In Which He Vents

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 10, 2006

I’ve often said I didn’t want to be in a public office because I’d have little patience of fools and tell the blowhards to shut up. Still, I serve on both the RTM and Area 2 Cable Advisory Council.

At last night’s CAC meeting, I unloaded with both barrels and I have to admit, it felt good.

Essentially, Sound View is the third party provider of Public, Education and Government channel programming under license from the state’s DPUC (Public Utilities). We’re nearing the end of the process for both Sound View and Cablevision to be refranchised. Despite CAC, Cablevision, the Attorney General and others complaining about Sound View, the DPUC’s draft ruling last month not only was refranchsing Sound View but giving them more than they asked for while at the same time more or less emasculating CAC.

The final ruling will come out on November 22 and earlier this week, oral arguments were heard from those parties objecting. And object they did starting with the towns of Orange and Milford as well as the AG.

As a result, I was fairly fired up as we drove out to Orange last night. Gerry Speno was all lathered up and angered at the DPUC’s clear favoritism and Fairfield’s inability to get Sound View to provide us with equipment so we could begin town specific Government programming. (By the way, the DPUC ruling more or less tosses out the notion of Town Specific programming.)

The meeting got underway and we began asking Tom Castelot, the unassuming head of Sound View, what plans were being readied for Sound View to begin handing out grant money to towns and organizations interested in producing programs for the three channels. He claimed he was waiting for the final ruling, that they hadn’t given it much thought yet and won’t until the new franchise period begins January 1.

I unloaded the first barrel by pointing out the DPUC was clearly going to rubber stamp the refranchising – he knew it, we knew it. Knowing it was coming; any well run operation would have begun planning so on January 1 they were in a position to begin handing out forms and cash. That he hasn’t begun the process showed poor management.

A little later, after we asked for input on how the grant process would work, he finally admitted some of his staff had begun thinking about it. Also, under the rules, he had twelve months to put things in order. He also intended to not only consult us but to consult the town leaders.

I unloaded barrel two. First, Fairfield’s been waiting on his cash for weeks now and there was no way we’d wait until the end of 2007 to get up and running. Second, we were appointed by the town leaders as their representatives so he talks to us and not them. Third, two of us admitted we could figure out the entire grant application process in about three hours so why on earth should it take a committee months? I pointed out how mismanaged and poorly run the operation had to be and that such incompetence should not be tolerated.

Later, as we shifted into executive session, one fellow rep came and shook my hand, pleased to have a fellow rabble rouser. Me, I just call them as I see them.

Sound View is sitting on a pile of cash, some of which it is using to try and do the same for Area 9 and it has for Area 2. That’s Area 2’s money being misspent which is probably a crime. Additionally, the DPUC told him he had too much excess cash and needed to use a large chunk of it. Rather than be proactive and come before us with a plan to provide towns with equipment, training, etc., he came empty handed with no plans, no cash. He’s probably hoping for the same lack of oversight from the DPUC that has allowed this kind of malfeasance to go on.

The rhetorical question we asked out loud more than once last night was why the CAC should exist if the DPUC has stripped us of just about all authority. Heck, in the new agreement, Tom won’t even be required to attend out meetings. Tough to advise him if he isn’t there to hear it.

There’s much about how Tom runs Sound View and how the DPUC has acted that begs for investigation. Of course, the entire issue has been ignored by the local media and not every town leader in Area 2 is properly versed on the issue to lend more than token support (Bridgeport, for example, can’t be bothered to name people to CAC). It may well come to the AG opening an investigation or a lawsuit from some quarter before the citizens in Area 2 receive the public access programming they deserve.

Please Do Your Duty

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 6, 2006

There are so many different ways to look at the election tomorrow. On the macro level, the results could shift the way the country conducts its business for the next two years. Should the Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives, key committees will change leaders and Nancy Pelosi would become the Speaker. In the less likely event they seize control of the Senate, which means they will control the legislative agenda.

Many view the election as a referendum on how the Bush Administration has conducted one issue: the war in Iraq. I say it’s much more than that.

It comes down to asking yourself if you are happy with your lifestyle, you level of economic and job security, your ability to buy groceries or pay for college. Do you feel your elected officials are acting on your behalf, are they voting on the issues as you would?

Stepping into the voting booth tomorrow, those are the matters that should be on your mind. After all, the theory is we’re electing people to represent us and act on our behalf. If you’re pro-War and your official is against it, then maybe he’s not the right guy regardless of party affiliation. No one should be stepping up to the poll voting the straight party ticket without considering what those votes will mean to you in the future.

