16

Vietpers Don’t Get the Whole Picture

(From Page I) •they would like] FIIWT THKY CAjy ioatruct their legialatonj that they want local cable companies to provide enough channels so that they can have the same variety in their televiewihg that people in other parts of the state enjoy * Second, through their own voluntary efforts, they can.rkise private and cor-' porate funds to underwrite the PBS programs 'they ra^flt want 16 see on / Channel 23. The argument that "we will not send contributions because the station isn't giving us the programming we want" can be reversed to say, "We*Will contribute m an organised way so. that we GAN get that programming." ' But-, why should local viewers have to do this; why is there this problem in the first place) IT EXISTS BECAUSE - unlike audiences in every other part of the gtate the people in the southeast corridor,.the shore communities in^Atlantic and Cape ✓May counties, have a limited cable of- • fering and must depend solely on NJN, Channel 23 for their piblic television For the vast majority of people in New Jersey, sandwiched as they are, between New York and Philadelphia, the situation is different Televiewing for them is a good - news/bad news s^ory The good news is they're able to receive the wealth of programming coming from out of state — including the many fine programs on either Channel 13 New York, or Channel 12 Philadelphia The bad news is that none of this programming provides them with a uniquely New Jersey point of view THIS 18 lilE reality with which New Jersey Network operates, and NJN has taken .as its mandate to place a great emphasis on the New Jersey viewpoint At the same time, it wishes to add to — but not duplicate - the programs viewers are already able te-watch from New York and Philadelphia . For example, the vast majority of New Jersey viewers are able to see Bridethead fievitiied on Monday nights on Channel 12 or 13; NJN doesn’t balievQ it quakes serene to offer them exactly the same program at the same time Instead, it follows a * practice called "counter-programming," and schedules Brides head on Sunday evenings., giving most viewer? a second chance to see the show Since programs are very expensive to ; purchase. NJN sometimes prefers to buy shows that won't appear at all on Channel 12 or 13. thus giving audiences wider choices for their televiewing NJN IS VERY concerned, though, with the problems this counter programming presents to viewers in the southeast

corridor, and many programming decisions are made with this area in mind. Most viewers probably, aren't aware that certain programs they're watching are being carried only on Channel .23 and ndt \on NJr^'s other three stations because those programs were acquired specifically for the South Jersey audience which, had aedess to no other public broadcasting channel This is the case currently with A merican PlayhouBe, a new PBS series of outstanding original dramas, broadcast Friday evenings at 9 Since both Channel 12 and Channel 13 are airing the show, NJN decided against carrying it statewide, hut bought it solely, for Channel 23 — so that Cape May and Atlantic County audiences wouldn’t be deprived of the chance to enjoy this widely acclaimed production. ■BEYOND PROVIDING special programming, NJN made a strong commitment to the southeastern part of the state in 1980, with the opening of a news bureau oh the Stockton State College campus in Pomona. Dan Hodgtkn, South Jersey correspondent for the New Jersey Nightly News, works out of the Stockton bureau and has covered such Cape May County stories as New Jersey Transit’s suspension of train service, the effect on the farmers of last summer's draught, and the Coast' Guard's plans.for expansion IT WAS IN CAPE MAY that he interviewed thfe fifth graders whose seashell wreaths' were exhibited in the White House. (And he still talks about his lunch at a Ca|>e May diner, where the waitress thought he and the camera members were Dan Ackroyd and the crew from Saturday Night Live.) His recent story on the ouster industry reflects some feelings he has heard in South Jersey that the area’s needs aren’t being fully met in Trenton. Both the Educational Services Division and the Department of Public Information at NJN employ personnel specifically assigned to the South Jersey area. Mary McPeah. f°r example, is an instructional tv curriculum specialist who offers field - services to school districts in t^e southern . cojunties. - (Nila Aronow is South Jersey community coordinator for N J./Network, and is also available for apeakin&engagements.

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Utility Rate Hike - (FromPagel) v provision 6f service. ’ ’ The' Cape May-Cumberland Senator asserted the legislation is necessary to combat this latest — highly controversial rate increase request — by the Atlantic Electric Company. "THE ENTIRE CURRENT system of the delivery of utility service is being questioned,” Senator-Hurley spid. "The poor, the* average family and the senior citizen are particularly hard hit. They can’t stand an increase at the present

time.!’

. Assemblymen Chinnici and Muziani emphasized the requested hike was the 9th base rate increase within the past 12 years. "First we were told that nuclear power would be the way to reduce costs," Mr. Chinnici. said, "but that simply wasn’t true. The fantastic cost overruns, time delays, and the fact that the nuclear plants are out of service more than they are in servic<f have cost the people more money. It can’t go on. We’re going to fight." Mr. Muziani, who also serves as Mayor of Wildwood^sald he feared higher electric rates would "break the back of taxpayers.” “"V "WHEN THE RATE goes up, tlfc taxpayer loses," the assemblyman explained. ‘iHe pays more for his own service plus he pays higher municipal and county taxes Municipalitie^and counties are forced into) higher costs. Their electric rates go up

too." A

Both Muziani and Chinnici questioned what they called the, coruervaHon theory

promoted by Atlantic Electric.

"The more the people conserve,” the Assemblymen said, "the higher their electric bill. It is working direetjy contrary to the theory. Something is wrong." The legislators stated. . they were pressing for public hearings to be held in heir district. "We have already contacted 'ommissioner Barbara* Curran, Public Advocate Joseph Rodriquez^ and the Administrative Law Division insisting on South Jersey hearings,” Hurley noted.

Behind Bittner OCEAN CITY •‘■i The Republican Club here has thrown its support behind Freeholder Jack-Bittner in the upcoming

City mayoral race.

The chib voted March 8 to support Bittner over City Council President Nicholas Tro^a in the supposedly nonpartisan election. The organization also plans to endorse James Kilpatrick. — a local attorney and ^ity Zoning Board - member — for,councilman-at-large and will hear councilwdman-at-large candidate Jeanne Chinn and any other candidates interested in that position at a

meeting next month.

23-Cent8 Hike MIDDLE TWP. - The Board of Education last week approved a budget up 1671,000 frem last year that will increase the school lax fate 23 cents. All but a couple rents of the* increase — which will hike the rate from $2.05 to $2.28 per $lb0 of assessed valuation — is due fo a $449,406 cut ih state aid. . **

Tourism Funds(FromPige H

Wildwood area businessman, sees the - "Small additional expense" of increased licensing fees’for business as "well worth it." ‘ ‘ • "Increased advertising would bring new customers, he asserted, emphasizing the business community would have a say in how the money is spent. v UNDER THE MUZIANI BILL, the > added licensing assessment would be imposed at a rate determined by the local governing body and established by ordinance — but in no event could it exceed 50 per cent of the license fee on which it is assessed. And the ordinance would also ^ provide for the establishment of a Tourist ^Development Commission — consisting of one municipal official and four members of the local business community — to administer the tourism promotion fundihg. The freshmen lawmaker said his legislation, if signed into 16ty, would allow communities to pool their money from licensing fees if authorities decided it would be more effective to promote a region rather than a single resort. The assemblyman/mayor is hopeful the bill will be parsed bef9re the summer session, and he pointed out that his senior colleague in the lower’ statehouse. Assemblyman Joseph Chinnici of Bridgeton, co-sponsored A-1153; and that . Senator James Hurley of Millville has introduced an iaentical measure in the upper house of the state legislature.

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