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Public Testimony

Mehta says agencies tell him City Hall favors influencers

New York City Council · Oct 28, 2026 · starts 2:11:30 · 2 min 34 sec

Mehta says when he called agencies about advertising, he was told the decisions come from City Hall and favor influencers. He says event access is now pick-and-choose and that ethnic media need support because they reach fast-growing communities.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

The major problem we always are having is after doing the job, we don't get paid.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

It takes us three months, sometimes four months, to even get paid.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And from what I heard, mainstream media get paid in advance.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And I think we deserve that more than ever.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Now, the question was asking here, I heard it.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Who decide who get advertisement.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Since I went to a point that right now I almost going out of business, that's the truth, I did call some agency.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And the answer, and I know it doesn't have nothing to do with Mr.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Mazzone, the answer they give me is,

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

It's from City Hall, the new administration.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

They didn't tell me exactly whom, but what they told me was a couple of agencies that they are more favoring influencers.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

I heard that from them.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

I do have a radio show that I've been doing for 20 years, and we get a website.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And I told them, how come then I don't get advertisement from the website?

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And the question comes again.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

They favored the influencers.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And they don't.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

want to tell, they're telling them who they should give advertisement or not.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

It's clear.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

I don't have nothing to do with Mr.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Mazzone that just started two weeks ago.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

So I would be straight up, I may be wrong, is the new mayor.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

I'm just going straight.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And I try everything to be able to go and cover certain events.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Since Bloomberg, you know, Grace Mission was everybody's house.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

That's what I remember.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Now, when there's even happening, it's a pick and choose.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Even if you click to say, I will come and cover it, it's up to them to tell you if, yes, you are more than welcome to be there or not, which is really unfair.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

So, Madam Chairman, all I can say is, like, it's more than now, more than ever that the ethnic media, we need your support and hoping that the new mayor will understand.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And the African community, the immigrant community, we are the fastest growing community.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And we always, for some reason, be left behind.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

And hear me out.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

We are making the differences.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

I don't know if I'm allowed to say it, but I may say it.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

All these elections that have been going on, we are making the decision.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

If the what's so-called new, fastest-growing communities doesn't vote for you, you likely may not get it.

Bob Hennelly

WBI has a paid SAG after staff of five master control engineers, one news director, a program director, several interns, and dozens of other outlets.

Member of the Public - Kamlesh Mehta

Thank you very much.