Letter: Blackmer Outworks Other Candidates

To the Editor:

Being a state legislator, contrary to popular opinion, is a very demanding position. It takes great stamina and an ability to juggle 100 things at once, all the while maintaining a sincere ear to listen to your constituents, colleagues, experts, and especially those who need your help.

Only one of the candidates for the 1st Berkshire state representative has demonstrated the dogged determination to do mountains of hard work, listen, help others and still engage daily with our community. That person is Lisa Blackmer.

There is something about a woman who has made her own name, put herself through school while raising a family (and continues her education to this day), taken care of those around her and succeeded despite many obstacles. Every working woman knows the feeling of exhaustion while there is still work to be done. Lisa is the only candidate working full time and while campaigning. Her endurance has earned my deep respect.

Lisa perseveres and will do so on behalf of those of us in Northern Berkshire County and the entire commonwealth. Join me in voting for her on Oct. 10 and again on Nov. 7.

Robin Meyer
North Adams, Mass.

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.