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David Meyers the 7th Day of Silence: The Dogs Still Do Not Bark
Posted on Monday, November 18 @ 02:37:00 EST by jfbailey
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WPCNR Morning Sun. By John F. Bailey. November 18, 2002 UPDATED 2:00 PM E.D.T.: The puzzling news media silence on last Monday’s suicide death of David Meyers, former Assistant to the County Executive Andy Spano, extends to Westchester News12, the 24-hour Cablevision news outlet, in addition to The New York Times, Journal News, and The New York Post.
What appears to be a deliberate suppression of the news of Mr. Meyer’s death became confirmed when an on-air personality inadvertently revealed this to WPCNR and by the behavior of persons close to the station’s news operation.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANDY SPANO ON NEWS 12'S NEWSMAKERS BEING INTERVIEWED: At one point, in discussing the budget Mr. Spano says, "As I told reporters today when I talked with them.." placing the interview as being done after his 2003 Budget News Conference.
Photo by WPCNR News
No Story in the Dailies
The New York Times first published Mr. Meyers' obituary on Friday morning, reporting Mr. Meyers’ death occurring “tragically” on November 11, one week ago. So far they are the only media outlet other than WPCNR and The Yonkers Tribune to report his death.
A New York Post reporter was advised of the incident last Wednesday afternoon and he said he would check out the story. So far that paper has come up with no story that we know of and the reporter has not checked back in.
One source has reported The Journal News was told not to run the story, and so far they have not even reported his death, contrary to their normal policy of reporting deaths of present and former Westchester residents. WPCNR has learned Mr. Meyers was a resident of New Rochelle within the last year, and at this time, we believe was at the time of his death.
NO INFORMATION FORTCOMING FROM THE BIG HOUSE: The Westchester County Personnel Department would not give WPCNR information about Mr. Meyers' employment with the county unless a Freedom of Information request was filed when asked by WPCNR.
Photo by WPCNR News
County Executive Andy Spano Interviewed, Not Asked About His Funeral Impressions
However, it was obvious this weekend that the electronic media that is “As Local As Local News Gets,” could have been a lot more local.
An on-air personality accidentally let slip in a conversation that they knew of the fact that News12 was well aware of Mr. Meyers' funeral and Andy Spano’s attendance at the Myers funeral, and Mr. Meyer’s key position in County Executive affairs.
According to the information WPCNR has from the actions of News12 sources, the station had full knowledge beforehand of Mr. Spano’s devoting a full morning to attending the Meyers funeral.
Mr. Spano Has No Reaction.
News12 interviewed Mr. Spano on last week's three key news events, on its show Newsmakers this weekend.
Yet the interviewer did not ask an obvious tasteful question, such as Do you have any words or thoughts you want to share about the young man who worked for you whose funeral you attended yesterday?
Several times the interviewer makes reference to the fact the show is being taped on Friday. The interviewer asks Executive Spano about the Indian Point buyout plan, the Millenium Pipeline, and, of course the Budget, and references the fact the show is being taped on Friday. Spano at the close of the program even says, in discussing the budget, "As I told the reporters today when I talked with them," placing the interview as having been executed after the Budget News Conference.
The interviewer whose news organization was aware that Mr. Spano attended the funeral, and knowing the identity of Mr. Meyers, did not give the County Executive an opportunity to pay his respects to Mr. Meyers by asking a gentle question.
Mr. Spano Chose Not to Talk About it.
Mr. Spano, having the previous day heard a Meyers relative blame an action of his office directly for his death and heard the emotion-draining experience of a mother reading her son’s suicide note, as Mr. Spano sat, head sinking ever lower in his pew, did not take it upon himself to introduce the subject, either.
He refused to say a few words on his own, unprompted, of sorrow, regret, sympathy, or healing.
Two News Conferences and an Interview. No questions about Mr. Meyers. No Expressions of Sympathy.
Of the throng of reporters who covered the Indian Point Buyout news conference on Wednesday, and the budget conference on Friday, not one reporter brought up the suicide.
Nor did Andy Spano in his three major appearances in the media this week, reflect either at the beginning or the close of either news conference on the young man who was one of his counsels on childrens' matters and water shed issues for what we believe was a period of several years.
Monday's lead story: A murder-suicide in New Rochelle.
WPCNR noted that on Monday morning, News 12's lead story on the Mary Calvi program was a murder-suicide in New Rochelle.
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