Toms River, NJ – Mayor Daniel T. Rodrick is again accusing the Asbury Park Press and reporter Jean Mikle of publishing “biased, misleading, and inaccurate” stories about his administration, calling their coverage politically motivated and financially compromised.
Rodrick said he felt compelled to defend the township and his administration against what he described as a “campaign of distortion and bias.”
Rodrick said that since his complaint about the left-leaning slant and one-sided reports back in January, nothing has changed.
“As mayor, it is my responsibility to stand up for both the truth and the interests of Toms River residents,” Rodrick stated. “This newspaper has accepted advertising dollars from a political action committee whose sole purpose is to undermine my administration. This presents a blatant conflict of interest and calls into question the credibility and motivations behind their reporting.”
Rodrick is referring to advertising buys purchased on the Asbury Park Press website by a political action committee funded mostly by anti-Rodrick MUA commissioner Phillip Brilliant, former Toms River mayor Maurice Hill and head of Silverton EMS, Kevin Geoghegan, also a former Toms River Township councilman.
Mayor dispute stems from past report on North Dover development
Rodrick cited a recent story by Mikle regarding a 150-unit development in North Dover, calling it “simply false.” According to the mayor, the project was approved more than a decade ago under a prior administration as part of an affordable housing plan, not by his current team.
“The only recent action by the Planning Board was to consider converting the non-affordable units from apartments to condominiums, which would be better for the township and had to be approved as a matter of law,” Rodrick said. “The story left residents with the false impression that a brand-new development had just been approved—an omission that can only be seen as intentional.”
Rodrick went on to say that the coverage fits a broader pattern of biased reporting, alleging that his comments are often omitted or buried at the end of stories. “This is not objective journalism—this is advocacy, designed to serve the interests of their financial supporters, not the people of Toms River,” he said.
Mayor touts fiscal and housing achievements
Rodrick defended his record in office, highlighting efforts to reduce spending, keep taxes flat, and negotiate a major reduction in the township’s state-mandated affordable housing requirements.
“The state’s original mandate would have required the construction of 1,740 affordable units—about 8,700 total new apartments in Toms River,” Rodrick said. “We successfully negotiated that number down to just 183 new units for the next 10 years. We also put a stop to Mo Hill’s 10-story towers and repealed the plan for a city of high-rise apartments downtown.”
Rodrick concluded his statement by calling for “honest, fact-based reporting,” saying his administration remains committed to “transparency, fiscal responsibility, and always putting Toms River first.”