top
East Bay
East Bay
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature

Get out of the way of history, Dan Siegel, and let KPFA heal

by repost
Oakland attorney and Pacifica Foundation interim executive director and Pacifica Foundation
counsel Daniel Siegel is stonewalling the appointment of Michel Shehadeh according to past KFPA & Pacifica
board member Fadi Sada. Seigel backed the Concerned Listeners grouping and illegally intervened
in the election using foundation resources and most recently helped support the appointment
of traffic lawyer Sherry Gendelman to position of Pacifica Foundation national chair.
http://www.sfbayview.com/News/Editorial/Get_out_of_the_way_of_history_Dan_Siegel_and_let_KPFA_heal.html

Get out of the way of history, Dan Siegel, and let KPFA heal
by Fadi Saba
Wednesday, 06 February 2008

It's definitely time for a changing of the guard at Pacifica's flagship station, KPFA, 94.1 FM, in Berkeley. And KPFA's Local Station Board (LSB) has voted 14 to 8 for the right person at the right time. But Pacifica's Interim Executive Director Dan Siegel, by refusing to act on the board's solid recommendation, is holding back history on a technicality.

More on this in a moment, but first let's meet the candidate who was supported so overwhelmingly by the LSB. The candidate is Michel Shehadeh, a Palestinian-American businessman, human and civil rights activist, former research associate at San Francisco State University and a former member of what came to be known as the LA 8, a group of Palestinians who were rounded up over 20 years ago on phony McCarthyite communist-turned-terrorist related charges - and only recently absolved of those charges.
By all accounts, Shehadeh is fair-minded, politically savvy and understands well the underlying mission of Pacifica as a radical alternative to the corporate media that encourages diversity as a strategy towards global peace and understanding.

It would be an extraordinary restatement of purpose and mission for the Pacifica network to hire a Palestinian manager at its flagship station, at a time in history when the entire U.S. corporate press has turned Palestinians into terrorists. The tragic story of the ethnic cleansing of occupied Palestine doesn't even exist in the mainstream media, even though it's heavily supported by U.S. tax dollars and U.S. weapons of horrific destruction - Apaches, F-16s etc.

IEDs of intransigence

In November, after a long and arduous process of screening resumes and conducting phone interviews, the KPFA board's General Manager Search Committee sent the names of three applicants to the full board for in-person interviews. One of the candidates dropped out on the day of the interviews, Nov. 17, 2007.

A motion recommending Michel Shehadeh for the position of manager passed 14 to 8. A motion to forward to Pacifica's Interim Executive Director Dan Siegel a pool of candidates, consisting of Shehadeh and KPFA's current interim general manager, Lemlem Rijio, failed. She has presided over great turmoil at KPFA and is highly unpopular among most of the staff - paid and unpaid. KPFA's LSB showed little confidence in Rijio's work to date and was clearly not interested in having her as KPFA's permanent manager.

The bottom line: Siegel is stonewalling the process by demanding a pool of candidates. Thus, he is planning to ask the LSB to re-open the entire hiring process, subjecting the KPFA staff and listeners to another 18 months of the current inferior management and undermining this wonderful possibility for a desperately needed and sought after change at KPFA.

Though I am a Palestinian American, that is not the reason I support Mr. Shehadeh's appointment as general manager. Rather, it is that I know KPFA - and it needs an amazing manager to turn it around.

Pacifica is in financial peril. We cannot let mismanagement continue. As a former local and national board member, it is definitely time for a new day and a fresh and more respectful management style that is both responsive to the staff, paid and unpaid, and to the community that pays the station's bills and depends on it for a real alternative to the corporate mainstream.

Get out of the way, Dan Siegel, and let KPFA heal!

