Pablo Rodriguez’ Radio Show on La Mega 94.9 FM Canceled - He Says Money, Others Question Politics
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
Pablo Rodriguez’ Radio Show on La Mega 94.9 FM Canceled - He Says Money, Others Question Politics
“Greetings friends of Dr. Pablo. I am very sorry to inform you that the administration of La Mega 94.9 FM decided to cancel the radio show,” said Rodriguez.
“We are proud of the work accomplished during the pandemic and will continue on the networks,” said Rodriguez, the Medical Director for Community Affairs with Care New England.
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Friends of Rodriguez and his work expressed their disappointment at the news.
“Unfortunately the administration of Hispanic radio is not interested in educating or having an informed audience,” wrote Jose Aleman.
“For me it was the best informative program the station had,” wrote Maria Diaz.
Others, however, had a different take.
“Excellent decision by the administration of the Mega, as some of the shows lean more for the political side than for the informative or entertainment that, after all, is the basis of the radio,” said Edgar Moreno, who has been a radio announcer and worked for Mega.
“He unfortunately occupies that show to talk only about politics, using the virus situation as a pretext,” said Moreno. “Pablo only talks as a Democrat.”
Reynaldo Almonte with Latino Public Radio — who had previously sparred with Rodriguez over control of that station — said that he wondered if politics were at play.
“If you don’t like Donald Trump, that’s your business. But lots of people in the Latino community like Trump,” said Almonte. "[Rodriguez] likes to blow things out of proportion."
“Where were people like Rodriguez when Barack Obama was deporting Latinos left and right?” added Almonte.
"People Know Me," Says Rodriguez
Rodriguez said the decision by Mega, as he was told, was money - not politics.
“It’s always money. There’s just not enough sponsors for medical shows,” Rodriguez told GoLocal, of what he was informed was the reason for the cancellation. “Add to that the sponsors take time to pay.”
Rodriguez, who said he’d had the show on Mega for “around six months” said he did not believe politics were a factor.
“I’ve been in this town 35 years. You’ve lived under a rock if you don’t know me or my views,” said Rodriguez. “Anybody who knows me knows I’ve supported Democrats and Republicans, and fundraised for both Democrats and Republicans.”
Rodriguez, who’s given predominantly to Democrats, contributed to former Republican — turned independent — Lincoln Chafee, for his 2010 run for Governor.
Chafee later appointed him to the board of the then-Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.
“You can’t make everybody happy — but how can you speak about this pandemic and make everybody happy? People need to stop looking at it like it’s political gamesmanship. I’m only focused on health. You can’t couch that,” he said.
Mega did not respond to request for comment at time of publication.