Have you seen this article in today's Sun Sentinel? It's astonishing. I'm sorry Ms Ritter, this shouldn't be a "business" decision based on the merits of anyone's social or political agenda ...and considering the beating we took during Wilma and Katrina, you should be ashamed of yourself the way you are putting your feelings about a bloviating pundit over your responsibility to your constituency.

I penned a letter to my own representative, who was also mentioned in the article.

From the Florida Sun-Sentinel:

Broward may cancel deal with radio station because it airs Rush Limbaugh

Commissioner Stacy Ritter said she did not want to support a station that's out of step with area politics. Ritter, a Democratic stalwart in the state Legislature before being elected to county office, cited talk shows hosted by Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and WIOD's partnership with Fox News.

"They have every right to speak, but we don't have to do business with them," she said.

Also:

Ritter's concerns were echoed by Commissioners Ken Keechl, a former president of the Dolphins gay Democratic club, and Suzanne Gunzburger, who served on the vote-tallying board that recounted the 2000 presidential election.

And finally:

Judy Sarver, the county's public communications director, said WFTL and WLRN also offered to take on the role, but that she and other emergency planners preferred WIOD because of its signal strength, numerous FM sister stations and willingness to give Broward top play.

Mr. Keechl, I respectfully tender that this is not "business" as Ms. Ritter has put it but a public service and responsibility. Ms. Sarver's reasoning strikes me as transparently in the public's interest while your support of Ms Ritter's position appears to be motivated by party politics.

I hope that you will reconsider your stance on this position. There is a time and place for every issue to be addressed, but for my representative to choose an official radio channel for emergency information ...based not on its capacity to perform and willingness to serve ...but instead on the entertainment content they regularly provide?

That doesn't sound wrong to you?

Very Respectfully,

Michael Cummins
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Posted by Michael at June 13, 2007 06:13 PM