Message from David Hernandez President,

Since the onset of this crisis, we at the Los Angeles Public Access Coalition have addressed all departments, City Council members, City Attorney and Mayor with respect to protecting the First Amendment Rights of Los Angeles Public Access Producers and Cable Subscribers.

 

As we have reported, all requests for clarity and accountability have been ignored. As a result we appealed to the Attorney General Edmund Brown for assistance.

 

All agree our concerns are valid, but all advise they are without the ability to bring a reasonable and viable resolution to the Public Access Cable Crisis.

 

Many individuals and organizations have rallied to our side as supporters and advocates for a Non Governmental controlled system for Public Access.

 

We are pleased to announce that Common Cause has joined the battle to save Public Access.

 

They have sent out a massive Email appeal to their members, nationwide, to facilitate Email letters to Attorney General Gerry Brown and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to seek injunctive relief under the (Unfair) Business and Professions Code 17200 Section 3 against Time Warner Cable for shutting down the 12 channels and studios.

 

The response has been widespread and is ongoing. We look forward to the challenge ahead and pledge to all Cable Subscribers that we will continue this fight to its conclusion.

 

 

Attorney Generals Response

Below is the response we received from the Attorney Generals Office to our second request for help.

 

As requested, here is the statement from the California Attorney General’s Office:

 

“A law was enacted two years ago that shifted control of cable franchises from the counties/cities to the state.  A delayed provision in that law just went into effect on Jan. 1, 2009, and relieved the cable companies of any obligation to pay for, or maintain, studios or equipment for public access television.  Cities or counties may opt to pay for it, but LA has chosen not to because of its fiscal situation.  That left some public access shows unable to broadcast; some survived because they have their own studios.”

 

- Abraham Arredondo

  Spokesman

  California Attorney General’s Office

Well that is not good enough! Will be posting our response later this morning.

Stay tuned.

Refund or Replace Campaign

TIME WARNER CABLE

 

REFUND or REPLACE

OUR PUBLIC ACCESS CABLE CHANNELS IN LOS ANGELES

 

 

TIME WARNER CABLE SHUT DOWN ALL 14 PUBLIC ACCESS  CABLE CHANNELS IN LOS ANGELES on JANUARY 1^ST  2009 

 

• Time Warner Cable subscribers were notified that should the agreement between Viacom and Time Warner fail and there was a loss of three cable channels, they would refund subscribers for the loss of programming.

 

• As a subscriber who has lost Public Access Programming, I would like a refund on my monthly Time Warner Cable Bill. As this broadcasting was conducted an average of 160 hours per week, four weeks, on average per month, I believe a one dollar per month refund is well within reason.

 

 

The Los Angeles Public Access Coalition believes

you are entitled to a REFUND from Time Warner Cable

for the lost channels

 

• Please join me and the Coalition in demanding that all Time Warner subscribers in the City of Los Angeles are entitled to a $1.00 refund for the channels they removed and for which they are over-billing us on our monthly statements.  

 

• Furthermore this must be an ongoing refund for each and every month we do not have our public access cable channels.

 

Please click on this link  drhassoc@earthlink.net

 

to join the REFUND or REPLACE campaign to regain our Public Access Channels or get a

REFUND

please give us name address and phone number in the  Email link here so we can help!

 

 

 

 

 

David R. Hernandez

President

Los Angeles Public Access Coalition

 

Attorney General 2nd request!

LOS ANGELES PUBLIC ACCESS

COALITION
(LAPAC)
David Hernandez, President
 P O Box 9158    No. Hollywood

91609    Tel 818-448-3403

 

 

 

January 3, 2009                                  VIA FAX  &  FEDERAL EXPRESS

Hon. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Attorney General, State of California
Department of Justice, Public Integrity Unit
P O Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550

 

PIU #255137  Urgent Request for Reconsideration

Dear Attorney General Brown,

 

We are in receipt of an obvious form letter from the California Department of Justice , Public Inquiry Unit (PIU #255137) in response to our request for your office to pursue Injunctive Relief on behalf of the millions of Time Warner Cable subscribers residing in the City of Los Angeles.  When Time Warner closed fourteen public access cable channels and studios in the City of Los Angeles on December 31, 2008 they were fully aware that their actions would deny their subscribers services that had been provided to the public for over 25 years and were considered, “public assets”.

