Lakewood Schools’ Lawyer Responds to Asbury Park Press’s Racist Photo Caption

Update: The NJ Globe just reported that Asbury Park Press has fired Gustavo Martínez-Contreras, who wrote the caption to the photo. In an editor’s note that appeared online this morning the paper didn’t name the photographer-journalist but explained how the Press published the caption referring to an Orthodox Jewish nurse preparing to administer a COVID-19 vaccination as  “a f*cking hot nurse, a total JAP.”

On Saturday the Asbury Park Press, part of the Gannett media chain, posted a photo with the caption describing “a f–king hot nurse” administering a COVID vaccine.

Thus followed a series of (unedited) correspondence between Paul D’Ambrosio, Executive Editor of the Asbury Park Press, and Michael Inzelbuch, attorney for Lakewood Public Schools. The most recent missive is at the bottom of this page; here, Inzelbuch refuses to accept D’Ambrosio’s “bogus” apology — which only adds salt to the wound” of the Asbury Park Press’s general “lack of respect” for Lakewood’s Orthodox Jewish community.

It is unclear whether this epistolary task is included in Inzelbuch’s $600,000+++ annual contract with Lakewood Public Schools.

The incident was first reported by David Wildstein of the NJ Globe.

.@gannett @AsburyParkPress newspaper caption refers to "a fucking hot nurse, a total JAP" loading a syringe with a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. https://t.co/zvBbu7Tkxo

— David Wildstein (@wildstein) March 21, 2021

March 22, 2021

Dear Mr. D’Ambrosio:

I hope this finds you doing well .

I have been in communication with numerous individuals, entities, local , County , and State officials as to this alleged incident – see below .

I was also contacted by several Lakewood staff and students who were appalled  by this alleged incident  , especially in light of our on-going efforts to combat stereotyping, racism ,and the like .

Please assure all immediately that the allegation as described below  is not accurate so we can appropriately address same.

Please advise, if the allegation is accurate ,  immediately who, if anyone ,wrote  the caption , who allowed same in to the article , what action was taken , etc.

Looking forward to your prompt reply .

Michael I Inzelbuch

Michael, Rabbi Kotler and all members of the Lakewood community

I apologize to all for such an offensive caption. Please see my full statement below, which I just released to our APP readers:

Paul D’Ambrosio

Executive Editor
Asbury Park Press/APP.com

Mr. D’Ambrosio :

I am in receipt of your email .

I am in the middle of a trial ( via zoom ) so please excuse any typos ,etc. , but , I didn’t want to delay my response.

It is not for me ,nor anyone individually ,  to accept your apology .

Moreover, no one should or can  accept your apology for numerous reasons   including , but not limited, to :

1. This is not the first occasion wherein the APP has demonstrated a lack of respect for the Lakewood community – to wit- the entire Lakewood community – not only the  orthodox Jewish community , albeit , with a special emphasis on the orthodox community ;
2. The damage is done – to wit – impressionable students who have been subjected to racist , reprehensible , etc. comments, this time, have , unfortunately , seen that it is not a few ( even a few is too many ) who paint their faces black on Purim, call our football and soccer teams the “N” word , “border jumpers” and the like ( recall the article in the APP I initiated  )  when they visit surrounding school districts that do not have the same student population as we do , etc.
3. Specifically , while we have been able to have continue discussions  with our students, in art , relating that there are misguided and/or uneducated people ( individuals)  who resort to racism and the like – how do you explain that a national paper ( Gannett) is actually the offender ,and, lets it be printed ? Mistake – c’mon !!
4. Why would it take more than 24 hours to offer an apology ,and , only after I wrote you the email below ?
5. Your statement is simply put , “Bogus ”, “too little too late” , etc.
6. You allege to have taken “immediate and significant action ”.  What exactly did you do “immediately “ ?     What “significant action “  did you take ?  At the very least, a fully detailed Report should be produced today , albeit, perhaps, preliminary in nature detailing same.
7. You write, in part, that you apologize to various people including the “Asian American community .”  Are you looking at the same picture as I am ? Also , what about the HEROES , aka nurses and medical staff who have been working throughout this great nation in trying to deliver the vaccine to those who are eligible and desire same ? where is the apology to them ?
8. Actually, the picture and the alleged “mistake actually fell right in line with the derisive and less than complete story . Specifically ,  in part, where is all the positive that CHEMED has done for all members of the community , especially the more than 500 plus public school students, their parents/ guardians during the pandemic who are people who are Latino , minority ,etc.?  I know – we know – your reporter knows – but –  again … What about the fact that many people in Lakewood – minority or not – do not qualify for the immunization based on ager or lack of medical conditions , to wit, our population cross the board are young – whether they be of the Latino , Jewish , or any community ? What about the fact that there are not many churches in Lakewood  despite your reporter alleging that CHEMED only went to one church ? The list goes on .
9. Where is your apology to the Governor and his staff who have done so much for ALL of NJ residents ,and, took of his time to visit CHEMED , only , to have one of the hard working HEROES turned in to a pin up ?

(partial listing ) .

Your belated response , only put salt in wounds .

MII