Fadi Saba is a community activist and public school teacher. He can be reached at fasaba(at)yahoo.com.
Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
by Tony
Michel Shehadeh would be a excellent manager at KPFA. Firm, Fair, highly competent and a radical . And not just any radical but a secular Socialist Palestinian . That‘s why the Wellstone Democratic Club/'' Concerned Listeners'' gaggle doesn't want him ! Even though most hard core pro-Israeli govt. types have long since donating to KPFA they're afraid that pledges might decline if Shehadeh replaced the current I.G.M. They're also afraid of a manager who would respect Democratic goverance and wouldn't tolerate the type of cronyism that is rampant at the station .
Unfortunately what this article was afraid of apparently happened today . I was told that at today's Local Station Board meeting the Wellstone Listeners forced a reopening of the GM search committee and got a majority of their people on that committee.
It's time for some serious listener action . Petitions , E-mails ,Pickets , and whatever it takes to block this reactionary move and to get Michel Shehadeh in his rightfull postion as General manager of KPFA。
by Tony
I meant to write that since hard-core pro Israeli govt. times have long since STOPPED donating to the station .
by Tony
I guess i need an editor ! Pro-Israeli TYPES not Times .
by Concerned Listener
This is a very disturbing development . Is the message that Dan Siegel et al are conveying is that No Radical Arabs need apply ? If so what hyprocrisy ! Dan Siegel called himself a Revolutionary Marxist for years . He was a public leader of the Communist Workers party who called for Palestinian Self Determination . Was all of that thrown out the window when he went from being a Marxist-Leninist to a ''progressive democrat '' ?
I'm a real Concerned Listener who calls on the members of the group of that name to state clearly where they stand on this issue .
Make no mistake, the primary reason that the "Dismantlers"/CL group has stonewalled the GM process is CONTROL. They will fight to the end, violate any principles of fairness and transparency, and have done so, to maintain control. They know that their unprincipled program that is anti-Mission and sectarian in nature and is losing subscribers and will have very little mass support if the truth of what they have been/are doing ever gets out.

If the only candidate was one of theirs the "dismantlers"/CL would not be holding things up on a Bylaws technicality. They have ignored and violated so many of the Bylaws so often why would they stop with this one. And they have their power hungry lawyer to give them legal cover.

The only real questions are: Is he qualified and would he be a good GM? All indications suggest the answer is a resounding YES to both questions. And I am not an easy person to please. So why isn't he on the job? The "dismantlers"/CL group don't think he will bend the rules and the Mission and progressive principles to their sole benefit, thus the stonewall.

Given the Democratic Party's tailing behind AIPAC and the CL/Wellstone connection to the DP I am sure the candidate's politics are a problem for them and if he was the type to let them tell him how to run the station they would love to have someone from an oppressed group as their figure head, as they have now.

Richar Phelps, former Chair KPFA LSB
by not likely
If the committee is interested in a real choice why didn't it forward more than one candidate to Dan Siegel ? One candidate is no choice. How extremely ironic, it is that Mr. Phelps is claiming others want to force the choice of a candidate, when the hiring committee chose to forward only one candidate. If Pacifica has violated numerous bylaws, then Phelps should grow some balls and sue them. Otherwise it's just more hot air form people who take their position on the LSB as sort of a hobby or debating club, rather than having any actual intention of running a radio station.
by More Hot Air And Lawsuits
As this Concerned Listener management flack knows, the other candidate who was going to be
forwarded to the ED dropped out of the running. It would have meant going through a whole
new interview process but then that exactly is what this hack wants to do. They reallly think
Lemlem is doing a wonderful job and that she is only disliked because of her tough line against
the unpaid staff and those who want to see changes at KPFA.
They really like Lemlem Rijio because she kowtows to the entrenched staff at KPFA who really run
the station.
Furthermore, as this CL supporter also knows traffic lawyer Gindelman KPFA LSB member and (now Pacifica Foundation Board
Chair and other CL staffers and supporters went to a former
colleage of Pacifica Counsel and interim Pacifica Executive Director
Dan Seigel lawyer Hunter Pyle to file a lawsuit agianst Pacifica to pressurize the Pacifica
election supervisor Casey Peters to certify the illegal and manipulated election. Of course
who pays for this but the listeners of KPFA and Pacifica. Like any corporate legal scheme
get the taxpayer and in this case it is the listeners of KPFA and Pacifica to pay for the
management malfeasance and incompetence. Pyle who also is chair of the Bay Area Lawyer Guild
obviously had no quams about using his time and effort to sue Pacifica and he might even
get some extra work from Dan Seigel and partners to help him cover his office expenses.
The hundreds of thousands of dollars that has been and is being paid to illegally fired and harrased
staffers by Pacifica is obviously part of the cost of doing business. Lemlem recently because of
her incompetence has cost the station more money by Peter Laufer who has filed
charges for discrimination. True or not the listeners will pay the cost and Lemlem laughs all
the way to the bank.
As to "hobbies", most people who know the entrenched staff at KPFA know that many of these
"media talents and "prima donnas" use KPFA as their personal cash machines to do publicity for their private "non-profit" ventures
like Bonnie Simmons and a host of others. They use KPFA to support their business ventures
and make the listeners pay.
No wonder there is a financial drain at KFPA and Pacifica. The $300 an hour lawyers are certainly
adding up. Maybe Pacifica lawyer Daniel Seigel can explain the economics of this at the next KPFA
LSB meeting when he gives "guidance" to the board.

