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Brenda Asterino 12/13/2010 11:37:00 PM
Community Access TV is one of the last places the general public can make their voices heard, either by becoming a TV producer or by being interviewed by one. When this is gone, people say there is the internet. The internet does not serve in the same fine detail of area needs and concerns the way public access does and can. Keep Public Access all over the united states viable. Mayor MCGill and Councilmen and women of Seattle claim public access is not valuable. That is the same as saying, John Q. Public is not valuable.
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GCarrillo 01/12/2009 2:16:00 PM
Great article on the death of public access. Thank you too all who went to the council and fought for its preservation.
Coming soon...LOS ANGELES CITY Public Access, minus the public.
GC
ERPA 90065
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Phil Jennerjahn 01/07/2009 8:52:00 AM
Vote Phil Jennerjahn for Mayor
A Leader you can Trust!
http://www.philjennerjahn.com/
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stanley dyrector 12/21/2008 11:38:00 AM
Bravo! to P.R. McDonald for his wonderful article on public access. My show, "The Stanley Dyrector Show" has been on public access for fifteen years. I - as well as my viewers - have been graced with the likes of illuminating giants in the entertainment industry, such as screenwriters, producers, directors, actors and reporters, etc. These eclectic guests have given us the inside information on such things as what it takes to take an idea, an abstract entity and mold it into a movie or a play. They've told us how they prepare to shoot and direct film, how the actors prepare for their roles. Their trials and tribulations of making a career in Our Town. Our Neighborhood! Now sadly, not only my show, but many other shows that have much worth may very well be tossed aside like so much refuse. Shame! Shame on the powers that be that will let this happen in the greatest country the world has ever known.
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Dellos 12/17/2008 10:28:00 AM
You don't need cable to to a show, that is yesterday.
you people want to do show you can put on the internet so you can have them run 24/7. Very few people watch tv any more . If you don't have a camera and a computer network with people who do. And remember get to point, use just enough time to tell the story and get off.
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Guitler Raphael 12/16/2008 12:03:00 AM
I'm sorry, I was on my way to California; you know that progressive state that would never deny anybody their civil liberties; and made a wrong turn somewhere and ended up at the Kremlin or maybe I'm in Tiananmen square, or am I mistaken? I think I am, because I am an east coast guy and this story makes me a little homesick. The thought of ATT as lawmakers, for no reason at all, reminds of D.C. Who knows where I may be... Havana? Pyongyang? I don't know, but can anybody point me in the direction of California?
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Patrick Range McDonald 12/15/2008 10:29:00 AM
Thanks for all of the comments and reading the piece. Janet has strong opinions about Zuma Dogg and people like him, which, of course, she's entitled to. The thing is, I don't see how ZD and John Walsh waste the taxpayers' or cable TV payers' money. I don't see the connection at all.
They are confrontational, but they are no more rude than City Council members who often read newspapers and play with their Blackberries during public comment period--and that happens when even the most polite citizen is talking to them. When a lobbyist steps up to the microphone, though, they're all ears. Interesting, isn't it?
I don't know for sure, but I would guess that Zuma Dogg, John Walsh, and others have seen these things play out over the years, and they realized they needed to do something to get the City Council's attention. So they go for high dramatics, which, by the way, most citizens in the audience seem to appreciate.
I've seen it happen all the time. ZD or Walsh will get on a roll, people in the gallery will be startled at first, but by the time they've finished, that same gallery will be nodding their heads and clapping in approval. Why? Because the public feels the same way, and ZD and Walsh are giving voice to it. I also think these vigorous practitioners of the First Amendment actually make people think, probably for the first time, about the real issues at hand.
In Janet's distaste for ZD and Walsh, she seems to miss, or ignore, the more important findings within the article. Maybe that was her plan with her comments...to distract people in some way and take the heat off state and city politicians. I don't know.
But as the article points out, state politicians like Fabian Nunez worked at the behest of ATT, and the concerns of average citizens were never truly a part of the equation when AB 2987 was written and passed. And when the LA City Council had to deal with the consequences of AB 2987, they seemed more concerned with their own interests, rather than those of the people they serve. I would think Janet would be more outraged over that kind of elected representation than Zuma Dogg or John Walsh aggressively confronting the City Council for a couple of minutes.
