Interview with Chuck Lavine, NYS Legislator
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, New York State Assemblyman Charles “Chuck” Lavine discusses the relationship between government and the media with Nancy Oley of the Long Island Media Task Force. Focusing on Long Island, he describes sources for development of legislation and constituent messaging, the successes and failures of local media, the pluses and minuses of social media, fake news, bias in content and coverage, missed stories, net neutrality, protection of journalists, and the case of Julian Assange. Assemblyman Lavine sponsored a resolution commemorating May 3, 2019, as World Press Freedom Day in New York State.
Now libraries are expected to play a key role in the 2020 census. There is a plan to conduct the census largely online, with libraries providing online access for many who would not otherwise have it. Many New Yorkers are concerned about undercounting.
But as the New York Library Association has recently pointed out, the proposed New York State budget for 2020 includes substantial cuts to library funding. And this on top of an existing backlog of funding needed for library upgrades, including internet.
The good news is that activism has helped to restore proposed cuts in previous years. We can help by contacting our representatives in Albany. See Speak Up for Library Aid for more information, and how to take action.