newjerseynewsroom.com

Diegnan and Burzichelli urge governor to nullify state contract with station

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Gov. Chris Christie could be accused of doing some dancing politically as he decided whether or not to seek the Republican presidential nomination, but he's no “Angelina Ballerina.”

"Angelina Ballerina" is the cartoon New Jersey television station NJTV was broadcasting Tuesday as Christie announced his decision not to seek the nomination before a line of metropolitan area and national TV cameras at the Statehouse.

Assemblymen Patrick J. Diegnan (D-Middlesex) and John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester) are angry that NJTV was a no-show.

“This was a huge day for New Jersey, one in which our governor was announcing he would not be running for president of our great country,” Diegnan said. “Whether you support our governor’s policies or not, this was an event of great interest to the people of New Jersey and something many would want to view first-hand.

“I myself turned to NJTV to view their live coverage, but you know what I got – the ‘Angelina Ballerina’ cartoon,” the Assemblyman said. “Every news outlet in New Jersey and several across the nation were covering this event, yet New Jersey’s own television station was showing a cartoon.

“This station has been an embarrassment, and was supposed to be improved by now. It remains inept. Clearly, this experiment has been a failure,” Diegnan said. “Since the governor has decided to continue to serve the citizens of New Jersey, I suggest he start by directing his legal staff to nullify the contract with NJTV.”

Burzichelli said, “If you flipped the dial this afternoon, nearly every major news outlet, both on network and cable television, was covering the governor’s press conference live. Yet, New Jersey’s only exclusive TV station was airing “Angelina Ballerina.”