New York is a multi-ethnic city after all, and a substantial part of its population gets their news not from English language media, but from their respective ethnic publications. Here, unfortunately a very unpleasant fact must be revealed: Mayor Bloomberg's press-service does

not read and ignores ethnic journalism; even when translated into English.

Michael Bloomberg's press secretary Ed Skyler invited us, the representatives of the ethnic press, to meet with the Mayor's press-service at City Hall. Skyler honestly acknowledged that he has neither read any work from the immigrant press nor was he aware of the existence of the IPA-NY website, which translates into English the best articles from the Russian, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Polish and other community newspapers.

It is appalling that the Mayor's press-secretary has no idea what the immigrant and ethnic press are writing about. The choice to dismiss the opinions of journalists who help shape the mood on the "immigrant street" cannot be a very wise one.

The conference with Mr. Skyler became focused on discussing problems journalists face in obtaining necessary information from city offices and departments. In response to a request by the Independent Press Association, Mr. Skyler's office prepared lists of contact information of the press-secretaries for the heads of various city departments.

In the course of the meeting, Mr. Skyler was reminded that "openness and access" not only implies the opportunity to speak to the Mayor's subordinates by telephone, but also the prospect of meeting with the Mayor in person. In Los Angeles, for example, the Mayor of that city meets with the representatives of the ethnic press four times per year. A repeat of the Los Angeles experiment was not guaranteed by Skyler, but a promise of one meeting with the mayor would be arranged through the Independent Press Association – New York.