Business of Politics: Warwick Valley Dispatch Exclusion from Orange County Public Notices List Sparks Controversy

By Kat Leslie

            Last month, in a surprising turn of events at the Orange County Legislature’s first reorganization meeting of the year, the Warwick community experienced both unexpected delight and a significant blow to its local representation.

The meeting began on a positive note as legislators and attendees were treated to a remarkable performance of the National Anthem by Warwick’s teenage sensation, Julia Roome. Her presence added a touch of local talent and youthful energy to the otherwise routine proceedings.

Everything seemed business as usual when the legislative body, in a unanimous vote, reelected the Chairperson along with the Majority and Minority Leaders for the current year. However, the atmosphere shifted when the legislative body voted and  accepted a resolution that left present Warwick residents and paper representatives  in shock.

The Warwick Valley Dispatch, a longstanding local newspaper, was conspicuously omitted from the list for the placement of public notices for the year 2024. Founded in 1885, still published in Warwick and independently owned by the fourth generation publisher of the Wright family, the Dispatch holds a historic significance in the community. It has served as an official newspaper for the town, and has been named an official newspaper of Orange County as far back as 1901. It is one of only two newspapers left serving Warwick community, but is the only one that satisfies the criteria to be designated as a “paper of record”. Another newspaper covering Warwick’s territory, Warwick Advertiser, was excluded from the notice placement by OC Legislature a year earlier. The exclusion of both newspapers from public notices raises concerns about our community’s access to crucial information regarding civic matters and events, and has stirred controversy within the Warwick community.

The Warwick Valley Dispatch, cherished for its long standing service, has been an integral part of the community for almost 140 years. The unexpected removal from the list left the Warwick community, the largest in Orange County, without representation or coverage of news from the Orange County governing body.

In the aftermath of the Orange County Legislature’s decision, the Editor of the Warwick Valley Dispatch has delivered a message of resolve and commitment to the newspaper’s staff:

“It is with a grain of disappointment that we learn about the OC Legislature decision not to provide the Warwick community with printed public notices anymore. The decision by the legislative body to exclude Dispatch from public notices is indeed a setback, but let it not dampen our commitment to delivering news and stories that matter. As we navigate through this challenging moment, let us remember the significance of our role in delivering news to the public. Dispatch will remain its unwavering dedication to independent journalism and Warwick. It has been a pillar in our community since its founding in 1885, and we remain dedicated to providing quality news coverage despite this setback.”

Stephen Kitar, the host of the weekly review of Dispatch on his show “Food for Thought” on WTBQ, brings a more optimistic perspective, when asked to comment. He noted that while the decision is unfortunate, its financial impact on the newspaper will be minimal. Kitar attributes this resilience to implemented policies and healthy business initiatives in recent years. “Remarkably, the subscription cost has increased from $27 to $55 to $82 in recent years, while not only maintaining but actively growing the subscriber base. In an era marked by closures in a declining industry, The Dispatch stands out as the only fast growing newspaper locally”, said Kitar.

“The $30-plus dollars a week, representing the average cost of public notice publication on behalf of the Orange County Legislature, poses little gain, or savings of taxpayer’s money, but presents big challenges in prioritizing and dedicating office resources to the required paperwork.”

Kitar emphasized that the issue with public notices goes beyond timely processing, and pointed out that this problem extends beyond The Dispatch and affects print media at all levels. Kitar called for collective efforts in finding an acceptable resolution to this problem. He underscored the public, and in this particular case,  the Warwick community, as the ones who stand to lose the most:

 “Being let down  by its representatives in the County Legislature, Warwick residents no longer will have access to updates and news from the governmental body, and are left without a crucial source of information.  With mixed messages coming from The Legislature the real motivation  for such a move is unclear. I’d like to believe, and sincerely hope, that the Legislators would be governed in its decision not by politics, agendas or vendettas, but by the interests of communities they represent.”

 Following the meeting, the Editor for Warwick Valley Dispatch contacted members of the Legislature inquiring about reasons behind such a drastic decision.

While the majority of the legislature remained tight-lipped, the Majority Leader Thomas J. Faggione replied via email:  “This was 100% a business decision. Any suggestion or aspersion  otherwise is inaccurate and untrue.”

However, another legislator who supported removal of The Dispatch from the list revealed, “That was a political decision” adding that not supporting it “would have been political suicide,” and requested anonymity for fear of repercussions.

It is worth pointing out that under the lead of Thomas Faggione the number of print media vested with the publication of all local laws, notices and other matters required by law, was slashed almost by half, – from seven (7) in 2022, to mere four (4) designated for the current year 2024.

The exclusion of the Warwick Valley Dispatch from public notices continues to fuel speculation and raises questions about the intersection of business and politics within the county’s legislative decisions.

