Letter: Show Your Support For Public Access

Here's a letter asking for public opposition to the decision by Pinellas County to eliminate public-access cable programming as part of its budget cuts (while keeping the government's own channel intact, of course):

Pinellas Community Television (PCTV) is declaring Tuesday, September 4 as Freedom of Speech Day in
Pinellas County. We are encouraging everyone who cares about Freedom of Speech to dress in their best  RED WHITE and BLUE  outfits (and/or wear pins, flag ties, flags!) and show up at the Pinellas County Commissioner's Meeting on the fifth-floor in the Assembly Room of the Pinellas County Courthouse to speak up by showing up to save Access Pinellas at 6:30, Tuesday, September 4. We must get the word out ! Without a strong showing we feel the cause is lost. It may be already, but we are going to show our colors of freedom and let them know they too should hold precious our freedom of speech avenues of expression . We have given them several alternative plans that will not cost nearly as much money. We just want to keep our station and our access. -- Michael Bagby

Comments

[Boo Boo]

Todays column:
Watching local government may cost more
Bright House plans to push government channels to its more costly digital system.
By AARON SHAROCKMAN, Times Staff Writer
Kind of makes this all moot! If you only have basic cable (like me) you will need to pay another $7 for a digital box to watch any government TV.
So not only public access will be gone but all local government channels will now be limited to those with the more expensive package. Only in Amerika!

[jane]

Um...pardon me but didn't our esteemed legislature pass something a while back about promoting cable competition? Well I've been waiting and I haven't seen any competition. Just one rate rise after another, just more and more services cut. We have to have 3 shopping channels available on basic cable and I think we're now up to three Spanish channels now but to keep an eye on the school board I have to buy a box?
I'd laugh if it didn't hurt so much.

[bob melaccio, sr.]

Give us a break, million dollar homes selling as usual, grants to those with homes on the beach and you expect "our" legislators to solve the problems? Problem one, this is an At Will State- change it. Problem two, credit approaching usery levels has many struggling to make minimum payments. Fix interest caps or boot them from operating in this state. Home owners insurance, boot them all and give it all to citizens. Charge a 1/2 % tax on everything and throw it into an untouchable fund for a rainy day. Limit home tax to income not value. You can't pay what you can't possibly afford even if they say the house is worth X and you can't even get Y. If the Wind map only shows people, especially those who "can't afford to", a grant to secure roofs, etc. You just might put people, back to work who are out construction jobs and you just might save money and horror stories if that big one does ever hit?

What will it do, put money back into peoples hands to pay their bills and keep their homes. These are those who have the least and impact all the most.