Sussex County Democrats Kristy Lavin, Zoe Heath, Katie Rotondi and their allies to pay very close attention here:
We are offering a $1,000 REWARD if anyone can find the words “Antifa” or “Black Lives Matter” or “BLM” in the anti-hate resolution read into the record by Commissioner Director Dawn Fantasia at last Wednesday’s Board meeting.
If nobody claims the reward, we expect Kristy Lavin, Zoe Heath, Katie Rotondi to have the integrity to demand that the taxpayer subsidy which supports the publication of the New Jersey Herald be withdrawn and other arrangements made. While entirely protected speech under the First Amendment, this kind of blatant lying should not be subsidized by the property taxes of the people of Sussex County. You can lie on your own dime.
And at every Board meeting and proceeding going forward, Sussex County Democrats Kristy Lavin, Zoe Heath, Katie Rotondi should be asked if they have collected the reward yet and about the subsidy. That and, of course, their thoughts on the historical connections between their organization and actual Hitler-saluting Nazis.
And the beat goes on…
“Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair.”
“Journalists should take responsibility for the accuracy of their work. Verify information before releasing it."
"Remember that neither speed nor format excuses inaccuracy."
“Gather, update and correct information throughout the life of a news story.”
“Diligently seek subjects of news coverage to allow them to respond to criticism or allegations of wrongdoing.”
“Support the open and civil exchange of views, even views they find repugnant.”
“Avoid stereotyping. Journalists should examine the ways their values and experiences may shape their reporting.”
“Never deliberately distort facts or context.”
From the
Code of Ethics
Of
The Society of Professional Journalists
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