To the Editor:

When I listen to the radio, I might listen to B.93 for 80’s music or another music station for entertainment. But often, I listen to NCPR when I’m interested in hearing what’s out there in the world. I might learn about a unique bird or vicariously enjoy an Adirondack hiking trail adventure. Recently, I discovered that we can see the International Space Station overhead from the Potsdam area without a telescope and how the recent Beaver Moon occurs.

NCPR also teams up with the BBC, which offers global news, and covers news events on the federal, state, and local levels. Valuable and timely information about Covid and other scientific issues have been offered through Science Friday shows and others.

Every afternoon, different kinds of music are featured. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don’t, but I’m offered the chance to give something different a chance.

We know that Martha Foley’s use of her legacy NCPR email to solicit votes in the last election was wrong and stupid. She knows it too and has apologized, and NCPR and St. Lawrence University are working to prevent this kind of misuse again.

But now there are calls to defund or dismantle NCPR altogether, with Ms. Foley’s misdeed as the reason. One of the loudest voices has been from Congresswoman Stefanik, who is obviously using this incident as part of her re-election strategy and to again prove her Trump bona fides. What she and undoubtedly some of the recent letter writers really have in mind is they perceive an opportunity to silence what they consider a liberal media source.

The point is that when I listen to NCPR, my mind is expanded. I realize that there is a lot going on in the world and our little corner of it. If you don’t care for that, change the station.

But if Congresswoman Stefanik and others have their way, we’d just have state-run media with just one perspective allowed, a hallmark of a dictatorship. If they’re so convinced that they are right, then why are they afraid of NCPR? Could they possibly change their minds about something if they are exposed to NCPR?

For a small staff, I think it is amazing how far-ranging the NCPR offerings are. They deserve our support, so instead of defunding NCPR, please donate to NCPR. My check is on its way.

Christina Lesyk
Norwood