[GPSCC-chat] KPFA in Danger!

[spencerg]

I voted for Tanaka for LSB. Yes. He is reflecting what has been going on 
at KPFA for some time. He reveals some things of which I was unaware. 
Please support this group. It has always puzzled me why some of the 
long-time programmers support Concerned Listeners now under a new name: 
This includes Chris Welch and Mitch Jeserich maybe C. S. Sung.


I believe Tanaka is a creditable source.


Betsy Wolf-Graves


On 6/22/2010 11:09 AM, eameece at sfo.com wrote:
> I'll consider this;
> meanwhile, I hope any greens who are members of our local community
> station KKUP will vote against the current Board. KKUP faces a similar
> problem, except that it is far more severe. The current Board and General
> Manager are oriented only to their own interests, and are depriving the
> station of many programs that used to make the station great. They are
> stuck in their ways and won't innovate. Their membership is dominated by
> corporate engineers. If you are a member, please vote for Allen Leinwand,
> who should bring a fresh voice to the KKUP Board.
>
> Eric the Green
>
>    
>> I know nothing about this except what is in the email
>> below.  If anyone has more info, I would like to hear
>> it.  Others on the list probably would too.  It appears
>> to be a rather serious problem.
>>
>> Greg Jan agrees with the writer, Akio Tanaka, on this.
>>
>> Gerry
>>
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Please post ASAP!: Help Keep KPFA Community Radio - Become a
>> Voting Member Before June 30!
>> Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:26:16 -0700 (PDT)
>> From: Greg Jan
>>
>>
>> -------- Forwarded Message --------
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Fellow Greens (and allies),
>>
>>
>>
>> I need your help in the coming days to help secure the future of a vital
>> media organization: KPFA radio. As you know, a small number of
>> corporations now control most of the media, and even “public” media
>> like
>> NPR fail to challenge the dominance of corporations and the military
>> machine. I'm proud to be associated with KPFA, an institution that does
>> stand uncompromisingly for peace and social justice.
>>
>>
>>
>> Since KPFA's 1999 crisis was resolved, the station has been governed by
>> a Local Station Board (LSB) elected primarily by subscribers. Having an
>> elected board makes KPFA a more democratic organization than most other
>> media. However, in recent elections, there's been a close struggle
>> between advocates of preserving KPFA's status as a community-based
>> institution, versus those who want to make the station more like NPR,
>> and dilute its progressive voice. I and my allies on the Board belong to
>> an alliance called Independents for Community Radio (ICR).
>>
>>
>>
>> Our opponents in recent elections have called themselves the “Concerned
>> Listeners.” Now they've dropped that title and are using a new name,
>> “Save KPFA.” Little wonder they've changed their name this year, given
>> their record. While they held a majority on the LSB in 2008 and 2009:
>>
>>
>>
>> - They ratified budgets that let KPFA operate in the red, quickly
>> depleting a six-figure cash reserve that had taken years to build.
>>
>>
>>
>> - They stubbornly backed an inept General Manager who lost a $375,000
>> donation by letting the check go undeposited.
>>
>>
>>
>> - When Berkeley Police attacked and injured a KPFA volunteer on station
>> premises, they reacted by blaming the victim and blocked a Board
>> investigation.
>>
>>
>>
>> - They supported an attempt to break the Unpaid Staff Organization, the
>> only collective representation for KPFA's volunteer staff (who produce
>> the majority of the station's programs).
>>
>>
>>
>> - They tout “professionalism,” but ignore the many outstanding
>> programs
>> created by unpaid community-based programmers, such as Africa Today,
>> Guns&  Butter, Pushing Limits and Bay Native Circle. Nor have they
>> supported the paid staff who create Flashpoints and Hard Knock Radio.
>>
>>
>>
>> In short, “Save KPFA” won't abide by their name, because they're
>> undermining the qualities that make KPFA great. What KPFA needs to be
>> saved from ..... is them!
>>
>>
>>
>> The group that I support, Independents for Community Radio, recognizes
>> that good radio need not be “professional;” we support the numerous
>> excellent programs produced by volunteers (such as La Onda Bajita,
>> Voices of the Middle East, and many more). We want to see a Board and a
>> management that will promote unity between the paid staff and unpaid
>> staff, instead of trying to divide them. And we stand for responsible
>> budgeting, to keep KPFA on the air despite the dismal economy. Our 2010
>> team of candidates will be assembled soon; in the meantime, to read more
>> about us, see our 2009 campaign site, www.indyradio2009.org
>> <http://www.indyradio2009.org/>.
>>
>>
>>
>> Last year we won a slim majority on the Board, and the station is now in
>> the process of hiring a new General Manager. But there's much more work
>> to be done. Please help us by supporting ICR in this year's election. If
>> you've subscribed to KPFA since last July, you'll be eligible to vote in
>> this year's election. If not, please subscribe now! June 30 is the
>> deadline to subscribe in time to vote. A basic annual membership is only
>> $25 - go to www.kpfa.org<http://www.kpfa.org/>  to subscribe with a
>> credit card (if you mail a check, it must arrive by June 30 at KPFA,
>> 1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704.)
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>>
>>
>> Akio Tanaka
>>
>> Member, KPFA Local Station Board
>>
>> County Council member, Green Party of Alameda County
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>      
>
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>    


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