More hot air from Mr. Phelps
by not likely
Sunday Feb 10th, 2008 11:31 AM
If the committee is interested in a real choice why didn't it forward more than one candidate to Dan Siegel ?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: after all the searching for over one year there was only on candidate that the majority of the LSB found qualified.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
One candidate is no choice. How extremely ironic, it is that Mr. Phelps is claiming others want to force the choice of a candidate, when the hiring committee chose to forward only one candidate.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: There was only one candidate that was qualified as far as the entire LSB was concerned and in my opinion that candidate was eminently qualified.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
If Pacifica has violated numerous bylaws, then Phelps should grow some balls and sue them.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: Don't you just love folks that "anonymously" challenge others courage! If I did sue over every violation you would be attacking me for that to avoid the real issues.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Otherwise it's just more hot air form people who take their position on the LSB as sort of a hobby or debating club, rather than having any actual intention of running a radio station.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: What the hell do you know about running a radio station? I worked for both AM and FM stations, both on-air and administration. This is just hot air from an anonymous blow hard. Get back to us when you aren't afraid of using your name and you know something about what you speak. I will gladly debate you in public anytime.
by kpfa friend
Posting an excerpt copy of the report the igm gave the national board so folks can see her level of competence, confidence, and down-to-earthness. Regardless of whoever is 'hired' for the position through the station board process (which is clearly politicized! Jees, does the local station board think it's the senate confiming a cabinet appointment?)

I think Lemlem has done a fabulous job as the general manger, and I for one, will not sit by and watch bitter people talk trash about her!

Here is the excerpt from her report to the national board. See for yourself how much important work has been done under her leadership.


What follows is a brief outline of what I, KPFA staff, and by extension our larger community have been able to achieve in the past year and a half of my tenure as interim general manager.

o Hiring a program director--Sasha Lilley--to fill a seven year-old vacuum in programming leadership.
o Improving the performance of the station by addressing organizational issues that have hindered performance in the past (e.g. unclear goals, lack of management model).
o Developing a performance management system to enhance staff performance and accountability.
o Securing public sector funding for a web development strategy and implementing a web expansion plan. Check out the new http://www.kpfa.org All credit for the website goes to Michael KPFA’s talented web director.
o Expanding KPFA’s broadcast technology and capacity, including digital conversion to achieve compatibility with recent tech advances, as well as installing boosters and translators to expand the KPFA signal so more people can listen to our programming.
o Maintaining and improving our physical plant, including efforts to increase safety from an earthquake, and to make the station more accessible.
o Leading local efforts to stand against the most recent CRB ruling to hike royalty fees, threatening the future of internet broadcasting. KPFA’s strong stand against this ruling gained us a lot of publicity on local TV and print media.
o Hiring Aimee Allison, an author, celebrated political activist, and a leader of the counter-recruitment movement and Mitch Jeserich, an accomplished radio journalist, producer and anchor, who until recently was the News Editor for Wakeup Call at WBAI, to work on KPFA’s most listened to local program, The Morning Show.
o Launching KPFA’s first web-exclusive program, The War Comes Home.
o Creating a long-lasting Sustainer Program, as well as expanding our major giving programs and community outreach to ensure the sustainability of KPFA’s off-air revenue sources.
o Bringing two outstanding programs from sister stations---Behind the News with Doug Henwood and Uprising with Sonali Kolhatkar.
o Providing extensive coverage from the World Social Forum in Kenya, The International Tribunal of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, and the recent public outrage in Jena, Louisiana.
o Developing an exchange program between KPFA’s hard knock radio and San Francisco State University to co-teach a hip-hop class to 150 SFSU students.
o Currently developing a collaboration with Berkeley High to work with a group of students to train them in basic radio and have them create short commentaries to broadcast on-air. The first installment will be on Youth Perspectives on Race in the 21st Century. It is a very exciting project and a smart way for us to collaborate with young people and have their voices heard. From the samples they have done, their commentaries are outstanding!

o Producing outstanding public events, including a very heated and packed debate between Chris Hedges and Christopher Hitchens on religion.
o Producing the 4th annual KPFA Peace Awards to honor seven outstanding members of our local arts, peace, and social justice community: Alice Walker, Daniel Ellsberg, Sarah Crowell, Catherine Tactaquin, Pratap Chatterjee, boona cheema, and Lawrence Ferlingheti.
o Sponsoring very important community events such as The Iraqi Labor Delegation, an evening with Chalmers Johnson, an evening with Cynthia McKenney, the 50th anniversary of the San Francisco International Film Festival, 10th Annual United Nations Film Festival, the Green Festival, the Power to the Peaceful Concert with Michael Franti, Susan Faludi book tour, the John Pilger book tour among others.

