KPFA Critics and Hobo Lee on FRSC This Sunday (9/3)

KPFA did not ban any of these people; it was the insane Pacifica National Board that dd these things.

While they had control, programming was developed that catered to as wide an audience as is possible just to survive, and in that process, developed programming sufficient to bring out 15,000 people to the streets when the Pacifica National Board decided to drop the hammer and shut KPFA off.

Enteen snd Zeltzer want to undo that programming and history, marginalize KPFA to a specific political subset, and effectively steal KPFA away from the very same community that supports it.

Because they have nothing to show as an accomplishment of their own, they are stealing a public treasure to make one.

Thanks to Sunday Morning Sharon for giving her thoughts. I encourage her to expand her criticism if she wants.

I did invite "the other side" to speak on the air in the following e-mail and had the following e-mail dialogue:
>> > >----- Original Message -----
>> > >From: "Robert Norse" <rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com>
>> > >To: <igm [at] kpfa.org>; <development [at] kpfa.org>; <les [at] x.netcom.com>;
>> > ><tracyrose [at] gmail.com>; <mavmedia [at] aol.com>; <biz [at] kpfa.org>
>> > >Cc: <lvpsf [at] igc.org>; <riva187 [at] yahoo.com>
>> > >Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 6:15 PM
>> > >Subject: Invitation to Join Sunday Debate on Santa Cruz Free Radio (KPFA)
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > > To: Lemlem Rijio KFPA Manager, Greg Guma, Lois Withers, and other interested parties:
>> > > >
>> > > > Folks: I will be having a live phone interview with Riva Enteen and Steve Zeltzer on some issues as described below. Sorry for the short notice.
>> > > > You're welcome to call in or arrange rebuttal time.
>>Thanks, Robert Norse
[I then included the indybay announcement/description of the show]

Lois Withers replied:
>> > >From: "Lois Withers" <biz [at] kpfa.org>
>> > >To: "Robert Norse" <rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com>
>> > >CC: "Lemlem Rijio" <igm [at] kpfa.org>
>> > >Subject: Re: Invitation to Join Sunday Debate on Santa Cruz
>>Free Radio
>> > >(KPFA)
>> > >Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 09:18:34 -0700
>> > >
>> > >You should be aware that this group (labor collective) has caused the station numerous problems and has shown an inability to work with others outside of their own collective. This is all documented in various memos and e-mails. As with all work places KPFA has their share of problems.
>> > >Lemlem Rijio and I, endeavor to make the decisions that are best for KPFA.
>> > >We want to see KPFA thrive and that will never happen when others are afraid to work with people whose behavior appears to be threatening and demeaning.
>> > >
>> > >Funny that you didn't send this e-mail until after working hours on
>>Friday.
>> > >Did you really want our opinion on the air?
>> > >
>> > >Lois Withers
>> > >Business Manager

I responded:

>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Robert Norse" <rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com>
>>To: <biz [at] kpfa.org>
>>Cc: <riva187 [at] yahoo.com>; <lvpsf [at] igc.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 10:42 AM
>>Subject: Encouraging Your Response
>>
>>
>> > Lois: I apologize (again) for the extremely short notice.
>> > Yes, I did and do want you on the air--if you wish to be.
>>Options are: (a) call-in between 6 and 8 PM on Thursday, (b) call-in between 9:30 AM and 1 PM on Sunday, (c) a 5-minute statement from you recorded at 831-423-4833, and/or (d) a phone interview with you at some other time to be rebroadcast (uncut).
>> > The interview can be heard at http://www.huffsantacruz.org/brb.html under 6-9-03 if you wish to review what was said. Fast forward through the first 2 1/2 hours to hear the hour long exchange between me, Riva Enteen, and Steve Zeltzer.
>> > Let me know. Robert Norse

Lois replied:

>>From: "Lois Withers" <biz [at] kpfa.org>
>>To: "Robert Norse" <rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com>
>>Subject: Re: Encouraging Your Response
>>Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2006 11:03:49 -0700
>>
>>I don't think it is appropriate to discuss station business on our air-waves. It is one of the things listeners complain about a lot and has caused us to lose listeners. I also don't want to start more exchanges between these groups. I think it is best not to respond. If a statement is made it should come from Lemlem.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Lois

I concluded:

>From: "Robert Norse" <rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com>
>To: biz [at] kpfa.org
>Subject: Sorry about the Silence (L)
>Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:29:44 -0700
>
>Sorry you're not interested in replying.
>
>Internal problems in a listener-supported station are of interest to a number of listeners, particularly if the allegations are lack of transparency and democratic process.
>
>It also tends to give the impression of folks in entrenched power refusing to respond to the concerns of critics.
>
>I will pass on your response to the listening audience.
>
>Thanks for your reply.
>
>Let me know if you or someone else wants to respond.
>
>Robert Norse


I admit to partiality for Enteen and Zeltzer, though I wasn't happy with all their answers (or lack of answers). I never got clear answers on the nature of the alleged harassment of the staff that even the pro-Zeltzer minority on the Board seem to acknowledge was an issue. And I apologize to the listeners for the length of the interview.

I do think it's significant the KPFA staffers in power (at least as Entee and Zelter see it) decline to respond to the concerns.

I'm hoping Riva or Steve (or Lois or Sharon if they want) will follow-up today or in a future FRSC program, or here on this thread. Questionjs remain: on the banning of the Labor Collective from proposing programs, the exclusion of the announcement of the Mumia Abu Jamal benefit, and the procedures needed to deal with the deeper KPFA staff structure rather than an issue-by-issue struggle.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/09/09/18307339.php?show_comments=1#comments contains some photos and discussions of the September 4th picket of KPFA.

For a further update, check out http://www.huffsantacruz.org/brb.html the 6-9-10 (i.e. September 10, 2006) show, about 2 1/2 hours into the show. Steve Zeltzer called in with a report.

Hi Robert,

If you're interested in doing a segment with me, let me know. I didn't respond to the earlier e-mail because (as noted), it was sent on a Friday evening on a holiday weekend for that very same Sunday, I can't hear FRSC from my Bay Area home which makes calling in a little problematic, and
I'm inclined to think people are entitled to have their fair say. But I'm happy to speak in a volunteer capacity regarding the programming moratorium if you wish to hear what I have to say. You have my contact info - so let me know.