Today's New York Post cover, depicting slain Brooklyn developer Menachem "Max" Stark and asking, "Who didn't want him dead?" has stirred outrage in New York City's political circles and especially among its large, vocal Hasidic Jewish community, of which Stark was a member.
The 39-year-old Stark was kidnapped on Thursday outside his Brooklyn office and his half-burned body was found in a garbage can in a Great Neck gas station on Saturday.
The Post's story detailed Stark's business practices and described him as a "slumlord" who had left behind a long list of dissatisfied tenants, business partners, and creditors.
The cover almost immediately led to a huge backlash, with criticism from several New York City council members including Stephen Levin, David Greenfield, Mark Levine, Mark Treyger, Brad Lander, Carlos Menchaca, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, along with other municipal officials, who harshly condemned the cover as insensitive and offensive.
This morning's New York Post cover is sickening, offensive, and reaches a new low http://t.co/PIPGwIzkyw
Stephen Levin
@StephenLevin33
This morning's New York Post cover is sickening, offensive, and reaches a new low http://t.co/PIPGwIzkyw
Sick even by Post standards RT @YossiGestetner: SICK @NYPost cover asks of Murdered father "Who DidnT Want him Dead?"
Mark D. Levine
@MarkLevineNYC
Sick even by Post standards RT @YossiGestetner: SICK @NYPost cover asks of Murdered father "Who DidnT Want him Dead?"
Sickened by the @NYPost condoning the murder & kidnaping of chasidic businessman. I don't subscribe. If I did, I would cancel subscription.
David G. Greenfield
@NYCGreenfield
Sickened by the @NYPost condoning the murder & kidnaping of chasidic businessman. I don't subscribe. If I did, I would cancel subscription.
I'm joining #Jewish leaders & elected officials, 3 PM at Borough Hall, to condemn the @NYPost's hateful coverage of #MenachemStark's murder.
Eric Adams
@BPEricAdams
I'm joining #Jewish leaders & elected officials, 3 PM at Borough Hall, to condemn the @NYPost's hateful coverage of #MenachemStark's murder.
Disgusting NY Post cover today! The press should assist in finding the killer rather than disgrace the victim, his family, and community!
Mark Treyger
@MarkTreyger718
Disgusting NY Post cover today! The press should assist in finding the killer rather than disgrace the victim, his family, and community!
I join all those outraged by @NYPost's hateful, anti-Semitic, unacceptable cover today #StopNYPostHate
Brad Lander
@bradlander
I join all those outraged by @NYPost's hateful, anti-Semitic, unacceptable cover today #StopNYPostHate
Heartfelt condolences go out to Menachem Stark family/friends.I condemn @nypost story-we should come together to mourn, not be divisive
Carlos Menchaca
@Carlos4Council
Heartfelt condolences go out to Menachem Stark family/friends.I condemn @nypost story-we should come together to mourn, not be divisive
Greenfield told BuzzFeed that "For the Post to celebrate the kidnapping and murder of an innocent family man...is a new low in tabloid journalism" and that, while he would "expect them to apologize," he would consider a campaign to cancel Post subscriptions if there was no apology.
While Greenfield does not represent Stark's Williamsburg district, his District 44 covers Bensonhurst, Midwood, and Borough Park and has more Orthodox Jews than any other New York City Council district.
Several other New York political figures, including political consultants, condemned the Post.
No one seems to be focusing on @nypost profiling of an entire community by using term "Hasidic slumlord" unacceptable to ID by religion RT!
Ezra Friedlander
@EzraFriedlander
No one seems to be focusing on @nypost profiling of an entire community by using term "Hasidic slumlord" unacceptable to ID by religion RT!
Were the @nypost editors asleep at the switch? Who signed off on such a disturbing, defamatory & insensitive cover?
Aaron Troodler
@troodler
Were the @nypost editors asleep at the switch? Who signed off on such a disturbing, defamatory & insensitive cover?
#Rockland leaders- pls join community in publicly condemning sick & offensive NYPost cover; every family should be able to grieve w dignity
Ryan Karben
@rkarben
#Rockland leaders- pls join community in publicly condemning sick & offensive NYPost cover; every family should be able to grieve w dignity
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams called on the Post to apologize in a Sunday afternoon press conference.
Eric Adams: we're calling on all Brooklynites to assist NYPD to find murders. Calls for honest journalism
Jacob Kornbluh
@jacobkornbluh
Eric Adams: we're calling on all Brooklynites to assist NYPD to find murders. Calls for honest journalism
There have been over 4,000 tweets with the hashtag "#stopNYPostHate" so far today.
Update - Jan. 5 4:55 p.m., ET: Post spokeswoman Suzanne Halpin said in a statement: "The Post does not say Mr. Stark deserved to die but our reporting showed that he had many enemies, which may have led to the commission of this terrible crime. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time of loss."