 

The Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, City Council members and the City Attorney have refused to respond to our letters requesting Injunctive Relief, under the California Business & Professions Code 17200 Section 3, (Unfair Business Practices).  And, they have made no effort to replace the public access facilities with the moneys provided by Time Warner Cable Franchise Fees, for that purpose.

 

The DOJ Public Inquiry Unit response to our request for Injunctive Relief, is unacceptable and dismissive of the serious allegations made in our complaint.  The PIU response suggests that we seek our own resolution with Time Warner Cable and is a preposterous suggestion considering the harmful actions of Time Warner Cable. The millions of cable subscribers residing in the City of Los Angeles are unable to seek alternative public channels and studios. 

 

We take exception to the Public Inquiry Unit suggestion that it is our responsibility to resolve this matter without the assistance of the Department of Justice.  

 

Please see government Code Section 12511 and 12550 

       “The Attorney general shall take charge  of any investigation or prosecution of violation of law of which the Superior Court has jurisdiction”

 

Furthermore, according to the Office of Attorney General website, “about us” page reads: 
   “Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. was elected statewide to serve as the chief law officer of California. It is the duty of the Attorney General to see that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced (California Constitution, Article V, Section 13.) The Attorney General carries out responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice.
     “The Attorney General represents the people of California in civil and criminal matters before trial, appellate and the supreme courts of California and the United States. The Attorney General also serves as legal counsel to state officers and, with few exceptions, to state agencies, boards and commissions. Exceptions to the centralized legal work done on behalf of the state are listed in Section 11041 of the Government Code.”
    “In addition, the Attorney General establishes and operates projects and programs to protect Californians from fraudulent, unfair, and illegal activities that victimize consumers or threaten public safety, and enforces laws that safeguard the environment and natural resources.”

It is our opinion the Attorney General has direct supervision over the District Attorneys of the several counties of the State and may require of them, written reports as to the condition of public business entrusted to their charge.  When he deems it advisable or necessary, in the public interest, or when directed to do so by the Governor, he shall assist any District Attorney in the discharge of his duties, and take full charge of any investigation or prosecution of violations of law of which the Superior Court has jurisdiction.  In this respect he has all the powers of a District Attorney, including the power to issue or cause to be issued subpoenas or other process.

 Therefore we are renewing our urgent request for you to take the following action on behalf of the independent public access producers and the millions of cable subscribers in the City of Los Angeles We are seeking a review of the Public Inquiry Unit’s response and request your immediate attention to our request as follows:

FILE FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF under California Business & Professions Code 17200 section 3. The basis for this action is as follows:

California’s unfair competition statute, Business and Professions Code sections 17200-17208, like  its federal counterpart, section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act(15U.S.C  Section 45 et seq), serves as a general prohibition on unfair and deceptive business practices and also as an antitrust law.

Section 17200 defines “unfair competition” to include any “unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice” as well as “unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading “.There are five potentially distinct theories of liability under section 17200.

1.      Unlawful business acts or practice;

2.      Unfair business acts or practice;

3.      Fraudulent business acts or practice;

4.      Unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising; and

5.      False advertising and related practices covered by B&P 17500-17577

 

The broad purpose of Business and Professions Code section 17200 is “to permit tribunals to enjoin on-going wrongful business conduct in whatever context such activity might occur.”(People v. McKale (1979) 25 Cal.3d 626 In particular the purpose of the “unlawful” practice provision it “to extend the meaning of unfair competition to anything that can properly be called a business practice .

The U.S. Supreme Court in FTC v Sperry & Hutchinson, 405 U.S. 233, 244(1972), in which the Court held that FTC Act Section 5 could reach beyond “the letter and spirit” of existing trade regulation laws to other wrongful business practices. The Sperry & Hutchinson noted the relevant factors for determining unfairness to be: “(1) whether the practice offends public policy, (2) whether it is immoral, unethical, oppressive, or unscrupulous; (3) whether it causes substantial injury to consumers. In brief, the court must weigh the utility of the defendant’s conduct against the gravity of the harm to the alleged victim.

Here, the action of closing fourteen public access studios and channels offends public policy , is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous and causes substantial injury to consumers who will be prevented from viewing independent programs on the City public access channel. The gravity of the harm to consumers outweighs any benefit to Time-Warner.

