New York – A VIN Editorial: An Open Letter To The New York Post

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    This front page cover was published in today's NY PostNew York – Dear Editors,

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    Today was a tragic day. It was tragic because the multitudes of your readership, the citizenry of New York City, the workers, the apartment dwellers, were exposed to a despicable and vile evil. This evil was found on the front cover of your Sunday edition.

    Your newspaper, of all papers, should realize that words do matter. And headlines matter most of all. Because headlines influence how people not only view a narrative, but how people see the world and how they respond to the day to day interactions of life. When headlines justify the taking of human life, a dark and shameful line has been crossed.

    Your headline this Sunday entitled, “Slumlord found Burned in Dumpster – Who Didn’t Want Him Dead?” is outrageous precisely because it calls for open warfare on landlords.

    Whether the accusations of Menachem Stark’s land-lording methods are true or not is not the issue. Nor is the issue that you have arrogated for yourselves the role of judge, jury, and executioner in how you have covered and headlined this horrific tragedy.

    You have justified murder in the eyes of your readership.

    If your landlord is slow on calling the exterminator, or a leaky ceiling after a snow storm, it is okay to want him dead and act upon it. It is justifiable. Warranted. Completely understandable.

    Here is a man who was brutally murdered, and yet with no evidence whatsoever but innuendo alone you have declared Mr. Stark and thousands of other landlords like him, as perfectly justifiable candidates – for their lives to be snuffed out.

    Your words are border-line incitement to murder. Yes, murder.

    Your paper didn’t shed a tear for a widowed wife. Nor for eight orphaned children. No. What you did was first label Mr. Stark a slumlord, justify his horrific murder, and perhaps that of others owners of buildings too.

    What can we expect next, dear New York Post? Are you planning to post the names and addresses of other landlords along with the school’s that their children attend so that other outraged tenants can kidnap, suffocate and burn them too? Are you planning to call for more green dumpsters in Great Neck as well?

    Dear, dear New York Post, anarchy is never justifiable. Murder is never justifiable. And such a headline is never justifiable as well. Never ever.

    A few weeks ago, there was another murder that happened in Israel. A sixteen year old Palestinian took a knife and stabbed to death an 18 year old soldier asleep in the backseat of a bus. When the New York Times covered the issue, they didn’t mention the pain to the family of the victim. They mentioned the pain to the family of the terrorist murderer.

    To their credit, the New York Times apologized and admitted the error of how they covered the story.

    The question is will you?

    We never saw a headline like this on a terrorist. Nor have we seen it on Bin Ladin, after he murdered 3000 lives in the World Trade Center terrorism.

    The family and community that you have spat upon with this contemptible headline will not voice its outrage by rioting or setting fire to your buildings. They will swallow the obnoxious and loathsome insult quietly, as you sit smirking to yourselves in your leather-lined offices counting the number of issues that you have sold in running this headline.

    How can you sleep at night, dear New York Post? How can you sleep knowing that you may have aided and abetted the future murders of landlords, that as the dirt on the grave of a man who was snuffed out in the prime of his life is still moist, having only been placed there a few hours before you went to print?

    For shame, dear New York Post. For shame.


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    217 Comments
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    IMHOpinion
    IMHOpinion
    10 years ago

    Well written.
    Despicable NY post. Not the first time they wrote unacceptable headlines or articles.
    Their apologies mean nothing. They proved that time and time again.

    For shame, indeed.

    NarishGeret
    NarishGeret
    10 years ago

    Very well written.

    10 years ago

    You were too mild. Too reproachful. Too reasonable.

    joelwa
    joelwa
    10 years ago

    This is outrageous I’m sitting and crying how Thay were able to do this for a family that’s mourning and a community that’s still in shock we should do something about it everyone should call in to the post

    victorg
    victorg
    10 years ago

    What happened to the post? They used to be very pro Jewish? Then the headline about Harav Ovadia Yosef and now this? What happened?

    joelwa
    joelwa
    10 years ago

    Shame on u nypost shame shame ur not human u have no emotions I can’t believe that this would happen in nyc

    SandmanNY
    SandmanNY
    10 years ago

    It’s libelous. Hold them accountable. And let’s treat them to a long stream of protest phone calls. I wouldn’t put their paper at the bottom of a bird cage.