In conclusion, I am very proud for the all our accomplishments in the past year/year and a half and look forward to building on it to do even more in 2008, and to do it better. The challenges I have faced in my efforts to of build infrastructure in finances, human resources, and programming in the past year have only strengthened my commitment to work harder and more efficiently. And the success of the work I have led has strengthened my conviction that KPFA and Pacifica are vital institutions that have much untapped potential to grow and expand as well as incredible amount of support from listeners.

There is nothing more joyous for a young woman who aspires to make a difference in the world than to have an opportunity to lead such an institution as KPFA. Again, I am honored to have the opportunity I have had to serve this institution.
by Tim
Notice the original article says nothing about the candidate's radio experience? It's because he has none. Those who are foaming at the mouth in support of his candidacy do so because of his political background and ethnic stock, not because he has any business running a radio station.

KPFA is a radio station and therefore needs someone with some radio experience. The last time the KPFA GM was hired because of politics and ethnic background was Gus Newport. Newport had no idea how to run a radio station, as evidenced by the times he would go live on the air at peace rallies and threaten the very existence of KPFA's license by using all seven of the seven words you can't say in broadcast.

Lastly, Lemlem has been doing an outstanding job in running KPFA. This is true in spite of the fact that so many people are aligned in a cabal to undermine her at every turn.
by Conor Murphy
No one is ''talking trash '' about Ms Riggio. But many people , especially staff members, are very critical of her and feel it's time for her to bid farewell .
I should add that this ''friend of kpfa '' is in reality one of the dwindling band of staff that are still loyal to the mis-mgmt of Pacifica . Come now , don't be shy ! Say your name , Say your name .
by kpfa friend
My name is kpfa friend! But that makes no difference. What makes a difference is the content of the post. Do you have any backing for what you post? What mis-management?

