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Alicia Palmer
14,939 past month, or about 500 views per day
868 views to a million and a quarter page views!
Alicia Palmer
Public Records Access Officer
Medford Public Schools
489 Winthrop Street
Medford, MA 02155
781-393-2200
Kim Scanlon
Medford City Hall
Medford MA 02155
Re: Massachusetts Public Records Request - P/E/G monies
Dear Records Officer at Medford City Hall and at Medford High School:
This is a request under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M. G. L. Chapter 66, Section 10).
I am requesting that I be provided a copy of the following records:
1)The documents showing the amount of P/E/G (access television) monies received from Comcast and Verizon for 2016, 2017 and 2018 which I estimate to be about 1 million dollars or so per year. I request the exact figure from each cable provider.
2)The documents showing the exact distribution of the P/E/G monies for Public access television, Educational access television and Governmental access television - how much money each P/E/G channel receives separately, how much money goes to pay for teacher salaries and to whom - the documents showing which part of the P/E/G monies received from the franchise fee pays for those services, and the monies that go into the "general fund" which which aspect of P/E/G franchise fees those monies are garnered from
3)The documents showing salaries of all the teachers receiving the P/E/G monies for their salaries in 2016, 2017, and 2018
4)The documents regarding the current "indemnification agreement" or producer form or "Release Form Provision" to air access TV shows including the CORI check form and the form to utilize if one chooses not to produce his or her show at the high school.
NOTE ON THE FORMS THAT I SEEK:
Attorney Mark E. Rumley told the citizens, after a request from this producer at the August meeting of the Cable Advisory Board, that his form was "in flux."
This "in flux" statement is odd (and is either a deception or evidence of lack of qualification(s) ) for an attorney handling city matters for 17 years, who was on the previous access TV board approximately two times, and who has published hundreds of pages on P/E/G access. It shows a reticence by Attorney Rumley to allow cable TV subscribers, citizens, civic groups and businesses the opportunity to go on the air and discuss their freedom of speech and freedom of the press. I submit that Mr. Rumley's failure to have a Release Form as provided by the First Amendment (and the agreements with Verizon and Comcast) is intentional and that Mr. Rumley squelches free speech in Medford with impunity, contrary to the words he said to Judge Jackson-Thompson claiming the city of Medford doesn't "limit speech." It most certainly does, and I'm living proof of that, as are many others.
Example from lawsuit Demarest vs. Athol/Orange [7] It should be noted that the plaintiffs make a very plausible argument that the Release Form Provision constitutes a prior restraint.
It should also be noted that Mr. Rumley's unwarranted CORI check - which he claimed at the Advisory board was agreed to by the new superintendent - is solely to scare the public from access as parents, friends and people renting Medford High allegedly are not under the restraints that Rumley utilizes to limit speech, especially what Rep Donato calls "the most protected right," political speech. CORI checks give the current administration inside information on candidates
Mr. Rumley's sharp practice in regards to free speech, and Rumley playing fast and loose with the 1st Amendment, is also, in my opinion, a violation of the Public Accommodation law in Massachusetts. It is shameful, actually, that I have to spend so much time because Mr. Rumley is so thin-skinned and terrified of criticism when he uses his taxpayer funded e mail on a church website or allegedly collects bills at Somerville Court on Medford taxpayer time (on Thursdays) when taxpayers want a full time solicitor, not a part time charlatan. A reason why Rumley thinks up cockamamie ways to keep the citizens from reaching a broader audience on the electronic soap box that they pay for.
This being said, you can see how the topic - veiled in secrecy by city hall - is of great public interest.
5)I seek documents providing the individuals receiving the top 150 salaries in the city of Medford including salaries at the high school and police station.
I recognize that you may charge reasonable costs for copies, as well as for personnel time needed to comply with this request. If you expect costs to exceed $10.00, please provide a detailed fee estimate, however as a journalist in this city I request that you waive the fee as this matter is of great public interest.
The Public Records Law requires you to provide me with a written response within 10 calendar days. If you cannot comply with my request, you are statutorily required to provide an explanation in writing.
Sincerely,
Joe Viglione