While many emailed legislators would be unfamiliar with or never having read The Dispatch, three representatives from the Warwick community stand out as exceptions. Representing Warwick, Berry Cheney of Warwick, Paul Ruszkiewicz of Pine Island and Florida, and Glenn Ehlers of Warwick and Chester, are closely acquainted with the publication. Notably, two of them Glenn Ehlers and Paul Ruszkiewicz are long-time subscribers and actively hold current subscriptions to The Dispatch.

In reply to an email from The Dispatch, only one of the Warwick representatives, Glenn Ehlers, provided a response:

“Having grown up with the Dispatch as a constant presence in my home, I share the sentiment of many in our community who feel deeply connected to this newspaper;  I was sad to see Dispatch omitted from the list. It just happened; there was no official vote. I hate the thought that the community newspaper serving Warwick for almost 140 years has to be omitted from the list on my watch. I’ve taken steps to address this issue within the procedural constraints. Any motion to include the Dispatch in the list requires another vote, to second. Regrettably, I did not receive the support needed to move forward.”

“I understand the profound impact this decision has on our community and its access to essential information. Rest assured, I remain committed to finding a resolution that serves the best interests of Warwick and its residents. I will continue exploring avenues to address this matter within the bounds of our legislative procedures”, wrote Ehlers.

Surprisingly, the other two legislators representing Warwick, Berry Cheney and Paul Ruszkiewicz, offered no response as to why the only Warwick newspaper on the list was suddenly removed from it, or their refusal to act to reinstate it.

        The Dispatch however remains dedicated to its mission of providing accurate and fair reporting to the community it has served for over a century. This year marks the newspaper’s 139th year of independent reporting, free from corporate and political influence.

One thing is clear – the loss of local newspapers (serving Orange County’s largest community) from the list  for public notices, is a blow to Warwick residents’ access to vital information and will only reduce the engagement and interaction the county has with the public.

If you believe it was done not in the best interests of our community, we urge you to write to or contact your representative in the Orange County Legislature.

This incident highlights a concerning trend where some legislators appear to disregard the public’s right to know what is going on with their government and the legal proceedings that occur within their community.

In addition to the steady elimination of published public notices, the legislature’s shift away from evening sessions, which once allowed public participation, further exacerbates the issue. Such lapses in judgment took place with enviable regularity in recent years, when evening sessions practiced by the legislature in the not so distant past dwindled from four to two, to none – all amid growing complaints from the public and accusations of a lack of communication and transparency on the part of the legislative body.

This detachment from reality and lack of communication were especially evident during the second meeting of the Legislature last Thursday, where public comments were finally allowed. It culminated in nearly two dozen people addressing the legislature, speaking harshly about legislators losing touch with the public, conducting meetings at their own convenience with total disregard for the people they represent. While numerous individuals expressed their grievances, speaking on various issues, a prevailing theme emerged—a sense of disconnect between legislators and the public.

Marie Murphy, a government employee herself, spoke about the necessity to hear people’s side of the story, stating that county legislators are more focused on their legal issues, concluding that the governing body’s message to the public is loud and clear: “YOU DO NOT VALUE US OR RESPECT US,” stated Murphy.

Another speaker, Andrei Niles, spoke of a working man’s hardship living from paycheck to paycheck, holding more than one job, struggling to make it to payday due to inadequate pay. He pointedly addressed the Legislature’s refusal to hold evening sessions that would allow public participation without sacrificing work time, related pay, and putting additional burden on those struggling to make ends meet working nine-to-five jobs. Niles called attention to the irony that many employees could qualify for welfare programs, stating, “It should be an embarrassment to this board. I hope you think about this before you go to bed tonight,” concluded Niles addressing legislators.

As Warwick and Orange County residents express their concerns, the need for open communication, transparency, and public engagement within the legislative process becomes more apparent than ever. Public feedback and participation in Orange County Legislature meetings, coupled with the Legislature’s responsibility to provide vital information about its inner workings through public notices, are indispensable components of a healthy government and a required due process. While legal notices may appear seemingly small and innocuous, they play a pivotal role in fostering transparency within local governments. These notices act as more than mere formalities; they serve as a crucial final check against potential misuse of power or taxpayer dollars. Legal notices provide a verifiable public record, a tangible documentation of decisions, policies, and actions taken by the legislative body of the government. An alarming conduct of OC Legislature under its current leadership steadily eliminating procedure which dates back to the 1700s, when the United States elected laws mandating that public notices be published by a third-party independent newspaper, may have significant implications for local communities. Without this vital layer of transparency, there is an increased risk of potential abuses of power going unnoticed and unchecked.

As Warwick navigates this change, residents and leaders are left to contemplate the broader significance of this decision on the flow of information within the community and the town’s ability to stay informed about crucial matters affecting their daily lives. The future relationship between local media and the Orange County Legislature may become a focal point of discussion in the weeks and months to come.