In recent months, and particularly during the past few weeks, Livingston has seen several vigils and protests that can very broadly be described as pro-Israel (asking for the safe return of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7,2023, praying for the Israeli Defense Forces, etc.) and pro-Palestine (calling for a cease fire, praying for thousands of victims in Gaza that have been caught in the crossfire of the Israel-Hamas war, etc.).
In covering these events, the Tribune has received some criticism from multiple perspectives of this complex situation. We have been accused of being sympathetic to one side of this issue, and then the other. Readers have said we have covered things both too much and too little. Any story we report, photos we share, or events we publicize is met with some level of controversy.
As a result, we wanted to clarify what we at the West Essex Tribune seek to accomplish. Quite simply, we are here to report the news of Livingston. If there are vigils, protests, demonstrations, or marches in town, we cover them. Our goal is to make sure that by the time people put down a given issue of the paper, they have a full understanding of the week that was. That means that our staff reports on all we are aware of in each edition. Typically, this involves reporting on municipal meetings, school matters, house fires, and car burglaries, while also finding time to celebrate weddings, graduations, anniversaries, and 100th birthdays.
Yet, we must stress that coverage of any particular events are not endorsements of them. Just because the paper reports on something does not mean the Tribune is offering its seal of approval. That is not how newspapers operate. We strive to report the news of the town to its residents - that is all. We do our best to cover everything, and to do so with an unbiased approach; we are not perfect in this respect, but we aim to be. If we have an opinion to share, as opposed to hard news, you will find it right here, where you are reading right now on page A-4, and nowhere else in the paper.
In this edition of the Tribune, you will find coverage of two events that occurred within hours of one another at Town Hall. Again, one of these can broadly be described as pro-Israel, the other pro-Palestine. We have included a photo from each gathering, as well as a description of what occurred and why. However, both have been pared down from the amount of information we received about each event. This is because we cannot devote a large amount of space to these protests/vigils/gatherings in our paper each week; they are currently happening weekly, and are similar each week, offering repetitive information. We simply do not have the space to include it all. So, while we will continue to cover these events as they happen, it will likely be with a photo and extended caption on most occasions. As stated above, this is not at all a reflection, one way or the other, on the content of these events. We fully support peaceful protest and recognize its importance. Rather, it reflects the minutiae of constructing a community newspaper each week, and our desire to provide fair and balanced coverage of the entire “week that was” within it.
On a related note, we have also heard complaints that these demonstrations have happened with increasing frequency outside of Livingston’s Town Hall, where employees and residents are trying to conduct business as quickly and painlessly as possible. These gatherings can result in minor inconveniences for these people, which, to an extent, is the point; protests are meant to attract attention for their causes, after all. As we mentioned earlier, citizens have a First Amendment right to peacefully protest, which we emphatically support. But, for the foreseeable future, Town Hall will become the focal point of such demonstrations, and not just Livingston-based ones.
People who are upset about this fact should understand that this is what happens when the town leases space to a member of Congress in its municipal building. Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s new District 11 office is located on the second floor of Town Hall. The Democratic congresswoman previously had her New Jersey office in Parsippany, and the Township Council approved the lease for the Town Hall office in December.
We are thrilled to have Rep. Sherrill move her office to Livingston. It is a wonderful opportunity for residents to have easier access to their congressional representative. As then-mayor Michael Vieira said at the office’s ribbon cutting in December, Town Hall is now “one stop shopping” for residents looking to conduct local, state, and federal business. And, as Council member Shawn Klein suggested upon approving the lease, perhaps Livingston High School students will even be able to work within the district office on occasion. Rep. Sherrill also mentioned during the ribbon cutting of her new office that she and her staff valued the security provided by being situated on the second floor of the municipal building, located directly next to the Livingston Police Department. We certainly appreciate that Town Hall affords them that benefit.
However, to anyone upset to see that their Town Hall has become the site of protests and picketing on a weekly basis, and perhaps believe that there are more appropriate locations for the district office within town, feel free to share those thoughts with the Township Council.
