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Announcement :: Media |
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Reminder and Update: Attendance TONIGHT 7:30PM is crucial for "Democracy Now!" on UPTV |
Current rating: 0 |
by Randall Cotton
Email: recotton (nospam) earthlink.net (unverified!)
Phone: 217-722-8470 |
22 Nov 2004
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Don't forget, the (hopefully final) push in the effort to get "Democracy Now!" broadcasts going on UPTV (cable channel 6) happens TONIGHT, 7:30PM at the Urbana City Council Chambers, ground floor of the Urbana City building, 400 S. Vine St (across from Lincoln Square Mall). It seems the mayor has a suprise or two up his sleeve - MASSIVE public turnout is essential to trump any efforts to thwart or blunt the resolution. |
Local residents from Champaign, Urbana and beyond are needed to oppose the
mayor's ongoing censorship of this program and to urge the City Council to
pass this resolution countering that censorship by *mandating* DN! be put on
the air at UPTV.
UPDATE: The mayor has inserted his own agenda item immediately preceding
consideration of the Democracy Now! resolution. It appears the mayor intends
to thwart or blunt the vote on the resolution or the perhaps the resolution
itself. The best way to trump that is a MASSIVE show of public support in
favor of the resolution.
The text of the resolution 2004-11-24R is online at
http://city.urbana.il.us/Scripts/CouncilList.asp?d=1&Doc=/urbana/city_council/agendas/11-22-2004/Resolution_2004-11-024R.pdf
I'm also including the text at the end of this message.
If you would like to contribute to this effort by speaking during the time
allotted for public input at the City Council Meeting, I suggest arriving
early to fill out the necessary City form. We need folks to spotlight the
mayor's censorship, the time he's wasted obsessing over this and the
contempt this demonstrates for the public despite the 1200+ petition
signatures and overflow crowds at the City Building in support. And also to
encourage the City Council to do the right thing, counter the mayor's
attempts to quash DN!, and pass the resolution being considered.
PLEASE try to at least attend in support, even if it's just for half an
hour, whatever you can manage, as we hopefully finalize this months-long
effort to greatly improve the media in our local community.
Thanks
R
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-11-024R
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION
TO OBTAIN AND ACTIVIATE THE NECESSARY TV SATELLITE SYSTEM
TO ALLOW FOR THE BROADCAST OF REQUESTED
PUBLIC ACCESS PROGRAMMING ON UPTV
WHEREAS, a request that Urbana Public Television (UPTV) begin
broadcasting "Democracy Now!" was submitted to UPTV on May 6, 2004; and
WHEREAS, there are 20 (twenty) additional outstanding requests from
Urbana-resident members of UPTV to broadcast "Democracy Now!" which were
submitted to UPTV Coordinator Chris Foster on August 9, 2004; and
WHEREAS, on July 12th, 2004 and September 13th, 2004 a total of over
1200 local resident petitions were submitted to the UPTV Commission in
support of the live cablecast of "Democracy Now!" on UPTV from 7AM to 8AM
each weekday; and
WHEREAS, on September 13th, 2004 the UPTV Commission voted unanimously
in favor of updating UPTV's public access policy - changes which make
possible live cablecast of "Democracy Now!" on UPTV each weekday from 7AM to
8AM; and
WHEREAS, no cost for broadcasting "Democracy Now!" will be incurred by
the City of Urbana since such cost is being donated by public access member
Randall Cotton; and
WHEREAS, programming time is readily available from 7AM to 8AM each
weekday on UPTV and much of this time is devoted to "filler" bulletin board;
and
WHEREAS, the Mayor has made clear in statements to the press (News
Gazette, September 14th, 2004) as well as in recent conversations with UPTV
Commission members that he wants city council discussion on this matter;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
URBANA, ILLINOIS as follows:
Section 1: The City of Urbana shall sign, submit and execute the "Free
Speech TV Non-Commercial Cable/Broadcast Affiliate Agreement" required for
UPTV to become a "Free Speech TV Affiliate".
Section 2: The City of Urbana shall obtain, install and activate the
necessary "Dish Network" digital satellite system receiving dish and
receiver equipment required for "Democracy Now!" re-transmission via Free
Speech TV, to be obtained from Free Speech Television, with any payment for
such equipment and one year of associated programming to be provided as a
donation by Randall Cotton of 508 E. Clark St. Apt. 404, Champaign,
Illinois.
Section 3: The City of Urbana shall complete all equipment purchase,
installation, configuration and any other tasks necessary to begin live 7AM-
8AM weekday cablecasts of "Democracy Now!" via Free Speech TV on UPTV and
shall commence these cablecasts no later than January 3, 2005.
PASSED by the City Council this ________ day of ____________________,
______.
___________________________________
Phyllis D. Clark, City Clerk
APPROVED by the Mayor this ________ day of ____________________,
______.
___________________________________
Tod Satterthwaite, Mayor |
Related stories on this site:
Urbana City Council to consider RESOLUTION on "Democracy Now!"
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