[Occupymendocino] MCTV Goes Down!

[Richard Karch]

Latest from Anne Rennacker: 
Richard, 
       I just came from an emergency Board Meeting of MCTV, and after getting the final judgment of the Court, Judge Nadel decided that the building on Laurel Street shall immediately be transferred back to the Footlighters, along with monetary damages of $36,315 plus Court Costs of $4599.30 which totals $40,914.30.  We tried to negotiate a payment plan with the lawyer for the Footlighters, but it was firmly rejected.  MCTV has less than $10,000 and if they were to stay in the building and pay rent, Footlighters want $1500 a month!  We offered $800 but no go.  The attorney (Ruprecht) also wants us to pay the current taxes which are about $5,000 - half our money.  The only solution was to dissolve as an entity and hope another group can start a new public access TV channel.  We can donate the archives to Kelly House and the Historical Society, and hopefully they can make them available for folks to borrow.  I think Elizabeth can donate equipment to the City of Fort Bragg, or some archival stuff can go to the County Museum.  Channel 64 is going down right away, but 3 and 65 will have a post of the whole story and I know a lot of people want to do something to help.  Until now we were stifled from talking about anything about the case.  

Even though this sad event has happened, I think we still need to sign and circulate the petition below.  Please send around to supporters!  Let's let the powers to be know we are not asleep and will work hard to keep our Community Access TV facility.  
Richard

Hello Occupy Mendocino,

Our Community Access Television facility, that has offered training to citizens to create programming since the 1970's, is threatened to close because of loss of funding. This vital media link in our geographically challenged county where citizens can view archived programs on the internet and get training making TV media, might soon come to an end. Keeping this public media service operating to allow citizens to view local events and meetings should be a top priority of government agencies providing funding.

That's why I created a petition to Fort Bragg City Council and Mendocino County Board of Supervisors.

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/we-need-community-access?source=c.em.mt&r_by=8161031

Thanks!

Richard

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.mcn.org/pipermail/occupymendocino/attachments/20130713/28e40325/attachment.html