Take care,
Patrick
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janet 12/14/2008 7:07:00 AM
To Kate Barner: in fact each person has a total of 5 or 6 mins/ DAY to speak during public comment, in increments of upto 2 mins. general or 1 min. if there are a lot of speakers on a specific issue. (If there are a ton of speakers pro and con on an issue, they may limit each side to a certain total time.)
In fact that self-promoting Dogg ALWAYS uses the max time, weighing in on everything from his personal gripes to gratuitous personal attacks on Councilmembers, often using vile versions of their names and often, ends up yelling because he admits he has ADD and can't focus in a calm manner for even 2 mins.
AND at least 3-5 others have taken to imitating him, pushing the envelope of just how rude they can be, to where the usually even-tempered presiding Pres and City Atty have to admonish them about "rules of decorum." Together they do indeed take up at least a half hour/ day of usually redundant and often idiotic comments; if there are germs of wisdom among them, they're justifiably lost on anyone listening, and those of us waiting to get through this annoyingly stupid public comment bunch of regulars to get to speak for our own minute or two, are NOT amused. We/ the legit general public are forced to wait forever and the meetings drag on forever requiring, as I said, enormous expenditures of OUR taxpayer money on the councilmembers and staffs (who these gadgnats always say are overpaid -- in which case, wasting time listening to them daily is the biggest waste of OUR money and time they''re not devoting to the other 99.999% of constituents.
In addition there are a number who appear regularly but not every day, usually saying the same things, Some legislative bodies do in fact limit the number of times/ month one person can appear before them with the same issue, which is a sensical balance between the Brown Act/ democractic process and restricting the waste of time/ money on self-promoting jerks.
Even the County Board of Supervisors has some such limits -- so the Dogg, who once boasted his "friend" Zev Yaroslavsky was enamored of his opinions and so he'd continue to show up in that chamber on a daily basis also to enlighten the Supervisors with his genius as he does the City has been tossed on his ear and become persona non grata. I'd like to see him try it at the State Assembly level or in Washington. Actually, I'd LOVE to see him try it in Venezuela or Cuba. -- So keep in mind that this gadgnat has only gotten the exposure he has because the City's been way too permissive and it's past time in my opinion as a taxpayer, that they clamp down.
This article mentions Walsh, who gives the Dogg a run for his money in the obnoxious self-promotion dept., who also has a no-doubt fascinating public access show that OUR cable bills are subsidizing. He's one of the semi-regulars.
The gamut of kooks on public access is something we can tolerate and find amusing in good financial times, but this is not one of those times. It's sad if public comment at City Hall must be modified because of this fool and his followers and if so THAT is his real legacy.
Wasting our taxpayer money at city hall and taking our elected leaders away from legit business, and wasting the money of those of us who subscribe to Time Warner, are of course 2 separate types of waste, and some of us pay twice. I never watch these shows and that's not what I pay for, and resent my huge monthly cable bill going toward those programs at all. My only gripe with this legislation is that it doesn't sound like we'll get any rebate as cable subscribers, when the cable co's save that money.
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Martin Jones 12/14/2008 6:26:00 AM
I hosted over a period of sevn or eight years three talk shows on public access tv. I did this under the auspices of first Jones Intercable then Adelphia and now Time Warner.
Putting all there shows together iIdid something like eighty hours of interview live on tape. No sunsets.
I interviewd politicians, authors, lawyers and the like.
I interviewed the county sheriff, the DA and The DA's chief investigator.
I designed my show around the idea that I would interview people that made an every day difference in our lives even if the people had never heard of them.
For Oxnard it is too late. Time Warner is axing public access wherever in Ventura County.
And that is a blessing for the city government of Oxnard.
Without a doubt it is the most corrupt government of a city of its size in California. And it was going to be an ongoing target of mine.
What have I done to prove my bonafides? I sued the City of Oxnard in 2004 because of a Brown Act violation and won.
I and other knowing individual will no longer have a voice.
Long live Time Warner, Verizon and AT&T.
