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Boro lawmakers slam radio host

By Nathan Duke

The council members and coalition said WQHT, a popular hip hop station known as Hot 97.1, continually features programming that uses profanity and racially offensive language. The coalition formed a year ago after the station aired the “Tsunami Song,” which Liu said mocked the death of thousands of Asian people in the December 2004 tsunami that devastated large portions of Indonesia, Thailand, India and a number of other Asian countries.The coalition is now calling for the removal of the morning show host and program director, following a December 2005 show in which Miss Jones referred to Transit Workers Union President Roger Toussaint as a “coconut” while she criticized last year's transit strike. Liu said the remark referred to Toussaint's Caribbean origin.Liu said Emmis Communications, the media company that owns the station, should be held primarily responsible for the content of programs on the station.”The Emmis Communications business model is based on creating controversial programming that includes profanity,” he said. “They should be responsible for the profits they are making in New York City.”Reach reporter Nathan Duke by email at [email protected] or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.