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.
at New York State is fastations 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 Governors’
office, your State Senator and Assemblyperson and tell them no more cuts to our
PBS stations.
To
Write To The Governor:
David
A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518-474-8390
To Email The Governor:
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/_save_NY_PBS
NY State Senate
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/_save_NY_PBS
NY State Assembly
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/_save_NY_PBS