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Save NY PBS Stations
PBS Stations in New York State depend on funding from the state government, in addition to viewers and foundations. The Governor of New York, David A. Patterson, has proposed a new state budget, with cuts to education of as much as 15%, but the cuts to the budgets of the PBS Stations are 50%!
PBS Stations, which provide educational shows and great children's programing, can't survive these cuts which would roll their state provided funding back to 1982 levels.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Save NY PBS Stations
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing to urge you to reconsider the proposed 50% cut in state funding for New York State's PBS stations. These proposed state budget cuts come at a time when contributions from viewer membership dollars are also low due to the faltering national economy.
There had already been layoffs at the stations before the announcement of the proposed cuts, and your cut in funding, if enacted, could change the face of what we receive from the state's local public broadcasting stations. The proposed cuts would take state funding for New York's PBS stations to its lowest level since 1982.
Both NABET-CWA, which represents employees at both WSKG and WMHT, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents workers at WNET in New York City, oppose these massive cuts to New York's public broadcasting stations. We all know that New York State is facing a budget crisis, but it would be extremely difficult for these stations to survive such a drastic reduction.
For many of the stations, the cut would sweep away a large portion of their operating budget and leave them with few options: cut jobs, cut programs, and cut
services to the schools. These stations were having their budgets cut when times were good. A 50% cut when times are bad could finish them off. I urge you to restore the funding for public broadcasting stations in New York State.
Respectfully,
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Campaign Launched:
January 13, 2009
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Public broadcasters face fifty percent cut in New York State funding
Governor David Paterson’s proposed state budget would reduce state funding for New York state PBS stations by 50%. The state cuts come at a time when membership dollars are also low due to the economy. The drastic cut would follow years of cuts from federal and state funds for the states PBS stations. The cuts could mean drastic cuts in local jobs, programming, and services to our schools provided by the stations.
There have already been lay-offs at the stations before the announcement of the proposed cuts and if enacted could change the face of what we receive from our local stations. The proposed cuts would take state funding for our PBS stations to its lowest level since 1982.
The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET) who represents both WSKG and WMHT, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers that represents members at WNET in New York City oppose this massive cut to New York’s PBS stations. We all know that New York State is facing a budget crisis; it would be difficult for our stations to survive such a drastic reduction.
Our members have faced lay-offs, heavy workloads, and have learned to do more with less. They have faced many reductions in state, federal, and membership dollars through the years. They work hard and are not highly paid, but they believe in the mission of public broadcasting.
For many of the stations the cut would take away a large portion of their operating budget and will leave them with few options, cut jobs, cut programs, cut services to the schools. The stations were having their budgets cut when times were good; a 50% cut when times are bad could finish them off. Please contact the Governor's office, your State Senator and Assemblyperson and tell them no more cuts to our PBS stations.
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