For years
KCSM-FM has been promoting jazz, one of the few indigenous
American art forms. Because
KCSM-FM plays local jazz musicians as well as nationally and
internationally known artists, it helps keep the local jazz
scene alive.
The station
provides both education and public service with one of only
three 24-hour all-jazz radio stations in the United States. The station is an
ambassador of good will and reputation for the College of San
Mateo, as KCSM-FM is streamed worldwide on the Internet.
The recent dismissal of part-time announcers on KCSM has
resulted in a loss of some of the station’s most enthusiastic
and knowledgeable personnel.
Reducing
live radio programming will harm the Bay Area. We need a jazz
radio station. Without
it, One of America’s great art forms is done irreparable harm,
especially to the Bay Area jazz scene. It will also hurt
the College of San Mateo’s reputation, and a good reputation
is both easily lost and extremely hard to win back.
I have
donated to KCSM-FM for many years. If you move away from an all-jazz format
or worse yet sell the station, not only will I no longer
donate to KCSM but am unlikely to support College of San Mateo
in general.
Respectfully
yours,
Kurt Ribak
Bassist, Bandleader, Songwriter