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Politicians reaction to Newsday-Cablevision deal mixed
(Newsday (Melville, NY) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 30--Long Island's elected officials are reacting to Cablevision's finalized purchase of Newsday with a mixture of worry about media consolidation and applause for the paper's return to local control.
"Cablevision does have a local base, which is good for Long Island," Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said of the Bethpage-based television provider. "I'd be a lot more troubled if it was one print media consuming another."
Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi said of Cablevision, "We've got a proven corporate citizen that has shown that they care about Long Island."
State Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport) agreed. "As a Long Islander, I think I kind of like the idea that there's Long Island management," he said.
Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) also welcomed the change, saying that Newsday's former parent company, the Chicago-based Tribune Co., had allowed the paper to lose touch with its roots. "I think it's very important for them to have someone who is so attuned to Long Island running Long Island's newspaper," King said. "Newsday in many ways has lost touch with Long Island, and I think having Chuck Dolan and Cablevision is going to bring back local concern."
The Dolan family and its Cablevision political action committee are big-money political players with both Democrats and Republicans. Since 1998, they have donated more that $2.7 million to candidates and causes locally and nationwide. King has received more than $16,000 from the Dolans or their company since 1999. They contributed more than $360,000 to Suozzi since 2000, and have given Levy more than $36,000 since 2003.
Some officeholders said they were worried that the takeover by Cablevision, which owns News 12, could monopolize news coverage on the Island.
"I'm gravely concerned," said Assemb. Harvey Weisenberg (D-Long Beach). "But if they have good administration and the paper retains its integrity, I wish them success."
Sen. Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) echoed this sentiment. "Obviously I have a concern when you have a concentration of media in one hand," he said. "But I know the Dolans. They are constituents of mine, and I think they will do the right thing. Time will tell."
To see more of Newsday, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsday.com
Copyright (c) 2008, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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