You a staff member? A board member? How do you know what 'staff' think or say about each other? You just have an imagination? If so, say what you use this vast imagination for; what was your latest and greatest accomplishment? Inspire us!
by No More Incompetence At KPFA
At the most recent board meeting, the interim general manager pleaded for "working together"
and suggested having a more cordial atmoshpere. When KPFA board member Henry Norr asked why she had diregarded
a board resolution to make it easier to get acitivst annoucements on the air and also why
she even refused to answer emails and requests to discuss the question she had no answer.
This so called "interim general manager" is unwilling to listen to the unpaid staff through their
organization UPSO and has contempt for the decisions of the LSB board. She is only kept in
power by Gendelman, Bonnie Simmons and the entrenched staff along with the new power
at KPFA and Pacifica lawyer Daniel Siegel. Seigel should know about conflicts of interest. While
holding up the appointment of the recommended General manager on a technicality he had
no such quams illegally intervening in the Pacifica elections by putting his viewpoints up on the
KPFA and Pacifica websites. His concern for the "rules and procedures" obviously depends on whose axe is being
ground.
by /
KPFA's management is paying for its failed policies by a dismial fundraiser so far, having raised $113,000 in 5 days as of Sunday night out of a goal of $900,000, which at that rate, will take 34 days to achieve. I noticed Guns & Butter was cancelled last week, so I guess exposes of the 9/11 Inside Job are not held in high regard. It was good to hear David Griffin on Flashpoints last week, but that is not enough. And the news reports should always refer to the events of 9/11/01 as the 9/11 Inside Job as there were no outside attacks. KPFA has gotten so bad that this writer only listens to Flashpoints, the 6 p.m. evening news and Guns & Butter, and when the 6 p.m. news has more than 5 minutes of election garbage, which always focuses on the Democrat-Repubs instead of the socialist Peace & Freedom and Greens, I switch to music and check the news every 5 minutes or so to see if they have resumed news. So long as KPFA has contempt for the peace and social justice communities, it will not be part of our lives, and thus will not receive our support.
by BS marveler
The bylaws say that the LSB is supposed to present a pool, not pick a manager and demand he be hired. Why doesn't the LSB do its job and find a pool of candidates? They have not met the bylaw requirement, they have no grounds to simply decide who the manager will be and demand that since their pool only contains one person that he be hired outright.
by BS marveler
the post also says nothing of his organizational or management experience. How does being a "businessman" or a "research associate at SF State" qualify one to hold the top leadership position at a non profit organization or a radio station?
by Conor Murphy
1. Re a ''pool ''. What defenders of the KPFA ''Entrenched '' fail to point out is that Nicole Sawaya was selected from a pool of one by the Pacifica National Board ! But Siegel . Malderi, Bensky , and the Wellstone listeners had no objection to that .
2. There is rapidly growing internal discontent at KPFA . Some aren't public critics yet so i won't go onto any more details out of concern that it might endanger their jobs or programs . But the good news is that the gap between Listener activists and staff members is dramatically shrinking
What a sick corporatist culture we have at ''our'' station ! It's time to really take back KPFA .
by Getting To The Truth
The issue of how Greg Guma was unceremoniously removed from his position of Executive Director
of Pacifica by the Daniel Seigel and the CL grouping is very much tied up in the conduct of the elections.
The CL grouping did not want Guma running the Pacifica Board elections so although he had offered
to stay through this election cycle he was quickly dumped in place of Sawaya. Then Sawaya was
told by the "honest" Pacifica CFO Lonnie Hicks that she would not have access to all the financial records.
At this point she jumped ship and was replace by surprise "Daniel M. Seigel" the Foundation
counsel. Seigel then used his postion to intervene in the election and ignore the appointed Pacifica
national election supervisor Casey Peters.
He also allowed interim KPFA manager Lemlem Rijio and Sasha Lille to manipulate the conduct of
the elections including preventing the playing of the radio carts until the election was nearly over
and seeking to disrupt and corrupt the staff election process by derecognizing the Unpaid
Staff Organization UPSO only days before the election was to start. They sought to taint the
election of staff representatives but this backfired when independent representatives were
elected and former flunkies like Mary Berg lost her seat.
This manuvering by the Lemlem and crew was all approved by the Pacifica Counsel/Interim Executive Director Siegel/Oakland lawyer
in collusion with the mangement hacks and toadies at KPFA.
These systemic conflicts of interests in how the election was conducted are now coming to the surface and the newly "elected" CL supporters
on the board are getting more and more embarrased about this mess that they were complicit
in helping to bring about.
Unfortunately for them and their supporters this morass is only going to get deeper and deeper
as more and more KPFA listeners and the public learn about the real situation at KPFA and
Pacifica. Their illegitamate grab of power at KPFA and Pacfica will come back to haunt them and their
allies.
by Dan Siegel (DanMSiegel [at] aol.com)
Debate, disagreement, and criticism are fine. But it is important to be accurate about the facts. Fadi Saba is wrong to state that I am relying on a "technicality" to avoid appointing his choice as general manager of KPFA.

First, the LSB never forwarded any recommendation to me, and I still have not received one. Perhaps Mr. Saba is referring to a communication with Nicole Sawaya, when she was serving as Pacifica's executive director. My position is that I will be happy to consider the recommendations of the LSB, as soon as it is ready to forward a pool of candidates to me.
Second, insisting that the KPFA LSB forward a "pool" of candidates to the executive director is not relying on a technicality. Pacifica's bylaws establish a collaborative process for choosing a general manager. The LSB must provide the executive director with some choices, and the ED must choose from within the group proposed by the LSD. If an LSB forwards just one candidate, there is no room for collaboration.
Third, I am concerned that Mr. Saba has chosen to publicly out one of the apparent candidates. I did not know his name until I read it in Mr. Saba's article. It is extremely irresponsible to publish confidential information that may be harmful both to the candidate and to Pacifica.