We are hereby requesting that you file for a Temporary Restraining Order against Time Warner to continue the service until such time as the City has provided alternative and equal facilities.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

David R. Hernandez

cc:

Stanley K. Sheinbaum

Ed Asner

The Caucus

Center for Creative Voices in Media

Full Disclosure Network, Leslie Dutton

ABC Nightline, Bonnie McLean Western Bureau

L. A. Weekly, Patrick Range McDonald

Los Angeles Times. Reed Johnson

 

LA Times on Loss of Public Access

Cable flips channel on public

access TV

A new California law allows Time Warner to close 12 studios that provided community programming in Los Angeles. Critics say a valuable 1st Amendment platform is lost.

By Reed Johnsonreed.johnson@latimes.com

January 5, 2009

For decades, public access programming on cable television has provided a virtually free forum for community activists and aspiring entertainers, for preening star wannabes as well as serious-minded political watchdogs.

But in Los Angeles and across California that forum began crumbling last week, a development that advocates say will strip ordinary citizens of a valuable 1st Amendment platform.

A provision of a law passed by the Legislature in 2006, which took effect Thursday, allows cable television providers the option of dropping their long-standing obligation of providing free studios, equipment and training to the public. In return, providers must pay a substantial annual fee and continue to provide a minimal number of public education and government channels.

The new law is designed to make it easier for phone companies to enter into the lucrative cable market by relieving them of certain money-draining contractual obligations.

In Los Angeles, 12 public access studios that provided programming for 11 community channels have been closed by Time Warner Cable Inc. That means much of the city’s diverse, neighborhood-specific public access shows may disappear.

If that happens, Los Angeles cable subscribers would be losing an outlet for their particular communities’ programming, said David Hernandez, president of the Los Angeles Public Access Coalition.

“It’s the regional broadcasting capability that’s lost,” he said.

Twenty other states, including Texas, Nevada, Florida, Illinois and Michigan, have enacted legislation similar to California’s Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act, or DIVCA, according to the nonprofit Alliance for Community Media. In several of those states, the loss of production studios was bitterly fought by opposition groups to little avail.

But the waning of public access programming in California would carry special significance for the nation, said Ron Cooper, a public access advocate and regional treasurer of the Alliance for Community Media in Sacramento.

“The rest of the country is watching,” Cooper said. “And not because it’s a good example — quite the opposite.”

In Los Angeles, public access covers an array of citizen-produced shows, including “Soul & Sound of Watts,” “East L.A. After Dark” and a late-night program by sexologist Dr. Susan Block. Between 30% and 35% of all programming is religion-oriented.

Although public access television often is mocked as a showcase for eccentric narcissists and sensationalistic provocateurs — what Cooper referred to as “naked Nazis” — he said only a small proportion of its content fits this bill.

“For the city of Los Angeles, the city of angels, the media capital of the world to say there is no room for public” access, Cooper said, “I don’t even know how to describe it.”

Time Warner says it is only complying with the provisions of the new law, which still requires a limited number of public, government and education channels funded by a fee calculated by 1% of gross annual revenue. In Los Angeles, that fee for Time Warner amounts to about $5 million, which is in addition to a $25-million annual franchise fee.

“The spirit of DIVCA was to create a level playing field for all competitors,” said Patricia Fregoso-Cox, vice president of communications for Time Warner Cable for the western region.

Fregoso-Cox said the company would continue to reserve four area cable channels for so-called PEG (public, education and government) content and that it had no plans to convert those to commercial programming. One city-run public access studio, in Boyle Heights, will remain open, at least for now.

As for the 12 studio closings, she said: “We have an exit strategy. Some of the buildings we own, some of the buildings we lease. Some of the buildings will be repositioned for other programming.”

In Los Angeles, the cavalcade of characters, gadflies and watchdogs that populate the public access channels aren’t going away without a fight. Hernandez has written to City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown to ask for injunctive relief against the studio closings.

“It’s a two-pronged immorality,” said Leslie Dutton, executive producer and host of the Full Disclosure Network, an Emmy-winning public access news broadcast.

“It’s immoral for the city to do nothing to replace the assets that are being taken from the public with the millions of dollars that are still coming to them, and No. 2, for preventing Time Warner from closing the channels down.”

Dutton and others say there is no guarantee that any of the four PEG channels will be used for public access programming. They also say that neither Time Warner nor the city gave adequate public notice of the studio closings.

“There wasn’t a flier or a handout or anything telling what this was,” said Rob Baker, producer of “The John Kerwin Show,” a celebrity-oriented talk program that taped what could be its last episode Dec. 17. “Nobody knew that public access is hearing its death knell.”

On the contrary, Fregoso-Cox said, “this isn’t something that hasn’t been communicated, that people aren’t aware of.”

