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Town attorney urges policy before allowing businesses on Greenburgh cable-access show
Summary
Supervisor proposed featuring new and existing businesses on the town cable-access program; the town attorney advised that community programming differs from commercial advertising and recommended developing a clear policy and legal review before permitting promotion on air.
Supervisor (speaker 2) raised a proposal for the town cable‑access program to highlight new and existing businesses to promote local economic development.
The town attorney (speaker 11) cautioned there is "a difference between doing something like that to have a discussion about the community as opposed to having commercials airing on the screen." He recommended legal review and said commercial promotion that functions as advertising would violate the town’s cable agreements and suggested the board develop a policy that allows community‑oriented discussion without providing paid advertising on the public channel.
Board members suggested using the town’s economic development website to list available commercial spaces and to coordinate appearances so the access show is inclusive rather than preferential. The supervisor said he will coordinate with staff and clear guests in advance of tapings.
Next steps: the board instructed staff to draft a policy that clarifies the line between community promotion and commercial advertising and to consult with the town attorney as needed.
