31 Jul 2003 PBS & Rockefeller: Presence of Hispanic Laborers Might Inconvenience NewsHour Guests

Our E.D. David Almasi spots a case of limousine liberalism:

NIMBY stands for Not-In-My-Back-Yard, a typical suburban opposition to new development or change to the surroundings. In suburban DC, the local PBS affiliate is engaging in a bit of NIMBYism related to immigration rights, something it would normally support (to the extent that taxpayer-funded public television engages in advocacy – wink, wink).

PBS programs such as Washington Week, Frontline and the NewsHour are quick to take the Bush Administration to task on issues such as granting more rights to undocumented aliens and more stringent post-9/11 standards on Middle Eastern travelers, but God forbid people gather next door to the PBS studios in the hope of finding a job!

This is posted on the DCRTV web site, a gossip site dedicated to the local

DC media:

“WETA Frowns On Plan For Day Laborer Facility (7/31)” – The Northern Virginia Journal reports that WETA is not too happy about Arlington County’s plan to build a $100,000-plus pavilion for day laborers adjacent to the public TV/FMer’s Shirlington office and studio complex. Recently testifying before the county board, WETA CEO Sharon Percy Rockefeller predicted a “pretty hostile environment” for Channel 26 and FM 90.9 employees who could be accosted by day laborers (mainly immigrant Hispanic men waiting for work) while walking from one building to another. According to the Journal, Rockefeller added that putting the facility near WETA’s south Arlington complex would also inconvenience high-profile guests who arrive to be interviewed on the “NewsHour,” which is produced by WETA for PBS…”

WETA has a long-running “Hometown Heroes” segment that it runs throughout its broadcast day. Here are a few past heroes it might want to consult to increase “sensitivity”:

Sonia Gutierrez (11/02): provides adult education to immigrants

Tuyet Bach Tran (3/02): advocate for Vietnamese immigrants

Beatriz Otero (6/02): founder of the Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center

Pilar Laugel (1/99): now-retired teacher who specialized in helping Immigrants

Doesn’t this take the cake.