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Longtime volunteer says Los Al TV programming freeze blocks community access during election season
Summary
LaSalle/Los Al TV volunteer John Underwood told the council a staff‑imposed production freeze has prevented new community programming and candidate forums during the election cycle and urged the council to restore normal operations quickly.
John Underwood, who identified himself as a longtime LaSalle/Los Al TV volunteer, told the council the city has placed the community television operation on a "production freeze" that has halted new programming, events coverage and the election‑cycle forums that the outlet has historically carried.
"Los Al TV has been frozen out of event calendar, of production, current production, and of this all important election cycle," Underwood said. He asked the council and staff to "consider expediting the return of Los Al TV to proper current operational footing and do so before this election cycle has been expended." Underwood said the channel has historically provided community calendars, candidate forums and event coverage and said the freeze impedes public access to local information.
Staff described the freeze as part of a "broader transition and review process," but Underwood said he fears community access is being restricted beyond what is necessary for administrative review. The council did not announce immediate action on the request during the meeting.
Clarifying details: Underwood said the freeze may be administrative and tied to a transition and review, but he argued the city should not darken the public access channel during an active election season. The transcript did not include a direct response from city staff or a timeline for restoring programming.