Martin Jones
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Jerome Cleary 12/14/2008 6:08:00 AM
I wanted to respond further regarding my role as a public access producer and host. In 1998, I started my half hour talk show: 'Jerome Cleary' and in the first two years found my niche and voice. This being covering Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues. Where else was local LA cable TV giving a solid half hour three times a week (2 repeats). I was able to cover the unfair and illegal firing of a gay LAPD officer, Mitch Grobson. Covered domestic violence stats on the LGBT community from a representative from the Gay and Lesbian Center of LA. I was able to interview, executive director, Katy Watts from the Van Ness Recovery house on the crystal meth problem in the gay community. I featured authors, artists, performers from the LGBT community. I started a second TV show: 'Jerome On The Town' where I featured local events. This show started in 2000 and is now 8 years running. In my local events show I featured, LA Gay Pride, Halloween Carnaval, New Year's eve in Weho. I also traveled to Las Vegas to cover the opening of the first Alternative nightclub on the Las Vegas strip: KRAVE. I covered the LA Gay Erotic Expo at the LA Convention Center and many more events. I am extremely proud and honored that i learned the ins and outs of producing local cable TV over the past decade. I never used notes and spend my time honing my craft as an interviewer. Fortunately I do have a great following and supportive audience. In West Hollywood, we are fortunate that our City Council believes in the freedom of speech and budgets monies accordingly to keep our part time public access facility going.
It's very sad the general public is not really aware and well informed of what they are actually losing in Los Angeles. The residents of LA have a great issue in front of them and could really rally and bombard their city officials to keep public access the way it is and not just sweep it under the carpet forever.
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Jill Stewart 12/14/2008 4:58:00 AM
News Editor Jill Stewart Replying to Commenter known as A Positive Voice:
Thanks very much for your insightful comments. We have reviewed those incredibly spun documents arising from the meetings run by Dean Hansell (I think you meant, not Dean Hansen?), and we will followup in early 2009 on several of your suggestions.
In Texas, where AT&T in 2005 persuaded the state legislature to wipe out Public Access, the citizens of some of the bigger cities caused such a ruckus that the local city councils were forced to reinstate Public Access -- albeit at a more modest level.
And no, we aren't just interested in the colorful fringes of Public Access TV in Los Angeles, but that crowd has managed to upset the apple cart at City Hall, MTA and LAUSD more than once. Frankly, we don't see the "serious" crowd doing much of that -- though it would be healthy for LA.
Having said that, we'd love to hear via Comments from any Los Angeles Public Access producers who have solid, content-rich shows that are now in jeopardy of being reviewed, judged, censored or cut by the Office of the Mayor, his bureaucrats, or the LA City Council.
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Jeff 12/14/2008 1:37:00 AM
Is there a petition out there to sign to save public access? I'd sure as hell sign it!
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A positive voice 12/14/2008 1:06:00 AM
Great article � sadly, too little too late. This has been in the works for over two years, and had this article come out last year, there would still be hope for public access.
Patrick did a great job, but there are important things left out
1. The state gave the city of LA a HUGE public access budget.
2. The rank and file of state legislators who voted for �DIVCA�, as it is called, envisioned the emergence of something like New York�s �Manhattan Network Neighborhood� or something similarly groovy. The law passage COULD have been a good thing!
3. There were indeed a number of public hearings back in 2006 by the city group called the �ITA� led by a fellow named Dean Hanson. The offshoot of these meetings is that a number of citizens showed up to speak out in favor of maintaining Public Access! But if you read the minutes-summaries on their website, you�ll see that the comments were �spun�. If you do a follow up, Patrick, read that page, then access the actual minutes (they were audio recorded) and ask people to explain the difference. http://www.lacity.org/ita/
4. Patrick left out the fact that there are a number of informative, entertaining shows of interest on Public Access. It�s not just a place for malcontents to vent � there�s valuable information that will not be accessible by either the networks on the one hand, or the internet on the other.
5. If you do a follow up story, Patrick, consider getting more �scoop� from the very informed production staffs � like Pat Clifton in Hollywood, or Darrel Fusaro in Marina del Rey, or Gail Fetzer in Santa Monica � all of whom were assured by the �ITA� that Public Access was being �rebuilt into something better�. You may also want to get a better lowdown from the producers of responsible programming � people like Joseph Willenbrink, Connie Martinson, or Tammy Devine in Pasadena � the production staffs will refer you to the right people.
6. Zuma Dogg is very entertaining, but he is a poor poster child for public access, as he is a cartoon, a buffoon, and many other �oon� words. Even though the fringe � like ZD and Susan Block � even though I defend their place on Public Access � won�t take the public to what they�ll be doing without. Most people are happy to do without that stuff. There are plenty more people like Leslie Dutton � who is excellent.
