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'Banana' Joe Goes To Bat For Local Radio With Hillary Clinton
January 21, 2008 at 5:49 AM (PT)
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"BANANA" JOE MONTIONE of www.flashback40.com and www.bananajoeradio.com, checks in with ALL ACCESS to crow, "I met with our next President, Senator HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY) JANUARY 17th after attending her CSUN (CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY - NORTHRIDGE) Town Hall Meeting. Among other issues, we discussed the situation of lifelong broadcasters such as myself, and the collapse of employment opportunities and job losses due to mass consolidation. She told me she's very aware of our situation, and is in favor of working to create more local jobs and local focus in the industry. She asked me to follow-up with a more detailed account of my observations, and she would respond accordingly."
MONTIONE continued, "She noted that a major reason she added the event at CSUN was that it marked the anniversary of the NORTHRIDGE earthquake on 1/17/1994. I made a point of observing that virtually all LOS ANGELES area stations were live with local talent at that early morning time it hit, and if that event happened TODAY, more than half of the radio stations would be on 'auto pilot' or running canned or national syndication! As a NORTHRIDGE resident and business owner, I relayed my personal experience both as a broadcaster during a major earthquake, and my regret that if it happened TODAY, we would be at a major disadvantage with far fewer outlets to 'serve the public interest' in the face of such a disaster."