    10 years ago

    Its time for all the media (print and online) to show some self-restraint and realize that there are consequences to what they print or display on their websites. This episode is only the latest in NYPost over the top headlines reminiscent of a cheap tabloid but sadly, it extends even to our own media (although nothing as obscene as the Post headline about Stark). Self-restraint involves not only what the newspaper or website publishes itself, but what it allows to be displayed. We went through a period after Obama’s first election where there were several posters who regularly posted statements indirectly endorsing the assassination of the newly elected Black President. The hateful comments have continued, albeit at a lower rhetorical level. Just last week, there were those posting here who were mamash gleeful about the immanent death of Ariel Sharon and praising the murderer of Rabin.

    In simple terms, its time to lower the rhetorical level for ALL.

    yankel
    yankel
    10 years ago

    Boycott the NYP! I will cancel my subscription first thing tomorrow morning.

    10 years ago

    Boycott the post!!!

    Make it clear we do not tolerate such a behavior.
    As a business made I made it clear to all me employees. Don’t buy gas from anyone who sells it.
    Be creative lets hit where it hurts!!!

    sheepheadsbayyid
    sheepheadsbayyid
    10 years ago

    the post article may be a direct result of the frum communities complete lack of sympathy for the stuff stark did and make him out like some righteous tzadiuk.

    they see frum people do not care how a person gets their money as long as they give charity to frum causes all is great and all their sins are forgiven sort of like confession

    AnyWay
    AnyWay
    10 years ago

    Shame on them

    10 years ago

    OUTRAGES SHAME ON YOU NY POST __WE WILL PROTEST AGAINST YOU
    A FAMILY IS MOURNING AND THATS YOUR RESPOND ???

    10 years ago

    Why blame the messenger? They reported the facts!

    moish1234
    moish1234
    10 years ago

    Very well written
    who ever can shall not by the post or not places any ads

    normanfogel
    normanfogel
    10 years ago

    I never wrote any comments on any blogs nor on any news articles, this time is different. my heart bleeds for the family who lost a great father. We can’t be quiet for the shameless articles posted by the New York Post. Lately they wrote many articles to embarrass our community, without checking the facts if it’s true or not. Theyey did it with Shea Ostreicher and they did it again yesterday by describing Menachem as a shady man with shady deals. They went as far as to give right to murder him. Shame on you New York Post. We should look for legal actions with the DA, and not let it slip through quietly. Right we shouldn’t use any violence as other minority groups would have done for such a shameless article and we wouldn’t riot on the streets, but we should take any legal action possible. i

    10 years ago

    Isn’t the Post where the Dodelson’s published their claim to fame?

    chosen-nation
    chosen-nation
    10 years ago

    horrible

    abpyid
    abpyid
    10 years ago

    Thank you for putting words to my emotions!! Keep up the god work VIN!!

    abpyid
    abpyid
    10 years ago

    Thank you for putting words to my emotions!! Keep up the god work VIN!!

    Pimpernuter
    Pimpernuter
    10 years ago

    Very true article, except for the words “Dear”. Dear post??? What dear in kup arein?? Shameful. disgraced. No words!

    10 years ago

    Very well written, however, the word schools is misspelled. Should this fourth grade level publication choose to publish this, you can be sure they’re going to go for the jugular.

    We should bombard the nyp by sending emails laden with our outrage. HOW DARE THEY????

    No, we definitely won’t set dumpsters on fire, but we can burn their walllets by BOYCOTTING this pathetic newspaper. ONCE AND FOR ALL!

    thegreatone
    thegreatone
    10 years ago

    Finally VIN you woke up. But where are you all the time when they headline a crime committed by a person who happens to be an Orthodox Jew “orthodox Jew arrested”?