7. Public Access should be presented as what it IS, and what it was designed to be � a sort of �PBS� at the most local of the local. Public Access presents shows of real and tangible interest to real people � who LOOK for such programming. But like PBS, the programming is not commercially viable. Public Access is a matter of social responsibility and social citizenry at least as much as it is a first amendment thing. Like PBS, it is the government providing something of use to the people that support them.
The power of the press belongs to the person who owns it. The public no longer has access to the press, but you DO, LA WEEKLY. Thank you for being an advocate.
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Leslie Dutton 12/13/2008 10:07:00 PM
This is my second post, I guess I did not push the right button to send, so here goes again. Kudos to Patrick Range McDonald. This is truly an "in-depth" article, comprehensive, informative and entertaining. I hope that Patrick will follow up with "The Caucus" representing LA's Producers, Writers, Directors and New Media. They testified at the Council hearing, having strongly endorsed preservation of the public cable channels and studios and have issued a news release calling on the Council and Mayor to recruit the City Attorney to get a restraining order to prevent TIME WARNER from closing the Public Access operations till the City has replacement facilities operational. After all those milions in Cable Franchise Fees, were earmarked for that purpose by the DIVCA Law in 2007,
Also, the loophole that limits the fees to be used only for equipment and facilities needs to be changed so the fees will pay for operations, production crew, etc.
But what happened to the ACLU in this scenario? Where are they here on our First Amerndment Rights and our freedom of expression. I have interviewed the ACLU many times of different issues and was under the impression they care very much about public access.
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Leslie Dutton 12/13/2008 8:08:00 PM
Thanks for the in-depth reporting on the public access issue. It amazes me that only the L A Weekly has taken the time to report on this important First Amendment issue. Only one thing I would add is that citizens and industry leaders such as the prestigious TV industry organization known as "The Caucus of Producers, Writers, Directors and New Media" are calling upon the Council and the Mayor to request that City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, seek and emergency Restraining Order under the Business & Professions Code 17400, Section 3, to prohibit Time Warner from closing the studios and channels down until such time as the City has replaced those facilities, using the millions of dollars the City is receiving in cable franchise fees. These fees are paid by cable subscribers and should be used to benefit the public cable channel users. The Council and Mayor are also being asked to initiate legislative actions to close the loophole in the 2007 DIVCA legislation sponsored by AT & T and Fabian Nunez so that the millions in Franchise Fees can be used for public access operations as well as equipment and facilities. It is a simple solution, that would demonstrate the Council and Mayor are really there to serve the public. Patrick Range McDonald's article was excellent and comprehensive as well as entertaining. I hope he will do a follow-up on what happens in the next few days before the TIME WARNER imposed deadline for closing public access cable operations down.
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Kate Barner 12/13/2008 3:32:00 PM
To Janet: I hope you realize the distinction and important difference between public access cable TV and making public comments to a governmental body such
as the LA City Council visa via the first amendment and California's Brown Act. As we all know, the real horsepower of the First Amendment comes into play for unpopular speech, a lesson that is lacking in the current leadership of the LA City Council who has limited public speech when the criticism is aimed at them (Council members). The LA City Council has limited not only negative comments aimed at them, but also the time for public comments. Zumma Dogg has never given 5 or 6 minute speeches to the LA City Council because they have cut back the time to 2 minutes and in some cases 1 minute. In order to protect the financial interests of wealthy developers they have played shell games throwing "public hearings" into un-televised committees and then ignored speaker cards when the item makes it to the full City Council broadcasted on cable Channel 35.
Janet, we both do agree that Leslie Dutton's "Full Disclosure" is a first class show much deserving of the accolades and actual awards she has received over the years. I would also like to give a "shout out" to "Neighborhood Point of View" that adds wit, fun, and humour to topical issues of the day. Many predictions of the show have come to fruition.
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janet 12/13/2008 7:34:00 AM
It's absolutely bizarre that you should give this fool zuma dogg, who's not taken seriously by anyone who's actually bothered to endure his rude (even vile) rants at City Hall and endlessly self-serving "appearances" on our public access Ch. 35, so much press and in fact put him ahead of legit critics like Leslie Dutton.
She at least goes after everyone more or less equally and without personal attacks and 4-letter, infantile name-calling. Dutton makes a serious effort to research her stories along the lines of "real" journalism, so while she may tick people off, she's probably done it to everyone at any time across party and philosophical lines. I've watched only a couple of her programs but get the sense that she's trying to educate the public, not promote herself.