Where I live, a 19-year congressman, Chris Shays, is up for re-election. He’s a great guy, I gather. He shows up at one local event after another and is plain-speaking. You like him. Yet, he’s been trumpeting his “maverick” stance as a Republican and touts his 14 visits to Iraq and shows off reams of letters he’s written to the President. Sounds good, right? But, then you ask, what got accomplished during those 14 visits and did the White House actually write back or did his letters sway any policy? He can’t say. After 19 years, he should be a Party elder, someone with key responsibilities and a member of the leadership. Turns out, he really isn’t. Chris Shays may sponsor and co-sponsor a lot of legislation but in the end, he’s a party spear-carrier. Not a leader.

After 19 years, I expect more and according to the polls, my fellow District 4 voters are expecting more, too.

We’re given this precious right and I despair at how few of us actually exercise it. Ask me, it should be a national holiday and compulsory so people are more a part of the process. I’m also dismayed on the micro level how few people pay attention to the local issues when they step into the booth.

Tomorrow, Fairfield will vote on changes to the town charter. Most seem blissfully unaware of what those changes are and what they might mean. It’s been in the papers and there have been numerous public forums discussing the changes but so few have turned out and it’ll be those few who decide how our town of 57,000 will be governed.

This all boils down to my asking that each and every one of you reading this make a point of getting to the polls tomorrow. By now we’ve all learned that yes, every vote does matter. Companies are pretty flexible these days if you have to come in late or leave early to do your duty. The polls are open 14 hours in most places so there’s really little excuse not to take a short trip and use one of the most valuable tools you have as an American citizen.

Thank you for voting.

Is it February Yet?

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 5, 2006

Just a quick note to share some updated con news. My pals at Farpoint have added to their guest list. In addition to headliner Summer Glau (she of Firefly and The 4400, they have just added actress Alice Krige (she of such genre fare as Star Trek: First Contact, Silent Hill and The 4400). Lolita Fatjo, former Trek script supervisor will also be there.

I’ll be present along with the usual gang including Keith DeCandido, Peter David, Terri Osborne and Mike Friedman.

Another Week Passes

Posted by Bob Greenberger on November 3, 2006

It’s been busy but relatively quiet times around here. A recap of the week looks something like this:

Deb left for a week in Florida with her parents. The trip began inauspiciously as we took her to the wrong airport. Fortunately, we got her to the right one in time for the flight.

Being the only human rambling around the house has proven a larger adjustment than the two of us adjusting to no kids in the house. Fortunately, I’ve been kept busy so really don’t notice it except at day’s end. One of those activities was the beginning of my third year of visiting the gym. My level of interest in working out is usually matched by how alert or tired I am and Wednesday’s workout was a good one. Last night I had my semi-annual visit with the doctor and got an excellent bill of health so I must be doing something right.

Tomorrow will be jam-packed with errands and writing and Sunday is all writing so again, hope not to notice it too much.

Speaking of the writing, it’s moving along at a reasonable clip and hope to first draft a huge portion over the weekend. On the other hand, an editor just rejected pitches to a media tie-in anthology so there goes another fun opportunity.

One of my many errands is to hand off a suitcase full of stuff (mostly yarn it seems) for the parents of one of Kate’s friends to bring to Cairo later this month. It’s 90% done with the last bits bought and stuffed tomorrow. Her requests have gone from the practical (linens) to the sentimental (leaves to remind her of fall).

She’s doing great over in Cairo. For those not following her adventures at CairoKate, she’s having an amazing set of experiences. The capper so far has been being cast as Adelaide in the school’s production of Guys & Dolls, the first musical at American University in Cairo in six years. A shame she had to leave the country to finally land a lead, and worse, she’ll perform in May and we’ll miss it.

As for son, he’s having a terrific first semester at college. He’s found a nice circle of friends, joined a karate club to stay active and landed himself a girl friend. He seems to be finding a balance between work and play and has recognized when he needs help and has sought it out. I’m not sure we can ask for a better experience for him.

At Weekly World News there have been some administrative adjustments that brings a little more work my way, which is just fine. I’ve just completed conducting a reader survey among college students and continue to streamline the working relationship between the print and on line versions. All in all, things are working out well here and the sales remain steady.

As weeks go, it has not been a bad one, not at all.