The closing of the city’s studios is only one consequence of a nationwide campaign by phone companies — including AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. — to move into the cable market.

Many cable providers, meanwhile, are trying to compete in the phone market by bundling services (cable, phone, Internet), resulting in an escalating turf battle among powerful multimedia companies seeking control over a growing universe of information-delivery systems.

California’s legislation, drafted by then-Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, a Los Angeles Democrat, was signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September 2006. Nuñez said the law would increase competition and lower cable subscribers’ rates, a contention challenged by consumer groups.

Public access advocates acknowledge that YouTube and other Internet-based platforms have given new outlets for citizen expression. But, they point out, YouTube doesn’t provide free professional studios, equipment and training, nor does it pay for the staff to run the facilities.

Furthermore, Hernandez said, because public access television “is a public asset already, why should the public give up something that belongs to them?”

Public access advocates in Los Angeles and other California cities won’t have an easy time getting back in the studio. Cities are broke, and Los Angeles officials question whether the funds exist to help offset the studio closings.

A city report estimates that the annual cost of staffing and operating a 12-studio system would be $2.7 million, plus a one-time $4.5-million equipping cost, excluding rent.

“We’re looking at a year in which we’re looking at a $400-million deficit,” said Jose Cornejo, chief of staff for Councilman Tony Cardenas.

Cornejo said Cardenas and other City Council members had been scrutinizing the effect of the new law for many months and concluded that their hands were tied by the state.

The council therefore decided to adopt the recommendations of a report by the Board of Information Technology Commissioners. The report said the city should consolidate its control over the four remaining channels so they wouldn’t revert back to Time Warner’s management, as would be possible under the new law, Cornejo said.

“Time Warner is saying, ‘I now can do this. Go fly a kite, council,’ ” Cornejo said. “They usurped our jurisdiction with DIVCA.”

Councilman Bill Rosendahl, a former cable executive, said he supported public access as a 1st Amendment right and “an electronic soapbox.”

He favors studying whether it would be possible for the city to dedicate more funding toward it. But he said the city must address many pressing financial needs.

“We’re in this spot not because the city of Los Angeles created it but because the Legislature did,” he said.

 

 

 

 

What do these Hollywood heavy weights have in common?

 

Rene Balcer, Emmy and Peabody Award winning writer and producer of landmark television series “Law and Order”; co-creator, writer, and producer of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent.”

 

Hinton Battle, dancer, dramatic actor, singer, choreographer, writer, director, and producer as well as America’s only living three-time Tony Award winner.

 

Warren Beatty, Oscar-winning writer, producer, director, and actor, winner of the Academy’s 2000 Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award.

 

Stefan Bechtel, non-fiction author.

 

Steven Bochco, Multiple Emmy, Peabody, and Humanitas Award-winning writer, producer, and creator of landmark television series, including “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law,” “Doogie Howser,” and “N.Y.P.D. Blue.”

 

Peggy Charren, founder of Action for Children’s Television, winner of the Peabody Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

 

Vin Di Bona, Chairman of the prestigious Caucus for Television Producers, Writers, and Directors, winner Emmy and Peabody Awards, creator and producer of “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”

 

John Connolly, actor, President of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).

 

Blake Edwards, award-winning director, writer, producer, one of only three recipients of the prestigious Preston Sturges Award given jointly by the DGA and WGA, awarded the French Legion of Honor, winner of the French Cesar.

 

Diane English, multiple Emmy-winning writer and producer, creator of “Murphy Brown.”

 

Jonathan Estrin , Executive V.P., American Film Institute, Writer/producer/director of film and television, winner of WGA awards, nominated for Emmys and Golden Globes.

 

Tom Fontana, Emmy, Peabody, and Humanitas Award-winning writer and producer of “Oz,” “Homicide: Life on the Street,” and “St. Elsewhere.”

 

Marshall Goldberg, award winning writer, (”Life Goes On,” “LA Law,” “The Paper Chase,” “Newhart,” attorney, Chairman of the Writer’s Guild Industry-Health Fund and Producer – Writers Guild Pension Plan.

 

Roger Gimbel , Emmy award-winning independent producer.

 

Craig Haffner, President & CEO Greystone Television , Emmy Award winning Producer.

 

Leonard Hill, prolific producer and leading member of the prestigious Caucus for Television Producers, Writers, and Directors.

 

Gregory Allen Howard, screenwriter, “Ali,” and “Remember the Titans,” winner of Christopher Award and NAACP Image Award. Winner, Howard University’s Paul Robeson Award.

