Access Tucson could be shut down on Tuesday. You
need to speak up immediately.
We don't think the Mayor and
City Council meant to terminate Access Tucson, ending its 25 year commitment to
serving individuals, community groups and cable subscribers. Still, that would be
the effect if Tuesday's 4-2 vote (Uhlich and Fimbres
voting no, Romero not in attendance) to cut funding to most "outside agencies"
by 60% stands. We think the City fought
much too hard to secure funding for Access Tucson and the government channel
(Tucson 12) in the cable license negotiations a couple years ago for them to turn around now and permanently pull the plug.
Councilman Steve
Kozachik is
on the right track, asking City Manager Mike Letcher to come back with a plan
to co-locate or combine in some fashion
Tucson
12 with Access Tucson.
Here's why that makes sense:
By moving Tucson 12 in with Access Tucson, the City would save the
rent it pays for Tucson 12's class-A space
in the Pioneer
Building.
Together, Access Tucson and
Channel 12 are stronger and combined could be
supported by the $1.38 a month that Tucson Cox subscribers pay on their
monthly bills.
If the City cuts Access Tucson but not Tucson 12, there
could be a constitutional challenge.
Would it be legal for the government to eliminate the public's
right to speak while
preserving its own TV channel?
Public Access to
cable must be provided under Tucson
law but without adequate funding it is meaningless.
A true
partnership between the City and Access Tucson would meet the City's objectives
of saving money, avoiding duplicate expenses, giving cable subscribers the
services they're paying for, and preserving Access Tucson's ability to serve
the community.
The Mayor and
Council will vote on this Tuesday!
Please take just a few minutes by calling them or emailing them TODAY!
Mayor: Robert.Walkup@tucsonaz.gov
(520) 791-4201
Ward 1: Regina.Romero@tucsonaz.gov
(520) 791-4040
Ward 2: Rodney.Glassman@tucsonaz.gov
(520) 791-4687
Ward 3: Karin.Uhlich@tucsonaz.gov
(520) 791-4711
Ward 4: Shirley.Scott@tucsonaz.gov
(520) 791-3199
Ward 5: Richard.Fimbres@tucsonaz.gov
(520) 791-4231
Ward 6: Steve.Kozachik@tucsonaz.gov
(520) 791-4601
Or you can try emailing them all at once by clicking here (may not work with all email programs).
You
can also support this effort by writing a letter to the editor of the Arizona Daily
Star.
And please attend the Mayor and Council meeting on Tuesday 1/12 at the Leo Rich Theater (Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue). Study session begins at 2pm and the regular meeting starts at 5:30pm.
Let's fight to keep the doors open and the lights on at Access Tucson. It's your public media and your right.
Thank you and please contact
Sam Behrend, Executive Director or call Access Tucson at (520) 624-9833 if you have any questions.
