Letter of Support for WCCA

Here's the letter I sent to the powers-that-be regarding the outrageous proposed funding cuts for WCCA:

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To the Mayor, City Councilors, and City Manager:

You must refuse to accept Item 10a on tonight's City Council agenda: "Roberta R. Schaefer, Executive Director of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting communication relative to Cutting the Core: Rethinking Municipal Services in FY08 and Beyond.”

In January, over 120 citizens of Worcester packed a Public Service and Transportation committee meeting to support WCCA and to denounce the factually inaccurate report by the Research Bureau. Dozens of people, including members of the City Council, stood up and passionately expressed the need for continued, and expanded, support of public access television in the community.

Cable franchise fees allow WCCA to be a virtually self-supporting resource! Just because the city management can't seem to manage the budget, WCCA and all Worcester residents who benefit should not have our valued services taken away.

The City had already received recommendations in a very thorough and independent study by Reidel Communications, as well as the City’s own Cable Advisory Committee report. Perhaps the City could save money by elinimating redundant reports by a “research” bureau that can’t even get its facts straight.

Please be mindful that WCCA is an asset to our community, providing open access media for all citizens of Worcester. Please reject Item 10a to prevent a shortsighted, devastating loss of services for the City.

Shannon Senior
Worcester, MA