Thomas White

A footnote to today's Times story on Michael Nussbaum, a Bloomberg backer who, 20 years ago, had a damaging brush with the Manes scandal, though his conviction in it was tossed.

Nussbaum is now the associate publisher of the Queens Tribune. He's also the owner of a company, Multi-Media Advertising, which does work for political candidates.

Among those candidates was City Councilman-elect (yes, I know, it was only a primary) Tom White, best known during his previous run in elected office for not showing up to meetings before being ousted by term limits. Nussbaum's company took $31,195 in fees from White this year, the bulk for "campaign consulting." And the Tribune endorsed White in the bizarre local race:

"The only viable alternative - the only serious opponent not arrested during a campaign that has shamed the district - is former Councilman Thomas White who has delivered in the past for his community. "

The close relationship between Nussbaum and White raised eyebrows in Queens, though Tribune publisher Michael Shenkler tells The Politicker there's nothing to it:

"There's nothing unusual about it," he said. "It's no different from a newspaper taking advertisements from companies it covers. It doesn't effect our coverage."  read more »

It does seem likely that the paper would have endorsed White in any case. Who else? But the apparent conflict is, if nothing else, a glimpse into the small, overlapping worlds that are local politics and community newspapers, particularly in parts of the city where the Manhattan-based media seldom ventures.