    The NY post is a replacement of Der sturmer and some of their columnist write about orthodx Jews as Herman Goebbels.
    They did not declare open season on “slumlord” landlords,no,VIN. The NY Post aka Der Sturmer declared open season and HASSIDIC landlords. VIN you wrote an excellent piece but be more blunt what vile antisemiths the NY post is.

    Once again,BRAVO, VIN

    AnyWay
    AnyWay
    10 years ago

    This whole media stuff with Pix 11 reporting nonsense and the Post reserving the cover page for a brutally murdered for no matter what he did wrong is unacceptable! They went over the line! Shame on them!!! Especially when most of their articles are just copied and pasted from the most hatred blog controled by a X hasid . This should not be tolerated. Even though they mean business there should be a red line between business and humanity and respect for the dead and his family. We human beings have the power to stop them and let them know that such articles are disrespectful in any way!!!!!!

    10 years ago

    Come out today at 3:00 by the Brooklyn borough hall to protest which will be hold by Erick Adams.

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    10 years ago

    Very well written…But why so many times you use the word DEAR..?
    Monsters who have NO feelings to a family who is mourning such a horrible loss you do NOT call them DEAR…..When you write a letter to a family,friend or bussiness person you use the word DEAR…To those monsters you write…YOU MONSTER

    SpecialMom
    SpecialMom
    10 years ago

    Beats me why VIN chose to address the NYPost using the endearment ‘Dear’ so many times in their letter. The Post is not worthy of the vilest vocabulary imaginable.

    jayclass
    jayclass
    10 years ago

    Call and email the offices of this shameful paper and demand this article to be retracted and that they issue an apology to the family in particular and the Jewish Community in general.
    Phone number: 212-930-8000 #2 or #8 .
    Email: [email protected], [email protected],
    [email protected],
    [email protected]

    10 years ago

    Make a public burning they will make money from us buying the paper once but will get the message and will think twice about writing such bad stuff the other groups in this borough would of turn to voilence because we don’t does not mean they can hurts when we are in deep shock and pain …………. Usually you leave the dead alone if you don’t then your a COWERED

    chosen-nation
    chosen-nation
    10 years ago

    Today at 12:10 PM

    Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Borough president Eric Adams is calling a press conference at Three O’clock this afternoon in front of Brooklyn Borough Hall to respond to the NY Posts Heinous justification of the Stark Abduction and killing.

    Borough Hall is located at 209 Joralemon St. Brooklyn, NY.

    We call on all members of the Jewish community to make your business to get there, and show your disgust with the NY Post.

    RamapoJew
    RamapoJew
    10 years ago

    The New York Post is a rag and has always been a rag. It engages in sensationalism and uses to shock factor to sell newspapers. If we argue about whether they are right or wrong for their reporting this issue we lose sight of the whats important here. We must like our lives like torah jews inside and out. We can not appear one way in shul and act another in business. The outside world does not judge us based on how much tzedaka we give to other jews. They judge us by how we behave in the world. Its for this reason that they have qualms about speaking ill of the victim in this horrible tragedy. It clear they blame the victim. All we can do is be honest in business. This is god’s message to us – The world is not reporting on his charity or kindness – they are reporting on his business practices – God wants us to have kosher business practices. (I am not suggesting that the victim met his fait for this reason- just that we should take a message from the fact that the Post is behaving recklessly and without compassion)

    ChareidiMan
    ChareidiMan
    10 years ago

    A retraction is not good enough! Heads must roll and severe penalties for all involved, otherwise its just a scheme and a PR move. We must see action or boycott this paper along with everyone that supports or advertises there.

    brunfin
    brunfin
    10 years ago

    Your letter misses the mark. The whole thing about other landlords and how the post is inciting murder misses the point.

