City Council Postpones Comcast Vote
Tue., Nov. 30, 2004 /public access news
Final vote held up one week to get city guarantee of
Public Access funds
At the Monday, November 29, 2004 Baltimore City Council meeting a motion was passed to postpone voting on the 3rd and final reader of the proposed Comcast cable TV contract until the following Monday's meeting to give the city more time to meet the council's demand for a memorandum of understanding committing an additional $430,000 over 12 years for Public Access operating revenue.
Councilman Curran put forth the motion saying, "I'm going to make a motion to hold for one week so we can get etched in stone the agreement between our financial department and this body concerning the funds that's going to go to cable access. The intent is there and we just need to have the language reflect the intent of the council to make sure that cable access gets the needed funds, the additional [$430,000]. So the intent is there. We just need to have it done in a timely fashion. So I'm going to give the administration the benefit of the doubt. So I'm going to make a motion that we hold [Bill 04-]1504 for one week."
By "cable access" it is assumed he meant "public access."
The motion was seconded by council Vice President Stephanie C. Rawlings Blake (according to a 11/8/04 Sun article, Rawlings Blake has the support of the mayor and, "Under the city charter, the council appoints the vice president. But the council typically defers to the mayor, approving his choice for the post. That's because the vice president traditionally serves as the mayor's floor leader, drumming up support for his legislative agenda.")
At the Monday, November 29, 2004 Baltimore City Council meeting a motion was passed to postpone voting on the 3rd and final reader of the proposed Comcast cable TV contract until the following Monday's meeting to give the city more time to meet the council's demand for a memorandum of understanding committing an additional $430,000 over 12 years for Public Access operating revenue.
Councilman Curran put forth the motion saying, "I'm going to make a motion to hold for one week so we can get etched in stone the agreement between our financial department and this body concerning the funds that's going to go to cable access. The intent is there and we just need to have the language reflect the intent of the council to make sure that cable access gets the needed funds, the additional [$430,000]. So the intent is there. We just need to have it done in a timely fashion. So I'm going to give the administration the benefit of the doubt. So I'm going to make a motion that we hold [Bill 04-]1504 for one week."
By "cable access" it is assumed he meant "public access."
The motion was seconded by council Vice President Stephanie C. Rawlings Blake (according to a 11/8/04 Sun article, Rawlings Blake has the support of the mayor and, "Under the city charter, the council appoints the vice president. But the council typically defers to the mayor, approving his choice for the post. That's because the vice president traditionally serves as the mayor's floor leader, drumming up support for his legislative agenda.")