Sweeney Resigns, Says Sullivan's Role
in Duggan Firing "not tolerable"

Lawrence City Councilor Michael Sweeney submitted a scathing letter of resignation to
WCCM station owner Pat Costa this week in protest of the firing of Paying Attention! host Tom Duggan.

The one page typed letter cited Mayor Michael Sullivan's role in Duggan's firing and WCCM's
complicity in Sullivan's actions as the reasons for leaving the station.

"As much as I love your station and enjoyed working at WCCM am1490," the letter read, "I
cannot allow the firing of Mr. Tom Duggan and the inappropriate actions of Mayor Michael
Sullivan go without action on my part."

"The Sweet Spot," which aired from 4-6pm right after paying attention was a high brow, cerebral,
topic oriented program that focused on state and national politics. Sweeney told tommyduggan.com
that he could not "in good conscience work at a station where outside political influences dictated
the content of on air discussions about local issues."

According to Costa, Paying Attention! was canceled on Monday after Mayor Sullivan's "attorney" told him
that Tom Duggan accused the mayor of taking a $5,000 bribe while on the air and that the mayor was going
to sue if Duggan was not fired immediately.

Tapes of the show reveal that no accusation of bribery was ever made against Sullivan, in fact
Duggan defended Sullivan during the controversial show about developer Chris Cox and the
embattled 42-44 Park Street property development. (see related story www.tommyduggan.com/cox.html)

In response to a caller who speculated that Sullivan was "involved" in "dirty dealing" Duggan said,
"I can't believe the Mike Sullivan would be involved with this directly, I would need to see real
evidence, and not anecdotal evidence either, I mean real evidence that Mike is involved directly."

Since being fired Duggan says his firing alone raises even more speculation about what Sullivan knows
and what he is covering up regarding the proposed real estate development on 42-44 Park St.

Duggan was on vacation last week and in his absence WCCM aired a rebroadcast of the show where Duggan
originally broke story about Christopher Cox and his involement with the Sullivan administration, specifically
City Atty. Peter Slipp, Myles Burke, Community Development Director Tom Galligani and Planning Board
member Israel Reyes .

During Sweeney's program Duggan called in from New York to "preview" what was coming up the
following Monday edition of Paying Atention!.

"I hope everyone is listening on Monday because I plan on naming names and reading documents on the air."

Duggan promised to "blow out" more information on his show the following Monday regarding the shady
land deal between Misty Inc., Kenneth O'Connell and Christopher Cox the following Monday.

Monday's show never aired, Duggan was fired an hour before air time.

The text of Councilor Michael Sweeney's letter to WCCM is posted below:


Dear Mr. Costa;

I am resigning from the station effective today. Thank you very much for providing
me the opportunity to work at your station WCCM am1490. The last six months have
been a pleasure for me. Meeting you and the members of your team at WCCM has
been an experience I will long treasure. Each and every member of your station
opened their arms to me and was always very professional. Hopefully in the future
we will have the opportunity to work together again.

As much as I love your station and enjoyed working at WCCM am1490, I cannot
allow the firing of Mr. Tom Duggan and the inappropriate actions of Mayor Michael
Sullivan go without action on my part.

I believe Mr. Duggan has served as a valuable member of the radio station and the
community by asking the hard questions. More people believe in your station because
of Mr. Duggan's efforts. To allow an elected official, Mayor Sullivan, to have the
ability to censor what is on your station and to get employees on the station fired is
not tolerable in my opinion. It goes against the very basic foundation of journalism
and fairness.

Mr. Costa if we all turn our back on the little guy what will become of America?
Things that we love are worth fighting for. As a great man once said, we have to have
the courage of our convictions. In fairness to you and the station I could not continue
to serve in the spirit I had previously. I wish you and the station the best in the future
and I hope that we can work together again.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be a member of the WCCM family.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Sweeney