In March, direct mail was restored between the United States and Cuba for the first time in a half-century as part of a renewal of ties between the long-time adversaries.
The Martís have since received dozens of letters directly from their audience members on the island. Previously, the letters had to make their way through a number of countries before reaching OCB headquarters in Miami. Most of the letters sent to the Martís address OCB programming and employees, thanking them for their great work in bringing news and information to people in Cuba. A Radio Martí listener in Cardenas in the province of Matanzas, for example, wrote in the letter below that she loves Martí programming and walks 12 blocks to get to a radio owned by one her friends in order to listen to the shows. She requested a radio, and the Martís promptly responded by sending it to her. Through letters, social media and phone calls, the Martís have received 50-57 requests for radios in recent months.
Some of the letters also provide suggestions for new programming, reports on signal strength and details on everyday necessities of life on the island that audience members want to bring to the attention of the Martís.