Dan Siegel
by Whose Irresponsible?
Dan Siegle now claims that he does not know who the KPFA LSB submitted as their recommended candidate for the permanent position of KPFA. Can we take Dan Siegel's story at face value?
He is now in charge of Pacifica and has access to all the records of the Foundation including the recommendation of the KPFA LSB and seach committee. Secondly, he has been lobbied by the supporters of present interim manager Lemlem Rijio not to appoint Michael Shahadeh as the permanent manager. Who is he fooling, this Mr. Clean?
If Pacifica's Foundation Counsel and acting interim executive director is so concerned with the law and proper application of the bylaws and rules, why has he agreed to take on both the position of interim manager of the Pacifica Foundation while he and his firm represent Pacifica as Foundation Counsel. Isn't this a conflict of interest Dan Seigel since you maybe representing opposing sides. This as you know is not a new track for you since you have legal record in the past of representing two conflicting interests at the same time. In fact you have previously been fired for such behavior.
Lastly, you want the newly elected KPFA LSB to set up a new search committee and spend another long period looking for a permanent manager. Did you have such a similar concern about following the rules when you used the foundation resources (the website) to intervene in the election to attack and support various groupings in the last election. As any honest lawyer would know, it is contrary to the bylaws of the corporation to use the resources to
to support one side or another in the election. In fact your illicit use of the website to present your point of view in the election was removed from the website because it violated this democratic bylaw. It was the responsiblity of the national election supervisor to determine violations of the rules and to issue rulings on these violations. You usurped the responsibility of the Pacifica national election supervisor and showed your real colors. Instead of complying with the rules you decided to make your own rules and violated your ethics and the bylaws of the corporation for political gain.
You are now responsible for carrying out the ruling of the National Election Supervisor of Pacifica who ruled that as a result of Larry Bensky using the Foundations email server he could not be on the airwaves until the term of the election supervisor was over. You have allowed interim manager Lemlem Rijio and others to ignore this ruling without any consequences. You action and inaction makes a clear statement of your bias and the pernicious role you are now playing in Pacifica and KPFA.
As Fadi Sada has correctly raised it is time for you to stop doing damage to KPFA and the Pacifica Foundation. Your continued role puts the institution into greater danger and liablity.
by you're irresponsible
How the hell did Saba get the name of this candidate if someone didn't leak it? That's a blatant violation that the previous poster declined to address. Not only is it irresponsible, it's unprofessional and demonstrates a disturbing disregard for this guy's personal privacy. It shows that the whoever leaked the name is a hack with no demonstrable sense of professional responsibility or courtesy.

All that matters to the People's Radio crowd is their twisted ideological beliefs. To hell with common decency, the right of privacy and professionalism. Whoever the crank is that leaked the information should be ashamed, as should Saba who obviously has no idea how to comport himself in anything like an adult manner.
by tamman
Mr. Phelps, was the one candidate who was eminently qualified someone besides Shehadeh?
by GeToTheTruth
I understand the search committee had several candidates to choose from beside Michel Shehadeh, so what happened to them? So one dropped out, I'm told there were others who had qualified radio backgrounds...does michel have five years of radio manager background as the job posting requires? He's had a show in LA, but a manager? If Dan Siegel didn't get a pool of candidates from which to choose, whose fault would that be? The GM search committee?

by Tomas
Michel Shehadeh has been very open about his seeking to be the KPFA General Manager . Siegel claims that he didn't know that the applicant was Shehadeh ? Absolute Bullshit . He's working very closely with the '' Concerned Listeners'' clique and there's no question that he was informed about every step of the process. Such blatant lies from people tragically in the leadership of '' Free Speech Radio '' !
by you're irresponsible
You don't have one iota of proof about what Siegel knew or didn't know. But what is beyond any doubt is that some crank on the People's Radio clique leaked confidential information to Saba who, in a mind blowing display of unprofessional conduct, revealed the candidate in an article. That's demonstrably true. It doesn't matter what the candidate himself said. The board member had a professional responsibility to abide by the ruled of confidentiality. That's what's so unfuriating about the People's Radio cabal. They're the biggest group of hypocrites I think I've ever come across. They scream and holler about the slightest perceived mis-step by KPFA, but they themselves cavalierly toss aside the rules and the principles of professional behavior when it suits their interests. They are worse then Karl Rove. At least Rove doesn't hide his sleeze ball antics behind self-righteous political posturing.
by Jackie
It doesn't matter what the candidate himself said, people are still bound by confidentaiity ? You must be kidding! The ONLY justified reason for confidentiality in cases like this to to protect the privacy of the applicant.If the person waives it , it doesn't exist anymore !
I notice that all the C.L. people duck the question of whether or not a major motivation in the opposition to Michel is the fact that he is a outspoken Palestinian -American . I believe it is . Aside from the at best timid support By KPFA bosses for FLASHPOINTS when local Zionists have repeatly tried to get it taken off the air , word has it that a C.L. Board member admitted after the Feb. lsb meeting that Michel's politics was a big factor in their oppostion to his being hired .
by you're irresponsible
You're obviously unfamiliar with the rules of confidentiality agreements, or just plain thick. If this guy went around shouting his candidacy from the rooftops that still doesn't absolve the board member from his, or her confidentiality agreement. If you sign the agreement, you're not allowed to talk about it period! The candidate's own stupidity in blabbing his candidacy is his own business. The member can't talk about the hiring process until the hire has been made. You're not knowing that just demonstrates your ignorance of the most basic professional standards and principles.

