Complex sentence: Since few New Yorkers will ever pass by that local business, it must be the case that the New York Times coverage is establishing some higher importance than the small-town newspaper role of providing publicity for local businesses and advertisers.
Split into simpler sentences: Since few New Yorkers will ever pass by that local business, it must be the case that the New York Times coverage is establishing some higher importance. Truly local coverage which should not be viewed as establishing notability is the small-town newspaper type coverage merely serving role of providing publicity for local businesses and advertisers.