The Dogg is openly self-promotional as a self-described rap star (not), rants on his own blog, having been kicked off as a regular even from the rabble-rousing Mayor Sam blog, against a few certain people over and over, even venturing into slander and libel under the guise of "free speech."
Then he shows up at Council Meetings and makes a point of using up his max time every day, which is some 5-6 mins. that Council are required to sit and listen to whatever comes out of his mouth. He's openly self-promoting there, and that's a very different thing from public access tv -- but it's contributed to a total loss of credibility for the whole medium in the minds of many. Also since he's shown up daily there are a whole cast of character "regulars" who are very deliberately rude and intentionally offensive, off topic and going out of their way to push the envelope. (I won't mention any of their names because what they also crave is "fame" like the Dogg and any sort of recognition. Like Dogg says, getting on tv even just in public comment, is their claim to fame and more effective than YouTube alone.)
For McDonald here actually promote this jerk and tell us we need to thank him for being allowed tot tape Council Meetings, is utterly irresponsible. We as taxpayers should bill him and the same few who show up daily and add over 30 mins. to council meetings to say nothing useful, during which these councilpeople and their staffs should be working and listening to constituents with urgent concerns, and dealing with all the problems of our city. The money it costs for this half hour a day with all the staff members salaries' on top of not doing what they should (if they try to multi-task while the same regular screams at them about the same thing for the hundredth time they're chewed out by them), is a colossal waste. While they ironically rant about wasting money on public events for a whole community, not accepting that they're the biggest waste of money.
I"m all for real public comment and access to public tv for those like Dutton, and to constitutents who take the time from work or caring for their kids or whatever to drive downtown, park and sit and wait, for their 2 mins. to speak on something of vital interest to them, But when those hugely expensive resources are commandeered by a few crackpots who live on handouts and live out of their cars, in order to provide us all with their valuable services as court jester (at least the kings paid for theirs out of private funds), then I think the system sadly needs reform. Free speech and democracy rely on some self-restraint IF it's to be at our expense. These people can and should rant on their own blogs, but public access tv -- as you state -- costs a LOT of money whether in studios paid by the cable company or City Channel requiring huge costs to taxpayers, is not intended for self-promotional abuse.
Sadly, if we lose public access beyond the min., that's what we have to thank Zuma Dogg and his ilk for.
This is exactly why public access has
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Crash 12/13/2008 3:23:00 AM
If everybody wasn't such consumer/cowards you'd cancel your cable subscriptions en masse. We all have more power then we know if we just organized.
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Just me 12/12/2008 5:30:00 AM
Wow, this story is a bloated piece of crap!
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Robert 12/11/2008 9:51:00 PM
The transparency in government only presents itself when these ego-driven career politicians try to cover their tracks, tell you that "day is night" and pat you on the head to go on your way.
The spin is so disingenuous that it's insulting for them to even consider that it's to be believed.
The Council and others in the state legislature work to serve their own interests and those of "special interests" who cultivate their reciprocal relationship. The public winds up being the enemy and a nuisance for these folks operating in their own modern-day version of plunder and unchecked autonomy.
Fabian Nunez typifies arrogance that has been created by the virtual insulation from challenge that legislator controlled redistricting ensures. He flaunts his disdain for the public and now in his personal life it's hard to sympathize with him. Expect more of that attitude to appear with Nunez, an experienced trough-feeder among the many.
Is it too late for Council to repent? Nice story. Merry Christmas to you in "the horeshoe" and a dump-truck full of coal for each of your stockings forever.
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Roger Martin 12/11/2008 7:18:00 PM
UPDATE: SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA
Thursday, December 11, 2008
SANTA CLARITA PUBLIC ACCESS IS RESCUED?
There was a Santa Clarita City Council Meeting Tuesday night; the vote was 5-0
(Unanimous) to accept the proposal from SCVTV, INC, as reported below in
Item 16 of the Agenda...
HERE IS A TRANSCRIPT OF THE AGENDA FOR LAST TUESDAY NIGHT'S SANTA CLARITA COUNCIL MEETING:
ITEM 16.
