D'Antonio = The need for a Channel 3 Van

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ANTHONY D'ANTONIO: So many reasons to get out and vote this election season

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  By Anthony D’Antonio

  Posted Jun. 23, 2015 at 8:44 AM
  
  MEDFORD
  

  I recently attended Leominster High School’s graduation exercise.

  
  

  Walking into the stadium where the graduation was being held, I noticed something that immediately caught my eye.

  
  

  Beyond the stadium, which could rival many college stadiums, there stood a fairly large transport van parked on the concourse. The lettering on the vehicle proclaimed “Leominster Public Access Television.”

  
  

  On top of the van stood an individual videotaping the ceremony as well as several crew members on the ground that were also filming and taking still shots.

  
  

  Now, fast forward to Medford.

  
  

  This coming election will be the fifth election held in the city of Medford, (including local, state, national and special elections), where we still do not have local access television; which you and I, the ratepayers, are still paying.

  
  

  The mayor has been receiving a very healthy sum of money from the cable companies every month and has been doing absolutely nothing to provide the citizens of Medford that which is our right…unencumbered access to public access television.

  
  

  What the mayor has done, quite effectively, is to deny Medford citizens their constitutional right to free speech. By doing so, he has censured formidable and decent candidates who wish to run for an elected office in the city of Medford, as their voices, viewpoints and ideas are silenced.

  Citizens who have new and interesting ideas for a show of their own are ignored and sent away with a false promise of having something done soon.

  
  

  This action, or more precisely this inaction to provide public access, is deliberate by the mayor and perpetuated by those directors and administrators, handpicked after a nationwide search of course, to do the mayor’s bidding.

  
  

  The only requirement for the job seems to be the ability to say “yes, your honor!” This is a well-orchestrated strategy by the mayor to control the information process in this city and it is wrong.

  
  

  The mayor utilizes the educational channel, but will not allow any others to share in this medium. He has done this in the last two local elections, effectively shutting out any and all challengers for political office. This is a blatant misuse of the public’s money and trust.

  
  

  When public access television problems are brought up for discussion at council meetings, the mayor’s minions on the council dance around the issue in an all too familiar political move known as the Sgt. Schulz, “I see nothing, I know nothing” tango.

  And guess what…nothing gets done and the people’s rights are again ignored.

  
  

  Time and again, requests have been made to the mayor and director of finance by several members of the City Council as well as private citizens’ freedom of information (FOI) requests, to provide information to the council and the public concerning finances, capital equipment and the progress, if any, of implementing a new access studio; that we, as de facto shareholders have a right to know and be apprised. We are still waiting!

  
  

  One of the requirements of a municipal financial director is the ability to provide effective, clear and persuasive oral and written communications about the city’s finances to individuals and groups.

  Public access falls in this category and again, goes ignored by the administration, unwilling to fight for the citizens.

  
  

  A case in point, the recent Comcast ascertainment hearing held in the afternoon at City Hall was attended by one city councilor, Robert M. Penta. As always, he represented the people’s voice and made a compelling argument.

  
  

  Missing from this meeting were the mayor and the finance/budget director.

  
  

  The issuing authority (the mayor) and the finance/budget director did not feel it important or necessary to attend this meeting, but to be in the same building and to not attend shows the continued lack of respect to the citizens and a dereliction of their inherent duties. It’s the usual “do as I say, not as I do!”

  
  

  Mr. Penta always stands on the side of the citizens…whether you agree or disagree with him.

  We cannot afford a proliferation of the current political environment that we have had to endure for much too long.

  
  

  Much change is needed in Medford and hopefully citizens will come to realize that Robert M. Penta has the citizens’ best interest at heart and is the person, if elected mayor, who will truly institute “Leadership that works!” We can make it happen.

  
  

  — Anthony D’Antonio is a Medford resident.