TV watchers in the Town of Smithtown now have something else besides infomercials upon which to rest bleary eyes.
A new interview show called “Local Views” will debut Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on public access station Channel 20.
Usually only town residents can view the show, but it does air in some areas of Brookhaven. James Teese, a local writer who has worked on several political campaigns, will be the host although others may substitute as needed.
Producer Lenore Cernitz said the show will consist of discussions about the town, its government and civic issues. The first guests will be Superintendent of Highways Dan Ryan, former town board member Jane Conway and Paul Borowski, a banker who has become involved in the Iroquis pipeline issue.
“I didn’t always find that the news media picked up all the stories all the time,” Cernitz said. “Since there are so many stories, I looked for another outlet, and since I was [attending] the town board meetings, it came in a flash. I have an opportunity here.”
Stacey Altherr
Cernitz has become known at town board meetings as a critic of Supervisor Patrick Vecchio and an ally of town board member Joanne Gray.
Cernitz has spoken critically of the town’s handling of the suspension of former building inspector/director Robert Bonerba, and the town’s refusal to comply with her Freedom of Information requests for the subpoena issued to the town for Bonerba’s records. She said that the show, however, will be a non-partisan discussion of civic activism and other things of interest to the residents of Smithtown.
“I don’t want politicians to come to posture, but to talk about the issues,” she said.
The half-hour show will air Thursdays at 7 a.m.; Fridays at 4 a.m.; Saturdays at 11:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 10 p.m. The schedule will change in April.