"LOCAL PUBLIC TELEVISION MANAGEMENT: Staff is requesting appropriation of $180,000 in PEG Capital Grant Funds to support one-time studio equipment needs and costs associated with leasing the existing studio for the remainder of fiscal year 2008/09. Staff also recommends the Council appropriate $25,000 from the Contingency Fund to fund costs to operate the studio through the conclusion of FY 2008/09.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council: 1. Direct the City Manager to initiate efforts with community stakeholders to work towards the creation of a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) or non-profit organization to partner and economically support Channel 20; 2. Appropriate funds in the amount of $180,000 from Public, Education, and Government (PEG) Capital Grant Fund Balance (330) to Account 12205- 5201.002, and appropriate $25,000 from Contingency Account 19300-5401.001 to the Communication Division's Professional Services Account 11500-5161.002 for the continued operation of Channel 20; 3. Direct the City Manager to enter into a six-month Professional Services Agreement with SCVTV in an amount not to exceed $25,000 to operate Channel 20; and 4. Reject all proposals as non- responsive to the published Request for Proposals."
Access speaker mentor spoke:
"Mayor Ferry and City Council Members:
I am Roger Martin, and qualified to speak on the issue of Public Access; its past, its present, and its future, with having had 19 years in commercial broadcasting and 13 years in Public Access television, both as staff member and as producer. I am also President of the 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, Public Access Awarness Association, Inc.
California State Assembly Bill 2987 of 2006 has caused an uproar in the Public Access arena. No longer can cable providers such as Time Warner Cable be held legally responsible for the financial support of public access in this state, including our Channel 20 in Santa Clarita. If the City of Los Angeles does nothing about this, 48 Time Warner Cable Public Access employees will be laid off with fourteen access studios in that city in jeapordy. LA now has 4 Access channels.
Cities willl still have the right to collect five percent of the annual gross income of cable providers as a fee to lay down their lines in the cities. That law is mandated by Congress in the Communications Act of 1984. There is also now, an additional one percent fee to the providers available, but this money can only be used for capitol expenditures, like studio equipment, but not annual maintenance or personnel.
I suport Leon Worden and the SCVTV corporation in its efforts to rescue Public Access for the Santa Clarita Valley. That new corporation has been working hard to show this city how to keep the doors to Public Access open to its citizens, and should have all the support that can be attributed, by both the City and its citizens, who by Congressional legislature, deserve this venue of Freedom of Speech."
You may know that we went through this whole scenario with BHTV in Beverly Hills... The Beverly Hills Community Access Corporation that was the nonprofit that administered Channel 3 had been approved by the City Attorney to run ads and there was a total of one (1) - yes (1) paid ad... it seems that Beverly Hills, with "all its money" wanted to keep it. Truth was, that there was no "Poster Child" and its citizens preferred to donate to charitable organizations such as its local assistance organizations, not really understanding the value of Public Access. The City had the money, but claimed not to. Sound familiar? Local potential sponsors preferred to place ads in their old standby, the local Beverly Hills newspapers.
Note:
Time Warner plans to immediately gut out vital equipment from SCVTV and force the new rescue nonprofit to buy their own. The nonprofit is to be given
an impossible amount of money to sustain
maintenance of the facility, almost forcing it
to start from scratch. How mean spirited of
the City of Santa Clarita and Time Warner.
The City doesn't care; and Time Warner is the
vulture that will pick the bones of a now
well working access studio. Updates are
on the website: http://www.publicaccess.org/news.html
Roger Martin, President
Public Access Awareness Association, Inc.
A 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation and
formerly with BHTV, Beverly Hills, California 1990-1995;
1995-2003 with SCVTV, Santa Clarita, California.
Email: contact.roger@yahoo.com
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Miki jackson 12/11/2008 12:49:00 PM
As part of the "Neighborhood Point Of View" show I want to think McDonald and the Weekly for digging out the real story. Machiavelli's Prince had nothing on this bunch. They haven't heard that change has come to the nation, they are still wheeling and dealing in the Bush/Cheney backroom mode. It doesn't matter what party they are in, greed and self serving egos are universal.
We will look back on the last days of public access as a kind of golden era of real "public" TV. We are on YouTube - but it just ain't the same.
Public Access Denied.
Miki
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Jerome Cleary 12/11/2008 12:32:00 PM
Fantastic article on this loss of public access TV subject. It is truly sad that the freedom of speech our country so boasts of and is proud of is finally manipulated by large corporations and city officials to finally silence the average Joe and Jane. THIS ALL STINKS REALLY BAD and why there is not a great backlash by the residents of Los Angeles over the loss of their Public Access TV and channels yet is still puzzling!
