Tuesday, June 9th Public Hearing on City of Tucson Budget
Attending the City Council meetings is one way that you can help. We have done this in the past many times. Numbers count. You are voters. You are citizens of Tucson. You get to at least be heard and seen. Please wear your best purple anything--that's the color of our volunteer crew shirts--wear those if you have them. The next public hearing for adoption of the City of Tucson's budget for the fiscal year 2015/16 will be held Tuesday, June 9th.
Access Tucson is examining the application for the Request for Proposal calling for a City of Tucson Community Media Center (RFP amendments, deadline extended to June 23rd). It is a lot to commit to for the proposed budget of $300,000. That amount is less than one-tenth of the monies received through the cable franchise fees the City receives. The RFP exploration committee members are analyzing the feasibility for writing and committing to this endeavor. Members of the Board of Directors, Advisory Board and staff will carry out this task. The process is already underway.
We continue to lobby our City leaders for interim funding throughout the RFP evaluation period. We are proposing a month to month payment which could extend services and or programming on the channels until a final decision is made. The award for the Community Media Center contract could take 3-9 months.
Tucson 12, the City Channel will be receiving funding until the contract is awarded. Government voice without public voice is not a democracy.
Tuesday, June 9th 
5:30pm
Mayor and Council Chambers
City Hall
255 W. Alameda
We will rally at Access Tucson at 4:30pm and walk over. Get creative and make yourself a sign, be prepared to speak to the Mayor and Council and wear your purple best.
If you have never been to a City Council meeting, be aware that you will need to go through a metal detector screening and fill out a speakers' card specifically for the public hearing (not call to audience) should you wish to address the Council.
We ask that if you wish to address the Council please be prepared. Write down your message and be concise. Tell them why community media matters to you and if possible the economic value of your access to community media. Did you gain employment or skills that helped you? Does your program fill a community need that helps Tucson--especially economically? Let's be real--that is the bottom line for determining the City's budget.
Remind the Council of what this loss means to our community.
Click here to sign the MoveOn.org petition.
Contact Information for the Mayor and Council.
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Celebrating 31 years, Access Tucson strives to provide the highest level of public media access service to the community. We facilitate the expression of ideas, opinions, and perspectives through electronic media. By tuning in to public access, viewers are discovering their own communities, alternative news and information not influenced by corporate or government interests.
Tucson's public access channel is operated and controlled by Access Tucson. Access Tucson is an independent, nonprofit corporation and is not an agent or affiliate of Cox Communications, Comcast or the City of Tucson.
Cox Communications, Comcast, the City of Tucson and Access Tucson are prohibited by law from controlling the content of programs on public access channels. They are not responsible in any way for the content of public access programs, and are not liable for any material cablecast on public access channels. Public access users and producers are solely responsible for and have complete control of the content of their programs.
You can produce your own program and use this channel to share your message with the community. Go to accesstucson.org or call (520) 624-9833 to find out how.
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