Also, it's probably this guy's total lack of radio and media experience that may have had something to do with his not being considered. His so-called "politics" are neither here nor there. It means about as much as someone saying, "this guy's a Red Sox fan he must be a great candidate to manage the station." His personal feelings about anything are no indication as to if he has the necessary knowledge and skills to do the job. Screw his personal feelings. Can he manage? Does he have any familiarity with media management? The People's Radio clique don't give a whit about the most basic professional standards. They're like children. They're basically saying: "He's unqualified, but look he likes the same stuff I like. He would be great". What an immature outlook. It's time this bunch grew up.
I reject the previous poster's interpretation of what ''confidentiality '' means . That term has been so over used and abused . When WalMart was busted for locking immigrant janitors inside their stores overnight , their PR spokesman replied that they couldn't talk about it because it would violate the workers Confidentiality !
Unlike the previous poster many of us (Including now a majority of staffers ) reject the corparate way of operating . We are for a bare bones common sense definition of ''confidentality ''and for a transparentcy in ALL important decisions in Pacifica .
To say that Michel's politics have nothing to do with anything is either very naive or deceptive . Palestine and Israel are the '' third rail '' of US left politics. How may times in coalitions has it been said that we can't have a Palestinian speaker because (fill in the blank ) groups will leave, unions won't sign on. funding will dry up . ''progressive '' democrats won't speak .etc. etc.
I suspect that isn't the primary reason in the ''entrenched'' 's opposition to Michel . The main reasons are probably what Phelps earlier suggested . But i have no doubt that it's a close second .
by Whose Ox
It is interesting to hear from the Concerned Listener flacks here talk about how concerned they are about the "confidentality" of candidates for the position of KPFA Manager.
Since they want their "candidate" and interim Lemlem Rijio to be the permanent manager they profess to be very concerned about this issue.
It was only a couple of years ago that some of the CL supporters went through the files at Pacifica to release a "confidential" letter of KPFA board member Sasha Futran about her application for a manager's position. These same Concerned Listener mouthpieces who are now so concerned about "confidentiality were surprise surprise completely silent about this transgression and compromise of the confidentiality of records at Pacifica.
Their interest was stopping a candidate from another grouping from getting elected to the KPFA board. Now that they control the board they obviously want to keep it this way and that means keeping their operative Lemlem Rijio in charge.
As usual, transparency for them means keeping things a secret until they have manipulated what they want and then announcing that this is a democratic process. Dan Siegel, Mr. Conflict of Interest" is now operating with the same methods. He violates the rules and bylaws at will and then complains about the need for "confidentiality".
Siegel, Rijio and the CL supporters contempt for the Unpaid Staff Organization and their support of efforts to dissolve this organization again shows their true colors. They want the staff totally beholden to a management that operates by nepotism and favorites. The big "double standard" is the operating procedure at KPFA and anyone who has worked there can testify to this fact.
Again so much for integrity when it comes to the "Concerned Listeners"
by you're irresponsible
Here the People's Radio bunch go again not addressing the issue and making idiotic comparisons. What was with that whole Wal-Mart thing anyway? That was part of a criminal investigation whatever excuse the management came up with was just that, an excuse. That has nothing to do with the situation at KPFA. It's complete apples and oranges.

I feel the need to repeat it because obviously some people are too thick to understand. A candidate's name was given to Fadi Saba who then disclosed it in an article. The person who did it had to be a board member. No one else knew. Saba doesn't know this candidate personally so he couldn't have gotten it that way. It was a bald faced violation of confidentiality. It can't be any clearer. These rules exist for a reason, they are to maximize fairness to all candidates. In the case of Futran that looks like her fault. If she was on the board and applying for a position she should have resigned from the board. That's called CONFLICT OF INTEREST. HELLO!

What People's Radio types want is to have rules apply only when it's convenient for them. Period. Stating the obvious fact that this guy's political beliefs, or personal feelings about anything, don't have any bearing on his ability to do a job is so elementary that I can't really believe that I have to tell People's Radio, a group of adults, something so plainly true. What "corporate model?" If "Corporate model" means having qualified management than you really have a piss poor opinion of non-profits. Apparently you think only corporations are capable of running correctly and efficiently and with a modicum of expertise.

