PORT JERVIS—On the wall of the studio where Daniel “Tony” Cea restarted his “Voice of the People” show April 25 is a poster titled “Years Gone By” with old photographs of people playing music, hosting shows, and working behind the scenes.
Years have gone by since Cea, a Deerpark resident, hosted his live talk show at Access 23 in Port Jervis. Six to be exact.
Cea was told in 2010 that his call-in talk show featuring political commentary that at times focused with a critical gaze on local government, was canceled. His friend and another host at the station, Raymond Bowley, was also removed, allegedly because he stood up for Cea.
In June of 2011, Cea and Bowley filed civil charges against the Board of Directors at Access 23 and two local officials, Karl Brabenec, who was the supervisor of the Town of Deerpark and is now a New York State assemblyman, and Russell Potter, the former mayor of Port Jervis.
The charges allege that Brabenec and Potter used their political influence and promise of funding to pressure the directors of Access 23 to have Cea’s show taken off the air, challenging his first amendment rights to free speech and association.
