Free Cable Television Service at Risk for those in Public Housing

Columbia, Missouri Daily Tribune ^ | 8.21.2003 | Dave Moore

[rwfromkansas]

We don't have cable due to the cost (it is either DSL or cable tv and DSL wins).

The idea that that fat slob can't live without cable television is disgusting.

Make her pay for it on her own. If she dies, so what.

[freeangel]

I was thinking the same thing. If she is counting twinkies as groceries--it could be a good thing.

[DeFault User]

The matter has been referred to the council’s cable television committee.

Ahhh, the age of specialization. They've got a committee on cable tv and can't figure out why they were getting free service from the cable company. Somebody had to wire all those apartments and it didn't occur to anybody that they weren't paying for it. Just assumed it was a civil right, I suppose, like free internet, free telephone, free utilities and free medical care. It must me right there in the Constitution. Oooops, they lost their copy of that, too?

[azhenfud]

Looks like her "free" service may also be a hugh health risk. They should disconnect it before more series harm is done or risk large suits.

[Tacis]

Hey, there is an obvious way out of this. The two locations continue to get the service for free and the city government will pick up the tab. No, no problem. Happy to do it. The city has money and, well, they have need. And, before too long, there will be three city employees handling the arrangements and the cost to the city per apartment will be about twice the cost of each individual paying for it himself. The "premium" will go to cash payments to the city manager and goodies for members of the city council. It isn't fair that the really juicy perqs go to the politicians and public employees in the jourisdictions hosting a professional sports franchise. Cable contracts are a way to provide some equity.

[TheBigB]

You DO however have the right to sing the blues and paint the walls (no loud colors) and by God I will NOT argue about this. :)

[AppyPappy]

You guys are iceholes.

Clearly, she is pregnant.

[gsrinok]

don't they have a lot of nerve getting pissed off about anything since they get everything for free already.

That's the welfare mentality - gimme, gimme, gimme, never mind that I don't want to earn my way or contribute anything to society. They've had everything handed to them, and they don't know (or care) how to do anything for themselves. After all, the government teat will never run dry.

[Texan5]

Lyndon Johnson's "great society", also known as the biggest mistake made by a president in the history of this country created a whole culture of entitlement. I think some "tough love" is needed to turn it around. Just let them suck their thumbs and cry themselves to sleep a few times, and when the cable doesn't come back on, they'll have to amuse themselves.

[junkyarddawg]

next she will want to sue the cable company for making her fat. she did't exercise because she was watching cable t.v.

[dljordan]

Look at it this way, it probably lowers the crime rate in the area.

[Drango]

Clearly, she is pregnant.

What? now we gotta pay for that too?

[auboy]

Virginia Piltz is confined to a motorized cart and hampered by the crumbling sidewalks and curbs around her Paquin Tower apartment as well as handicap-inaccessible stores and restaurants.

Those evil stores and restaurants. And the crumbling sidewalks and curbs are part of a VRWC, no doubt. /sarcasm

Piltz is on a fixed income, and if she had to pay for cable TV, she’d have to go without groceries if she wanted cable, she said.

From the photo, a fixed diet might allow her enough extra to pay for her cable.

Chiles raised the issue in a hearing on the renewal of Mediacom’s franchise contract with Columbia. Already, Mediacom has taken heat from local public-access cable proponents who claim the firm hasn’t taken seriously its requests to establish a public-access cable channel. The council is considering whether to renew Mediacom’s cable contract with the city, where there are 46,000 subscribers.

IOW, it's our way or the highway, Mediacom.

[LibertyGirl77]

If that woman is pregnant, I'll eat my shoe.

[Dianna]

Virginia Piltz is confined to a motorized cart and hampered by the crumbling sidewalks and curbs around her Paquin Tower apartment as well as handicap-inaccessible stores and restaurants.

How unfortunate that this article didn't bother to tell us why Ms Piltz is confined to a motorized cart. Does she have a health problem which precludes her from walking? Is the inability to be active a partial cause of her weight problem? Or has she simply gotten large and now has a hard time getting around, thus she'd rather stay at home watching free tv?

I have true sympathy for people with health issues which confine them. I'd hope that good meaning people could work together (voluntarily) to help this woman get out of her home and out in the world. Surely that is better than giving her free tv so she stays at home and her problems worsen?

[It's me]

Piltz is on a fixed income, and if she had to pay for cable TV, she’d have to go without groceries if she wanted cable, she said.

"I’d go nuts if I didn’t have it," Piltz said.

I just couldn't read the entire article. Has she ever heard of the library? The books are free and she might learn something and expand her mind!

[Leroy S. Mort]

Clearly, she is pregnant

With what? A Segway?

[madison10]

You guys are iceholes. Clearly, she is pregnant

I do hope you are kidding! Anyway, pregnant with what? She's too old to be pregnant.

[azhenfud]

That's a "Haul-a-Bout".

[auboy]

Clearly, she is pregnant.

I worked with a woman for four years who has a similar build. During that time, she had two pregnancies. No one could visibly tell she was pregnant either time. The only proof that she was pregnant, was when she brought her babies to the office to meet her co-workers.