By Kat Leslie
In an era of digital media and fast-spreading information, local newspapers continue to play a vital role in keeping the community informed and holding public officials accountable. The Dispatch, a publication that has been serving Warwick community since 1885, stands as a trusted source of news and information, and it’s essential to recognize the invaluable role it plays in our local landscape.
Current social media attacks by the Village of Florida Mayor Harter and an article by Jessica Cohen, published today by Pennsylvania based website/news blog, have raised questions about the validity of newspaper reporting in The Warwick Valley Dispatch.
The Dispatch has been committed to reporting the news as it happens, including the unfolding in the village of Florida scandal involving Mayor Harter and his legal counsel. It is crucial to emphasize that the legal troubles for Mayor Harter began long before they were first reported in The Dispatch. Pending lawsuit and a series of allegations ranging from abuse of power to unlawful conduct, certainly did not reflect well on the mayor and his attorney, Elizabeth Cassidy, running candidate for Town Justice.
It is obvious they would prefer the information The Dispatch published never came out to public attention and scrutiny. The paper simply performed its duty in keeping the public informed about these ongoing developments, like any hometown paper should.
However, it is now, on the eve of local election, that Mayor Harter has decided to go on the offensive, accusing The Dispatch of bias and partisanship. His recent post and obviously “commissioned” article are clear attempts to deflect public opinion, gather sympathy votes, and mislead the public. Unfortunately for him, the content of that article is riddled with inaccurate and misleading information (which will be a subject to a different story), and it relies heavily on quotes from individuals, who either associated with the publication website, wrote letters of support for candidate Cassidy, or engaged in a smear campaign against The Dispatch in the past. It raises questions about their motives and their connection to the unfolding events. In their attempts to discredit The Dispatch, Mayor Harter and reporter Cohen have, in fact, employed a strategy that appears designed to serve their own interests and agenda.
What’s even more perplexing is that both Mayor Harter and candidate Elizabeth Cassidy had ample opportunities to tell their side of the story to their constituents and voters. Instead both have chosen to remain silent, leaving the community in the dark.
Cassidy even declined a live forum on local radio with her opponent, Karen Amundson, back in September. The people of our community deserve transparency and accountability, especially from those seeking public office.
As for the Mayor, The Dispatch still awaits his response to our request for an explanation of his actions, to present his case, and to address the community.
In contrast to this, Mayor Harter and candidate Cassidy have chosen to seek damage control from an out-of-state, little-known online news blog that seems willing to participate in manipulating public opinion in a faraway local election in Warwick, NY. It is troubling that they would resort to such tactics rather than engaging with their own community and addressing the concerns and questions raised here.
It is indeed quite ironic that while Mayor Harter and Elizabeth Cassisdy accuse The Dispatch of bias and partisanship, they themselves seem to be guilty of the very actions they decry. Accusing The Dispatch of partisanship while seeking refuge in a Pennsylvania less-known platform, sends a clear message. It suggests that they may not be interested in genuine accountability or engaging with their local community. Instead, their actions reveal a desire to control the narrative and manipulate public perception from a distance.