 

Gerald Isenberg, Professor, USC School of Cinema – Television, award-winning producer of over one hundred feature and television films, former President of Hearst Entertainment, former Chairman, The Caucus for Television Producers, Writers, and Directors.

 

Martin Kaplan, Associate Dean, USC Annenberg School For Communication and Director, The Norman Lear Center (as well as a screenwriter).

 

Richard Masur, actor, director, former President, Screen Actors Guild.

 

Mary McCormack, star of “K Street” on HBO, critically acclaimed stage, screen, and television actor.

 

Dorothea G. Petrie, Emmy award winning producer.

 

Frank Pierson, Oscar-winning writer, director, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the “Oscars”).

 

Sarah Pillsbury, Oscar and Emmy winning producer.

 

Marian Rees, renowned independent producer of “Miss Rose White,” “Love is Never Silent,” “Decoration Day,” “A Son’s Promise,” and other films that have garnered eleven Emmy Awards and thirty-six Emmy Nominations, two Golden Globe Awards, six Christopher Awards, the Humanitas Prize, and a Peabody.

 

David W. Rintels, multiple Emmy and Peabody-winning writer-producer, “Darrow,” “Sakharov,” “Andersonville,” “World War II: When Lions Roared.”

 

Victoria Riskin, Past President of the Writers Guild of America, west, and award winning writer-producer.

 

Allen Sabinson, Dean of Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, former President of Production at Miramax Film and senior executive at A&E, TNT, ABC, ICM, NBC and Showtime.

 

James Sadwith, Emmy-award winning director for “Sinatra,” writer, producer.

 

Sissy Spacek, Oscar-winning actress.

 

Sander Vanocur, a forty-year veteran of print and broadcast journalism, including work for The New York Times and Washington Post, NBC and ABC News.

 

Paul Wagner, Oscar-winning writer-producer-director of documentary and dramatic independent films.

 

 

Their Organization has just announced support of our efforts to stop Time Warner Cable from closing down the Public Access Studios in Los Angeles!

 

The Center for Creative Voices in the Media  http://www.creativevoices.us/

           has already sent their letter to Attorney General Brown requesting he act on our request to keep the studios open!

 

In Your Corner

 

David Hernandez President-Los Angeles Public Access Coalition

 

Leslie Dutton-Full Disclosure Network

http://www.fulldisclosure.net/

 

The Caucus

http://www.caucus.org/index.html

 

Stanley Sheinbaum

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Stanley_K._Sheinbaum

 

Ed Asner

 

Center for Creative Voices in the Media

 http://www.creativevoices.us/

 

(The list is growing daily)

 

 

 

December 24, 2008

 

Attorney General Jerry Brown

Attorney General’s Office, California Department of Justice

Attn: Public Inquiry Unit P.O. Box 944255

Sacramento, CA 94244-2550

 

Dear Attorney General Brown:

 

We urge you to take immediate action to prevent Time Warner Cable’s

December 31, 2008 closure of fourteen Public Access studios and channels in the

Los Angeles area. This abrupt and unjustified action will be extremely harmful to

independent media artists, and even more harmful to the public.

 

The Center for Creative Voices in Media is a nonpartisan nonprofit 501(c)(3)

organization founded to preserve in America’s media the original, independent, and

diverse creative voices that enrich our nation’s culture and safeguard its democracy.

We chose the word “preserve” because those voices have been under relentless

assault the past several years as a result of the unprecedented consolidation and

concentration of media into a handful of giant conglomerates.

 

Public Access channels are a critical means of avoiding the chokehold that

these media leviathans, including Time Warner and its corporate cousin Time

Warner Cable, have over cable and broadcast television. The public interest

requires that they be permitted to continue to operate so that independent voices

can continue to reach an audience over television. This is most especially true in

Los Angeles, the home to so much of the television and video industry. If Public

Access is eliminated in Los Angeles, then Big Media will try to eliminate it

everywhere. Free speech will suffer throughout the nation and the public will be the

poorer.

 

We ask you to act positively upon the urgent request for injunctive and other

relief that you received from the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers &

Directors in a letter dated December 10, 2008.

Time is of the essence. We look forward to your immediate positive

response.

