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Public Comments
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I did not grow up in Cleveland, but upon moving here for school, the very first thing that genuinely made me feel at home was WRUW, and soon after, Cleveland’s deeply-rooted college radio community. As I dug deeper into WRUW, I quickly grew to understand WCSB, and not to count out WJCU, as the friendliest rivals I’ve known in my life. Tuning in to these stations and bouncing around became a part of my daily routine, one that continued until earlier this month. The sheer amount of thrilling music I would likely have never heard otherwise were it not for WCSB was, frankly, among life’s reliant joys, and I’m proud to consider many of the programmers behind the airplay to be among the most brilliant, creative friends and peers I’ve known. And in my travels throughout the U.S. and abroad, Cleveland’s now-once-flourishing and historic college radio scene was one of my foremost points of pride when discussing my adopted hometown.
Beyond the personal anecdotes, as members of council have made mention, WCSB was a vital resource of local and regional community engagement, far beyond the campus of Cleveland State and provided a voice for countless ethnic groups in Cleveland for decades. The sheer history evades my comprehension, as a good amount of it happened before I was born. For all of it to evaporate overnight, for students to be perp walked out by campus police, for nobody on the ground to have notice or deliberation in the process, is insulting, sickening, disturbing, and dangerous. As the leery details of the ordeal continue to emerge, more salt gets dumped callously in the open, untreated wounds of those who volunteered themselves to freeform radio.
I am grateful to see members of council willing to speak out and take action on this matter. I demand full transparency from Cleveland State University and Ideastream, the immediate return of the 89.3-FM frequency to WCSB, and the reopening of its station to its staff and students.
As free speech is actively under fire on the national level, and as we continue to see endless institutions cow-tow in the name of shady financial interests, the sudden silencing of one of Cleveland’s - and the U.S. in general’s - truest outlets for free thought sets a dangerous precedent in dangerous times. I can at least write with confidence that history will continue to find favor in free speech, American college radio, and WCSB.
After nearly three decades of Cleveland taxpayers financing the existing stadium, plus the $33 million the city owes, not to mention the interest, we deserve better. If the Browns can offer a player $250 million, why couldn't the mayor and his team negotiate a more favorable agreement? Furthermore, it's concerning that council was largely excluded from the negotiations. I urge council members to hold out for a better deal that truly benefits the city and its residents.
If the Browns don’t need the stadium after 2029, the city can move forward with redevelopment and the Browns can move forward with providing its first winning season in Brookpark.
I want to back up a previous comment by Dan Hird who puts the situation perfectly:
Independent and student-run media is important to our city and to our communities. CSU stripping WCSB of its programming not only silences the voices of the radio show hosts, but the voices of any artists that were played on those shows. Regardless of how the programming may change from its current smooth jazz focus, CSU students and Cleveland residents will never benefit from the current partnership the way they did with the student-run WCSB. Students having the airwaves means a great deal to many Clevelanders, and we see how seriously the students and independent hosts took on that responsibility. Independent and student-run media will always be more important and impactful than corporate media - where the purpose is to appease as many people as possible or risk hurting the bottom line.
In addition, the community needs transparency on what’s happening.
Thank you for considering taking action.
Jerry Crowe.
Please stop this hostile takeover.Return WCSB to the students.