News » What people are saying…

There has been an amazing, articulate and passionate response to Access Tucson’s call to action. Too good to not share! Below are excerpts from the letters we have received.

If you haven’t sent a letter or made a phone call to the Mayor and Council, now is the time. Just send them an email mcweb@tucsonaz.gov Or if you wish to email or speak to your Councilmember personally, you can find their contact information here: http://www.tucsonaz.gov/mcc.html. Send us a copy so we can include it with the all of the incredible responses we have received.

People are saying…

“As a community, even in these trying economic times, we cannot afford to tell our neighbor in need, ‘access denied.’”

“Thank you for providing Access Tucson with the funds needed to provide experiences like this for the youth of Tucson. We could not have done this project, in the budget provided, without Access Tucson. They offer a means to bring information to Tucson, and enrich the community in a way that no other organization can do.”

“Over 29.7% of the 499 City of Tucson and Pima County residents who we served, self-reported that they had heard about our programs via television ads or other TV coverage. Since the Access Tucson-produced PSA spot — which also ran on Cox and Comcast last Fall — was the only locally-produced spot that aired in the reporting period, all of this response was made possible thanks to Access Tucson.”

“Their cable coverage of important community events, and creation of PSAs and programming for non-profit and community groups is of major importance to Tucson’s life and culture, as well as the continued existence of our non-profit sector and the wealth of services it provides our citizens.”

“Access is not only local, it brings the national and international to Tucson. Its archive has been the source of film documentary histories about Tucson. At Access, anyone can learn to make media. The value of Access to Tucson is limitless.”

“When the TV comes on in the evening, Access is there with an interesting local program … senior women dancing, interviews with community organizers, young musicians. It’s where Tucson is on TV. Public service fulfilled wonderfully by Access Tucson – what could be better. Don’t let a great thing disappear!”

“Access Tucson fills a void that the commercial TV stations have been unable to fill. Televising local events, developing stories on local issues, providing viewers with information on local attractions are some of the things that Access Tucson does better than any other station in Tucson.”

“This is no time to cut back or effectively cripple community access to media. This is precisely the time to nurture and support local dialogue.”

“Tucson citizens and its distinguished winter visitors and second home owners deserve this important facility and all its essential offerings.”

“Schools, non profit organizations, as well as individuals have access to great equipment, classes and internet as well as a venue to air programming that showcases the diverse culture, talent and personality of the Tucson Community. Please continue using the fees that Cox subscribers pay to the City to support Access Tucson.”

“I am deeply concerned about the possibility of a cutback or indeed, the possible demise of Access Tucson. The many programs that Access Tucson airs seem to me to be the voice of the people, of the LOCAL PEOPLE. What better way to bring the community together than by making them aware of the resources, the services, the many cultures that are represented in our beloved OLD PUEBLO.”

“Obviously, by cutting off the funding for Access Tucson, countless media-voices of southern Arizona will be silenced. And, not so obviously, losing Access Tucson will also decrease educational opportunities for our students (who are already losing funding through state budget cuts).”

“I learned a great deal from my viewers – they are awesome and so loyal!! It would be a great tragedy for these viewers not to be able to communicate with all of us who participate in free speech at Access.”

“We are living in a digital, visual age. Now is not the time to cut the very resource that is the preferred form of large-scale community communication – this includes video on the internet.”

“Access Tucson has provided a bully pulpit for Southern Arizonans of every political stripe for 25 years. With the decline of newspapers and the increasing difficulty of gaining local visibility on commercial television, Access Tucson has proven to be an invaluable asset for community groups, the arts and others needing to get their messages, in-full and unfiltered, to area citizens.”

“Were it not for this specific program, I personally would not be working in the media industry as a Producer/Director, Editor and Director of Photography. I say this because TCCC provided me and hundreds, if not thousands, of others like myself an opportunity to gain access to equipment and education in television production.”

“The money for this purpose has been set from fees paid by cable television subscribers. And recent proposals to consolidate the facilities and management of Channel 12 and Access Tucson have not yet been explored as an alternative to the current funding situation.”

“Some of the programs on Access are the only affordable avenue of communication some non-profits might have. With the current economy, these groups are suffering enough in other ways.”

“I feel it is especially important to defend public access funding at this historic moment because our traditional media is on the brink of extinction.”

“In hard economic times, it becomes even harder for those who don’t have deep pockets to find an avenue for expression. And to function as a healthy society, all points of view should and must be heard.”

“We are in acute danger at the moment of losing the bare bones staff left to keep free speech alive in this community through public access programming. And the cost of this investment next to the priceless service provided is so puny.”

“As a member of the community I ask that you honor and continue using the Cox subscribers FEE’s to pay for MY Access Tucson.”

“Thousands of members of my church receive a valuable community service from Access Tucson to their homes not available from any other source.”

“Would you consider selling all of our city’s statues and monuments? Could the sum they would garner fix anything permanent? Would the momentary monetary relief be worth sacrificing future generations’ appreciation of what has come before them? Access Tucson is just such a part of the public trust. It is a monument to free speech, local art, history, political and social discourse, summer programs for children as well as countless hours of support for other non-profits that without Access Tucson would have no or little voice in the world of modern media.”

“It is educational and informative for the community but also gives young people a chance to learn how to create videos and produce a TV show and work in a TV station.”

“Access Tucson serves the entire community as a video training and production center, and is one of the top five public access centers in the U.S.”

“Did you forget that these fees are not taxes? I am praying you do the right thing with this money; I want to be proud of Tucson’s leadership.”

“This money is allocated by Cox through fees that they collect for public access programming–it is not intended for the Tucson general budget. How unfair of you to do this.”

“I believe in what Access Tucson does. For the last 12 years, I have watched them provide a valuable service to the community by giving Tucson an independent and unique eye into the life of Tucson.”

“There would be no voice of the real people of the community: the handicapped, a Vietnam Vet, lots of musical talent, and many insightful interviews with people of Tucson about current issues relevant to the local people.”

“It is also noteworthy that our Tucson station regularly receives awards from the national Alliance for Community Media, including the best station award in 2008. Tucson is a professional, well-run operation. The staff members are all dedicated to helping others do their best with their own personal dreams.”

“Mayor Tom Volgy was an ardent supporter of the public’s First Amendment rights of free speech, assembly, and petition in the electronic media forum of the 20th century; support by other mayors and councils and various cable licensees over the years has been more tepid, apparently because they do not believe as fervently in constitutional rights as the linchpins of our political system, but would rather compromise them for a few lousy bucks. Such is the deplorable state of civic values in this community and state.”

“With college tuition skyrocketing, arts and media education cut at the elementary and secondary school level, and teen centers eviscerated by budget cuts, Access Tucson provides a service that gives back much more to the community than it takes.”

“It’s not fair that the wealthy have a voice on T.V. but the people who are not wealthy do not.”

“Access Tucson represents a vital pillar holding up the very roof of our local democracy. Don’t saw through that pillar!”

“I have an Asperger Syndrome kid, and at ACCESS Tucson he has found tolerance for his idiosyncrasies, respect for his skills, and a place where people are willing to teach him professional behavior.”

“We urge you not to participate in the calculated abatement of the public voice, nor assist in the corporate dismantling of the public airwaves.”