 

Sincerely,

Jonathan Rintels

Executive Director

 

 

Cc: Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa

Ed Reyes, LA City Council

Wendy Greuel, LA City Council

Dennis Zine, LA City Council

Tom LaBonge, LA City Council

Jack Weiss, LA City Council

Tony Cardenas, LA City Council

Richard Alarcon, LA City Council

Jan Perry, LA City Council

Janice Hahn, LA City Council

Bernard Parks, LA City Council

Herb Wesson, LA City Council

Greig Smith, LA City Council

Bill Rosendahl, LA City Council

Eric Garcetti, LA City Council

Jose Huizar, LA City Council

Mark Ridley-Thomas, LA County Board of Supervisors

 

 

Call to the Attorney General

LOS ANGELES PUBLIC ACCESS

COALITION

(LAPAC)
David Hernandez, President
P O Box 9158
No. Hollywood

91609
818-448-3403

 

 

 

December 8, 2008

 

 

Honorable, Edmund G. Brown Jr.

Attorney General of California

California Department of Justice

PO Box 944255

Sacramento, CA 94244-2550                                      BY FEDERAL EXPRESS MAIL

 

 

Attention:Attorney General Brown      Urgent Action Requested

 

Re: Time Warner Public Access Studios and Channels, City of Los Angeles

 

Dear  Attorney General  Brown,

We are writing to you with the greatest sense of urgency.  As the States’ top law enforcement official only you can stop what most certainly will be travesty on December 31, 2008 if Time Warner Cable, who has notified the city of Los Angeles, is permitted to close down all fourteen public access studios and channels on that date.

The Los Angeles City Council has failed to take any action to replace the facilities leaving thousands of public access producers and millions of cable subscribers in the dark, withith  fourteen channels and studios where vital public programming has been produced and cablecast for over 25 years. The Los Angeles City Attorney as failed to take action to protect the public from losing these vital public assets.

The issue has sat in committee for over a year and at this late date the council has referred it to a second committee, just days before the closing is to take place, without the benefit of either a Financial Impact Report or Community Impact Report.

 Page 2

Under the 2007 enacted DIVC legislation, the City will be responsible for establishing the public access facility/capacity as of January 1, 2009, but no actions have been approved  and there has been no proper evaluation and assessments for the financial resources needed to implement and sustain such an operation.

The same can be said for the impact on the public welfare. Without a community impact report, our council members can not determine with any accuracy the full extent of the loss to the community.

We realize the process has started and there will be a resolution at some point but for now, we are faced with the clear and immediate fact that the studios will be closing in less than three weeks with no plan, process or procedure in place and the certaintinty that entire public access will be shut down, harming the residents of the City of Los Angeles.

The studios should not close until the public’s rights have been are secured and replacement of the lost facilities are in place.

Therefore we are respectfully requesting you take the following action on behalf of the residents of Los Angeles:

 FILE FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF under California Business & Professions Code 17200 section 3. The basis for this action is as follows:

California’s unfair competition statute, Business and Professions Code sections 17200-17208, like  its federal counterpart, section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act(15U.S.C  Section 45 et seq), serves as a general prohibition on unfair and deceptive business practices and also as an antitrust law.

 Section 17200 defines “unfair competition” to include any “unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice” as well as “unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading “.There are five potentially distinct theories of liability under section 17200.

1.     Unlawful business acts or practice;

2.     Unfair business acts or practice;

3.     Fraudulent business acts or practice;

4.     Unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising; and

5.     False advertising and related practices covered by B&P 17500-17577

 

The broad purpose of Business and Professions Code section 17200 is “to permit tribunals to enjoin on-going wrongful business conduct in whatever context such activity might occur.”(People v. McKale (1979) 25 Cal.3d 626 In particular the purpose of the “unlawful” practice provision it “to extend the meaning of unfair competition to anything that can properly be called a business practice.

 The U.S. Supreme Court in FTC v Sperry & Hutchinson, 405 U.S. 233, 244(1972), in which the Court held that FTC Act Section 5 could reach beyond “the letter and spirit” of existing trade regulation laws to other wrongful business practices. The Sperry & Hutchinson noted the relevant factors for determining unfairness to be: “(1) whether the practice offends public policy, (2) whether it is immoral, unethical, oppressive, or unscrupulous; (3) whether it causes substantial injury to consumers.

 Page 3

In brief, the court must weigh the utility of the defendant’s conduct against the gravity of the harm to the alleged victim.

 Here, the action of closing fourteen public access studios and channels offends public policy , is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous and causes substantial injury to consumers who will be prevented from viewing independent programs on the City public access channels. The gravity of the harm to consumers outweighs any benefit to Time-Warner.

