Vote New York

Just as the smoke has cleared over one Long Island newspaper battle, another newspaper war has erupted, albeit a political one.

The heart of the clash is Republicans’ six-month effort to make the weekly South Shore Press one of two official Republican county newspapers. Ex-GOP Legis. Fred Towle, who was convicted of fraud and bribe-taking charges in 2004, works as sales manager there.

The dispute arose toward the end of a 12-hour Suffolk County Legislature meeting Tuesday night in Hauppauge, when all but one of the 11 majority Democrats abstained on the measure, killing it. The seven-member Republican minority retaliated, voting down bond resolutions for 10 capital projects totaling $5.1 million. They had needed 12 votes to pass.

Under state law, the Legislature annually names a Republican and Democratic newspaper to run legal ads publicizing things like bids on construction, public hearings and tax liens.
Republicans claim the Democrats’ move sets a dangerous precedent, barring Republicans from picking their own paper. “It’s outraged the Republicans,” said Legis. Edward Romaine (R-Center Moriches). “It’s one of the last little crumbs we have … It shows tremendous discourtesy.”

Democrats have stalled a vote since January over concerns that the Press did not meet all the requirements for an official newspaper. Before the vote, presiding officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) said a review found that the Press complied with the rules.

Majority leader Legis. Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Neck) said he abstained because he still had questions, adding he was “literally shocked” by the GOP’s vote against capital projects “that could jeopardize public safety.” Cooper also maintained the decision was “not political” because Democrats later approved the GOP’s other official paper choice, the Smithtown Messenger.

Republicans maintained that Democrats balked at naming the Press because it circulates in an area where their most vulnerable incumbent, Kate Browning of the Working Families Party, has to campaign. “I think it shows Democrats are scared for a number of their incumbents,” said Jesse Garcia, Brookhaven GOP leader.

Lee Snead, South Shore Press attorney, said the paper is considering a lawsuit, noting the delay has cost $40,000 in lost business and could cost another $100,000 by year’s end.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.