Letters: Public access channel is vital TV

I’m convinced that the city administration is absolutely purposely limiting Harry’s Gang’s observations of the happenings of the city of Cloquet on public accesss television. They turned us off while investigating and firing police officers, the missing chief of police, administrative actions against the producer of the Gang and all other local programming, as well as God only knows what else is happening, because we are no longer in the loop. We know that there is an opening on the city council that needs to be filled. Only Harry’s Gang interviewed candidates on television in the past, and we certainly hope to be back in business before that process starts.

But nobody is even talking to us about when we would be back on the air. Even our off-site recording of the legislative session with Rep. Mike Sundin has not aired. We were informed that producer Eric Lipponen had been locked out of the studio.

If nobody is complaining, the city administrator can merrily go about limiting public access. The council members seemingly have no power in this situation. I did not realize that the city administrator has more power than the council, and way more than the mayor. While I understand the “weak mayor and strong mayor” system of governance, I do not understand absolute power, answerable to no one, granted to an administrator. So much for the promised transparency in city government.

I have served on the school board and the county board and wouldn’t have tolerated this for a minute, much less almost two months. Please go to the “Harry’s Gang” Facebook page and voice your concerns, or give me a call at 218-879-4262. Call your council members as well, but don’t expect any action.

This must happen quickly, or there will be nobody taping the Fourth of July parade and the fireworks for those who cannot make it out to watch.