 

We are  requesting that you file for a Temporary Restraining Order against Time Warner to continue the service until such time as the City has provided alternative and equal facilities.

 

On behalf of the Coalition, associated listed below, and all  Public Access Producers, Community Advocates and subscribers thank you for the consideration you will give to this vital and time sensitive matter.

 

 

 

 

David Hernandez, Chairman

Los Angeles Public Access Coalition (LAPAC)

PO Box 9158,

North Hollywood, CA 91609

818 448 3403

 

Associates of LAPAC         Missy Woodward                                                                                                Leslie Dutton, Producer Critter Crusades                                                                                                 Full Disclosure Network      Dr. Dan Wiseman                                                                                 Charlotte Laws, Producer You’re Neighborhood Council   Kevin McKenna, Producer                                                                 Dr. Susan Block, Producer Executive Director IDEAS   Charlie Mount                                                                                      Elaine  Brown CLASSIC ARTS SHOWCASE    Lady Cage-Barile, Producer                                                                              Keith Hardine   Michael Cohen, Producer                                                                  Shane Devins, Producer

 

               

 

LOS ANGELES PUBLIC ACCESS

COALITION

(LAPAC)
David Hernandez, President
P O Box 9158
No. Hollywood

91609
818-448-3403 

 

November 30, 2008

 

Rocky Delgadillo

Los Angeles City Attorney

200 North Main Street

Los Angeles, California 90012

 

 Attention: Mr. Delgadillo,

Re:            Public Access Studios

                 Request for Action

 

Dear Mr. Delgadillo,

As a long time community advocates who have witnessed first hand the value of Public Access, we look to you for help.

 

On December 3, 2008 the Los Angeles City Council will be hearing the public access issue once again and could take action which will allow a vital public asset to be compromised.

 As Time Warner Cable has announced it will be closing fourteen public access studios on December 31, 2008, the welfare of those who produce, participate and view public access television will be gravely impacted.

The issue has moved forward from committee without the benefit of either a Financial Impact Report or Community Impact Report. As the City will be responsible for establishing the public access facility/capacity, no action can be taken without the proper evaluation and assessments for the financial resources needed to implement and sustain such an operation.

The same can be said for the impact on the public welfare. Without a community impact report, our council members can not determine with any accuracy the full extent of the loss to the community.

 

Page 2

I realize the process is in motion and there will be a resolution at some point but for now, we are faced with the clear and immediate fact that the studios will be closing in less than one month with no process or procedure in place to insure the transition does not adversely impact the residents of Los Angeles. The studios should not close until our rights are secured.

 Therefore I am respectfully requesting you take the following action on behalf of the residents of Los Angeles:

 FILE FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF under California Business & Professions Code 17200 section 3. The basis for this action is as follows:

California’s unfair competition statute, Business and Professions Code sections 17200-17208, like  its federal counterpart, section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act(15U.S.C  Section 45 et seq), serves as a general prohibition on unfair and deceptive business practices and also as an antitrust law.

 Section 17200 defines “unfair competition” to include any “unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice” as well as “unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading “.There are five potentially distinct theories of liability under section 17200.

1.     Unlawful business acts or practice;

2.     Unfair business acts or practice;

3.     Fraudulent business acts or practice;

4.     Unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising; and

5.     False advertising and related practices covered by B&P 17500-17577

The broad purpose of Business and Professions Code section 17200 is “to permit tribunals to enjoin on-going wrongful business conduct in whatever context such activity might occur.”(People v. McKale (1979) 25 Cal.3d 626 In particular the purpose of the “unlawful” practice provision it “to extend the meaning of unfair competition to anything that can properly be called a business practice.

The U.S. Supreme Court in FTC v Sperry & Hutchinson, 405 U.S. 233, 244(1972), in which the Court held that FTC Act Section 5 could reach beyond “the letter and spirit” of existing trade regulation laws to other wrongful business practices. The Sperry & Hutchinson noted the relevant factors for determining unfairness to be: “(1) whether the practice offends public policy, (2) whether it is immoral, unethical, oppressive, or unscrupulous; (3) whether it causes substantial injury to consumers. In brief, the court must weigh the utility of the defendant’s conduct against the gravity of the harm to the alleged victim.

Here, the action of closing fourteen public access studios and channels offends public policy , is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous and causes substantial injury to consumers who will be prevented from viewing independent programs on the City public access channel. The gravity of the harm to consumers outweighs any benefit to Time-Warner.

