Dear Martin Miller,

I am horrified to hear that after so many years, WFCR could possibly even consider cutting back the hours of Tertulia, it's ONLY program of COMMUNITY Latino content and input. As I understand the mission of WFCR, it has an obligation and, I thought, a committment to the community in which it is situated; without so much as even consulting the valley's Latino community, I cannot see how a cutback such as proposed is in any way responsive to the concerns or needs of the Latino community, its friends, and its supporters, in the Pioneer Valley.

I cannot possibly imagine that the purchase of a nationally syndicated program out of Washington, D.C. is a money saver. Since Tertulia itself represents less than one percent of Spanish language programming in the area's public radio station, despite its strong signal heard across 5 states and over the web, I am skeptical of the pressing financial constraints that is supposed to represent. Indeed, even if it were a slight savings, I, like my New England grandmother, would call that for what it is, penny wise and pound foolish. I am aware that the "substitute" program, emanating from Washington, does not come cheap--in fact, it is more expensive--whereas the contributions of community members who have given time and energy to make Tertulia so special has been at no cost to the station. The quality of Tertulia has remained unsurpassed, and, with its staff, highly professional. TERTULIA makes freedom of expression a reality for a segment of the population all too often silenced and misrepresented by the mainstream media--what is worse is to pit a nationally syndicated, indeed purchased, program against the voices of the local community. That is shameful.

Indeed, I have often wondered why WFCR is so diffident about its treasures: if one must syndicate any Spanish-language program, it should be Tertulia. Tertulia has wide appeal, locally, nationally and even internationally. (Considering that for the last ten years, as a former Valley resident, I listened to Tertulia from New York City and that for the last almost four years, I have been living in Istanbul and can and do listen via the Web, that is wide indeed.)

We who are amigos de Tertulia (friends of Tertulia) worldwide demand that you to to engage with the Latino community and friends in the Valley, and keep Tertulia intact and restore it to its full four-hour length.

Dr. Bronwyn Mills
Istanbul, Turkey