—  After listening to 10 individuals who spoke on behalf of the radio station, the Port Arthur City Council voted 5-4 Tuesday not to lease the former fire station at the corner of Memorial Boulevard and 32nd Street to “The Breeze” radio station.

Six letters of correspondence from supporters of KSAP 96.9 LPFM “The Breeze” were also read into the record at the meeting.

“We are what we eat, and everything that we eat, we don’t eat by mouth,” Eddie Brown, a Port Arthur resident, said to the council. “The things that we are fed by ear are just as important as the things that we are fed by mouth, and this station actually gives you a lot of positive food through the ear.”

But several council members and the mayor cited liability concerns for their reasons not to pass the motion. Some members of the council were concerned that the city would be liable for comments made on air by radio show personalities. The city attorney said that liability could be an issue due to the potential use of public funds for the radio station.

Stephen Mosley, executive director and founder of “The Breeze,” spoke to the council Tuesday, as well, and a discussion between Mosley and the council followed the petitions made by various community members.

Val Tizeno, city attorney, reminded the council more than once to keep the conversation on topic in terms of the potential lease agreement with the Truth & Education Corp., the formal name of “The Breeze” radio station.

Mayor Deloris “Bobbie” Prince directed the chamber to fall silent and follow the rules of decorum for council meetings more than once, as well.

City Manager Floyd Johnson said that transfer of the property should only be considered and acted upon for a legitimate public purpose once all city use of the property had been exhausted. The building could accomodate more than one particular, public use, he said.

“We must make sure that we are realizing the assets available to the public from the public that have been paid for by the public in the best interest of the public and for a noted public purpose,” Johnson said.

District 4 Councilman Harold Doucet made the motion to lease the fire station to “The Breeze” after hearing testimony from radio station employees and listeners. Councilman Raymond Scott Jr., District 1, seconded the motion.

“It’s only right that this council go back and take a look at what was done. I don’t think it was done properly. I think it was an injustice,” Doucet said. “It wasn’t this council, but this council has an opportunity to right a wrong.”

Scott told the chamber that he would support the radio station in any way he knew how, for it has provided a positive role in the community as an avenue for discussion about religion, politics, employment, education and other public concerns, such as broadcasting warnings during hurricanes.

Council members Doucet and Scott voted for the lease agreement alongside Mayor Pro Tem Willie “Bae” Lewis Jr. and Position 8 Councilman Kerry “Twin” Thomas.

Doucet made the request to discuss the potential lease agreement between the city and the Truth & Education Corp., a nonprofit agency. The city still owns the fire station property.

bcrum@panews.com