    The vort is that how the heck can the post put something so insensitive on their front page so close to the murder. That should be the entire focus of the letter.

    10 years ago

    Chevra…… Lets get going….Go to your restaurant, breakfast place, drug store, gas station, mini market, grocery store, candy store, any place you shop, and also sells the Post, you tell them nicely,!! It’s me or the Post!! No more words we need action ,

    mewhoze
    mewhoze
    10 years ago

    and this is another reason why the Jewish people need a leader like Sharpton. He would have already been planning protests, boycotts etc.

    Rabbi Yair Hoffman
    Admin
    10 years ago

    I just signed the petition “New York Post STOP THE HATE” on Change.org.

    It’s important. Will you sign it too? Here’s the link:

    http://www.change.org/petitions/new-york-post-stop-the-hate?share_id=DClLRACoJc&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_petition

    Thanks!

    10 years ago

    I agree that the post article should have never been written!
    however were are all the people when the post article wrote about the dodelson divorce case and smeared the frum world and some choshaver family no one said anything ??

    curious
    curious
    10 years ago

    Shame on the Post!
    Also, it does not take a lot to be a slumlord in NYC. It is hard to select tenants, hard to evict tenants, and hard to stop people from destroying your property. All you need is one tenant, or even a squatter, to smear feces all over the hallway, and you are an instant slumlord. This cities treatment of landlords is ridiculous.

    bz_in_la
    bz_in_la
    10 years ago

    Murdoch, owner of the NY Post, also owns hundreds of television networks, magazines, newspapers, web-content , book publishers, restaurants (and more!) spanning the globe. The list long, but we should boycott at least:

    The New York Post
    Fox News Radio
    Fox Broadcasting Co. (Fox)
    The Wall Street Journal
    Marketwatch
    HarperCollins Books
    The (London) Times
    The Brooklyn Paper
    Bronx Times-Reporter
    Flatbush Jewish Journal
    Imedi Television, Radio Israel 10
    National Geographic
    AND MORE!

    It is now time to boycott all of News Corp. investments. The Australian ex-pat has infiltrated the World media. An example is that he owns so much of China’s communications infrastructure, none of his media properties will criticize the China’s regime. Nothing about that is fair or balanced.

    The Murdoch Empire (News Corp.) is scandal ridden and vile. He hacked into the medical records and voice conversations of the UK Prime Minister, the Royal Family and families of terrorist bombings. US Republican Rep. King wrote a letter to the FBI requesting an investigation into News Corporation’s ethical practices, the FBI opened a probe into the hacking of 9/11 victims.

    BOYCOTT

    CSLMoish
    CSLMoish
    10 years ago
    Mishelanu
    Mishelanu
    10 years ago

    The NY Post article is anti-Semitism.

    a-simple-jew
    a-simple-jew
    10 years ago

    The NYP should be brought down. This is not just a case of extremely bad taste and insensitive reporting. They have violated the law and should be put on trial.

    hashomer
    hashomer
    10 years ago

    Steal and burn the NY POST. 100% Jewish boycott of the Post and Murdoch media now!

    ayid1
    ayid1
    10 years ago

    Well said and written VIN !!!

    birgas
    birgas
    10 years ago

    Dear VIN news:

    Why don’t you publicize the names, addresses and cell phone numbers of all writers and editors of this shameful tabloid so they’re exposed for everyone.

    Their pictures posted and their privacy taken away from this thugs!

    10 years ago

    Why can’t most people who post here spell correctly?

    CountryYossi
    CountryYossi
    10 years ago

    Thank you Liebermans Luncheonette on 16th ave and 48th street of getting rid of the NYpost….

    10 years ago

    So the NY Post wants to be more abridged now huh? Another lackey run business if you ask me.

    Tothepoint123
    Tothepoint123
    10 years ago

    If it would have been with an african american, de blasio would of been already with his entire family on the steps of city hall to condemn the shameful act of the post…

    10 years ago

    Check who are the major stockholders of the Post