February 17,1997
Honorable Thomas M. Menino
Boston City Hall
One City Hall Square
Boston, Ma. 02201 Dear Mayor Menino:
Mass. M.I.C., the Massachusetts Music Industry Coalition, is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of free speech. We work primarily on music issues such as the ban on rap music at Emerson College in 1995, the Metropolitan District Commission ban on alternative music concerts on the Esplanade in 1996, and currently on a move by the religious right to ban a Marilyn Manson concert in Fitchburg, Ma. As you can imagine my work often involves interaction with Massachusetts teenagers.
Working as the Executive Director of Mass. M.I.C., as the former Young Adult Librarian in Leominster, Ma., and as a parent of four children ages 7 to 22, I am very familiar with the issues that concern young people today: sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, gang violence, and drug abuse. Your recent order to install blocking software in Boston Public Library computers disturbs me greatly. Cyber Patrol along with other brands of blocking (censoring) software prevents access to the majority of web sites dealing with the topics I mentioned above. These subjects are the most difficult for parents to discuss with their children. The public library can often be the only source of information on life issues for teens. Your decision to censor Internet access in the Boston Public Library severely impacts the education and safety of Massachusetts teens.
The cultural world of the teenager often centers on popular music, art, and literature. Access to cutting edge art is decimated by blocking software. Our teenagers will be a great disadvantage in the competition for higher education because of the limitations this censorship puts on their cultural viewpoint.
Boston is the higher education center of this country. Boston and Massachusetts are famous for their dedication to the pursuit of education and liberty. Your decision to install blocking software at Boston Public Libraries is a serious mistake. Instead of leading our young people into the 21st century you are pushing them into the past.
Please reconsider your action. My organization stands ready to assist you in reevaluating this issue and I would be honored to serve on your reevaluation committee.
Sincerely,
Nina Crowley, Executive Director, Mass. M.I.C.