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Reader comment on:
Columnist Sues City Over Press Passes
in response to reader comment: Since 9/11the NYPD is at odds with freedom of the press

Submitted by Marty, Feb 22, 2008 01:43

Finally someone -- Jon -- has gotten the point of the matter. Kudos. Irrespective of whether owning a press pass is a right or a privilege, those who engage in that debate are all missing the point. A governmental agency, by law, cannot act in an arbitrary and capricious manner. The NYPD is a governmental agency. Not advising a person who seeks a governmental agency's license, permit, or whatever of the very criteria that must be satisfied to qualify for issuance of the license, permit, or whatever is perfunctorily arbitrary and capricious. This is NOT to say that Mr. Levitt necessarily qualifies for issuance of a press pass. THAT is a matter for debate or decision in the next step -- presumably by a court that will be asked to review whether the NYPD acted appropriately in denying issuance of the press pass. But Mr. Levitt IS entitled to know the criteria under which his application has been judged and denied. Otherwise, there is no restriction on the discretion of the agency whose responsibility it is to approve or deny his application. Once again, what is offensive here is not whether Mr. Levitt should or should not receive a press pass, or whether that is a right or a privilege. What is offensive is not informing him, or the public generally, on what entitles one to receive a press pass. To analogize, it is often said that driving is not a right but it is a privilege. Ok. But what would happen if the DMV, another governmental agency, refused to tell people applying for drivers licenses what standards they must meet to pass the drivers test to obtain a license? Would anyone rationally claim that is fair?

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
As I remember it (before my 2001 buyout), the NYC Police issued Press IDs as well as Press Passes; and... [MORE]	Jim Brumm	Feb 23, 2008 00:41
I applaud Levitt for fighting back. An experienced journalist, I recall I also had a very difficult time with the... [MORE]	prsun	Feb 22, 2008 13:19
If only traditional news organizations are entitled to press passes there will be less and less information available. Internet, TV... [MORE]	Platousa	Feb 22, 2008 01:22
From reading this article, it seems that he has technically not been a member of the press since 2005, and... [MORE]	josh	Feb 22, 2008 00:50
As Platousa points out, the NYPD only recognizes full time staff of networks or newspapers, not independent contractors who have,... [MORE]	Jon	Feb 22, 2008 11:01
Press passes ARE a right! The only reason to suppress is to prevent certain reporters who might be more critical.... [MORE]	mda	Feb 21, 2008 22:45
the police should not be the gatekeeper for press passes, particularly for passes to cover their own police department. this... [MORE]	David	Feb 21, 2008 19:46
The press have a RIGHT to access. It is not a privilege. Any law or statute that contradicts the constitution... [MORE]	freeman	Feb 21, 2008 17:18
Where in the U.S. Constitution does it say everyone who claims to be a journalist gets a press pass? It... [MORE]	Colin Killian	Feb 21, 2008 18:33
The system of press passes is as unconstitutional as "free speech zones". In the immortal words of Justice Felix Frankfurter... [MORE]	Patrick	Feb 21, 2008 20:43
where in the constitution does it say you need a press pass? freedom of the press is just that. just because... [MORE]	freeman	Feb 22, 2008 00:50
The Constitution gives everyone the right to publish their ideas via the press or any other form of media. It... [MORE]	Ken	Feb 22, 2008 02:28
Levitt used to work for Newsday and they actually extended his press pass for an extra year as a courtesy.... [MORE]	Jennifer Collins	Feb 21, 2008 16:22
So just what is a journalist? Publish on line and you are a "blogger," but go to work for a... [MORE]	thomas	Feb 22, 2008 02:21
Whaaaaat???? The media is issued papers and the police check them? That's more than they do about illegals! This Mr.... [MORE]	Tim	Feb 21, 2008 16:01
Mr. Levitt- You shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you. Things like this will probably happen when you do. [MORE]	Rufusthedog	Feb 21, 2008 15:12
We feed the police. We finance their efforts through our non-voluntary tax contributions. They work for us and should be... [MORE]	PhotoSurveyor	Feb 21, 2008 22:57
Raymond Kelly rules the police department with an iron hand. With the exception of Patrick Lynch of the Patrolmen's Benevolent... [MORE]	Stanley Bleecher	Feb 22, 2008 09:31
Obvious abuse of power by NYPD chief and denial of freedom of speech. I want to hear what gets done... [MORE]	Frances	Feb 21, 2008 13:40
Good for him! Don't let yourself be a doormat for bureacracy. [MORE]	mike	Feb 21, 2008 12:55
February 21, 2008 So the NYPD declined to renew a reporter's press pass. And the reporter claims that the NYPD Commissioner... [MORE]	Paul Kellogg	Feb 21, 2008 12:08
Sounds to me as if the police department has something to hide. If the reporter is a lier, all they need... [MORE]	Derick Moore	Feb 21, 2008 10:58
It is not surprising that The NYPD is closing the ranks on critical voices. In light of the allegations against... [MORE]	Anonymous	Feb 21, 2008 10:04
I think the saying goes "When you bite the hand that feeds..." [MORE]	james	Feb 21, 2008 09:35
Good for the City of New York! Press passes are not a right but a privilege. The City should have... [MORE]	ricardo maxwell	Feb 21, 2008 08:47
Curiouser and curiouser. Sounds as though a member of the press is getting special treatment from the NYPD for writing... [MORE]	Paul Kellogg	Feb 21, 2008 16:09
Two experiences from the same police department more than a decade apart: When I started my first print publication in 1992,... [MORE]	Jeff Barea	Feb 21, 2008 07:56
The NYPD has become so blinded by the events of 9/11 that they have cracked down in the most absurd,... [MORE]	Jon	Feb 21, 2008 17:26
of course it makes sense.... all your articles should cover the heroic work of our police department and our fire... [MORE]	freeman	Feb 22, 2008 01:06
Finally someone -- Jon -- has gotten the point of the matter. Kudos. Irrespective of whether owning a press pass...	Marty	Feb 22, 2008 01:43
freedom of the press (and speech, etc...) is so fundamental to democracy and human rights that it is not up... [MORE]	freeman	Feb 22, 2008 04:12

Reader comment on:Columnist Sues City Over Press Passesin response to reader comment: Since 9/11the NYPD is at odds with freedom of the press

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Reader comment on:
Columnist Sues City Over Press Passes
in response to reader comment: Since 9/11the NYPD is at odds with freedom of the press