 

Page 3

I am requesting that you file for a Temporary Restraining Order against Time Warner to continue the service until such time as the City has provided alternative and equal facilities.

I as well as Public Access Producers, Community Advocates and subscribers thank you for the consideration you will give to this vital and time sensitive matter.

David Hernandez, Chairman

Los Angeles Public Access Coalition (LAPAC)

PO Box 9158,

North Hollywood, CA 91609

818 448 3403

 

               

Associates of LAPAC   Missy Woodward                                                                                                Leslie Dutton, Critter Crusades                                                                                            Full Disclosure Network      Dr. Dan Wiseman                                                                                 Charlotte Laws You’re Neighborhood Council   Kevin McKenna, Producer                                                                 Dr. Susan Block Executive Director IDEAS   Charlie Mount                                                                                      Elaine  Brown CLASSIC ARTS SHOWCASE    Lady Cage-Barile                                                                                 Keith Hardine   Michael Cohen                                                                                     (Partial Listing)

 

 

 

 

Alert-PEG Agenda item will not be heard tomorrow!

 

Alert- Tomorrows Public Access City Council

Agenda item rescheduled

 

 

Confrimation e-mail exchange between David Hernandez and Mr. Eduardo Hewitt of Councilmember Cardenas office. More to follow.

*********************************************************************

 

David

 

It is true. This item will be continued to next Tuesday, December 2, 2008. We wanted to ensure PEG Advocates enough time to comment before the council.

 

Eduardo

—–Original Message—–

From: “drhassoc@earthlink.net” <drhassoc@earthlink.net>

To: <drhassoc@earthlink.net>

To: Eduardo Hewitt <Eduardo.Hewitt@lacity.org>

 

Sent: 11/24/2008 10:41:28 AM

Subject: Tomorrows City Council meeting Agenda item #16

 

Good morning Mr. Hewit.

 

I was planning on attending tomorrows city council meeting to address item number 16 file number 06-2818 having to do with Public Access.

 

I have heard there was a possibility it will be rescheduled until after the holidays but have been unable to confirm this via the city clerk or legislative assistant. Can you please advise if it will go as scheduled or will it be moved to another day.

 

Thank You,

 

David Hernandez

818 448 3403

 

 

Call to action!

Release Date: November 21, 2008

L A CITY COUNCIL TO SEIZE PUBLIC CABLE CHANNELS

http://www.fulldisclosure.net/news/2008/11/l-city-council-to-seize-public-cable.html

 

Internet Exclusive: Video News Blog (12 min)

http://fulldisclosure.net/Blogs/61.php

Los Angeles, CA. The Full Disclosure Network® presents an exclusive video report on how the L. A. City Council is prepared  to seize control of the public access cable channels.  Having conducted almost invisible public input and debate on 2007 state legislation that revised the City’s franchising powers regarding public access requirements, this video reveals the City is going to take over control of the public channel operations and content. 

 

Under the City plan, Time Warner will apparently go unchallenged regarding the closing of all fourteen public access cable studios and channels previously required under cable franchise agreements.   Instead, the city is opting for only four government controlled channels.  Local public cable television producers who oppose the city’s seizure of the channels are looking into to legal action to restore  the 14 public channels.

 

Appearing  in this 12  minute Video News Blog are: :

 

·        Councilman Tony Cardenas,  Chairman Council Committee on ITA

·        David R. Hernandez,  Civic Activist &  Producer http://savepublicaccess.wordpress.com/

·        Morris Griffen, Community Activist & Producer

·        Devon Shane,  Independent Producer  

·        Leslie Dutton,  Full Disclosure Network Producer & Host   

·        ITA Staff members and Representative from the City Attorney’s office.

 

 

The City plan makes no requirement for a dedicated channel for public use.  The recommendation was approved the Council Committee on Information Technology Agency & General Services (ITAGS) on Tuesday, November 11, 2008.  With the apparent backing of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and after  the proposal sat  “in committee”  for almost two years, an ITA staff member finally and publicly presented a report to Council Committee members  Bernard Parks and  Chairman Tony Cardenas, who appeared , in the video, to be surprised about the impending death of the public access cable channels.

 

The Council Committee’s action is expected to be ratified at a meeting of the full Council on Tuesday, November 25 (agenda item 16).

  

At the end of the video viewers are asked to click on the link below where they can send an automated letter to each and every one of the City Council members, City Attorney, City Controller and the Mayor.

#####

FOR GOVERNMENT USE