What you're essentially saying is something akin to: "I really have a bad toothache, I don't think I'll go to a trained professional dentist whose politics I'm not sure about, I think I'll go to that chap down the road who has such agreeable political beliefs -- he'll know what to do." Or how about this: Why don't you go and eat at a restaurant run by people with nice politics, but with absolutely no idea how to cook or run a restaurant. See how long it takes before you sprint to the toilet to vomit. You see how absurd you sound. Now once and for all. Stop acting like a spoiled child and let the station have some semblance of competence at the leadership level.
by Such lies
The '' Concerned Listeners '', Their attorney Dan Siegel, and KPFA Mgmt, share everything ! That's what makes all this high-sounding babbling about ''confidentailty '' so silly . Siegel (as usual ) is lying when he writes that he never heard of Michel until Fadi ''outed '' him . He's known ever since Michel became a serious contender for the gm postion (and thus a threat to be ''neutralized'' by the '' Entrenched' )
This situation at KPFA/Pacifica is crying out for some 1999 style action .I don't see what else will do .
by you're irresponsible
If you have proof that someone leaked the information to Siegel or anyone else then present it. If not, shut the hell up! Anybody can sit back and speculate about anything without proof. Where's the evidence? Put up or shut up!
by NO double standards!
Such lies indeed
by you're irresponsible
Monday Feb 18th, 2008 2:38 PM

If you have proof that someone leaked the information to Siegel or anyone else then present it. If not, shut the hell up! Anybody can sit back and speculate about anything without proof. Where's the evidence? Put up or shut up!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
And where is the evidence that PeoplesRadio folks told Fadi or did any of the other things that they are often accused of without any evidence. I always remember the quote form Brian Edwards-Tiekert's infamous e-mail that I have seen on this list:

"how do we make our enemies own the problems that are to come?"
by you're irresponsible
Saba knew about this candidate. He doesn't know this guy personally, so he didn't get permission from him to put this in an article. Saba isn't on the LSB. Only LSB members were privy to the information. Saba has close ties to several board members from the People's Radio camp. Ergo, Saba got his information from a leak on the People's Radio side. Simple deduction, my dear Watson. His information couldn't have come from anywhere else. It just isn't possible. So there you have it.
here's the evidence
by you're irresponsible
Monday Feb 18th, 2008 7:27 PM

Saba knew about this candidate. He doesn't know this guy personally, so he didn't get permission from him to put this in an article. Saba isn't on the LSB. Only LSB members were privy to the information.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: First error. The candidate and his friends knew and may have told people. Word gets around the Pacifica community and Michel worked at KPFK and people down there may have heard and Fadi has friends at KPFK.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Saba has close ties to several board members from the People's Radio camp.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: Wrong. First of all there were only 4 peoples Radio folks on the LSB at that time. None that I know of that have "close ties" to Fadi. I might talk to him every few months or if I am in San Jose at an event. I think it is the same for the rest of us.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ergo, Saba got his information from a leak on the People's Radio side.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: You ignore the fact that the CL/Dismantler folks might tell their allies and word gets around. Fadi used to be friends with Sherry Gendelman.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Simple deduction, my dear Watson.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: I hope you are never on a jury for one of my clients. Go see the movie "12 Angry men" and see how weak your argument is.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
His information couldn't have come from anywhere else. It just isn't possible. So there you have it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
RP: Gross misuse of the word "couldn't", especially since I have pointed out other possible alternatives where he could have gotten the information. You are taking a possibility and turning it into an absolute, not even stopping at probable.
by you're irresponsible
Every so-called piece of evidence you put forward is higly improbable, whereas my proof is much more likely. It's a whole hell of a lot more likely that Saba, being from the Bay Area, would have gotten his information locally and not in Los Angeles. Saba and Concerned Listeners are on opposite sides. Why in the hell would any Concerned Listener member give information to People's Radio or any of the other factions on the board? That makes no sense whatsoever. "Word gets around" is no damn answer. Who would a jury believe? The guy who says Saba got his information third hand from some acquaintance hundreds of miles away, or even sillier, someone from a faction on a board with which he has strong ideological differences? Or would the jury believe that Saba would have been told by an ally on a local board on which he himself used to serve? The answer is so obvious that even a child could deduce it. Remind me never to retain you as my attorney Phelps.
by Richard Phelps
Just because one possible speculation may be a bit more likely than another doesn't move it to actually become evidence that something happened. You ignore the possibility that a concerned listener told someone other than Fadi and news does get around especially with the internet and Pacifica. I have had several people ask me if it was true. People who I have no idea how they got the information. You also ignore the fact that the meeting took place some months before Fadi did his post. Pleanty of time for information to get around to various circles. The best you can logically conclude is that it is possible that Fadi got his information as you claim. You can, of course claim any conclusion you want, there just isn't any factual basis for it, no matter how much you attack me or push your unsupported conclusion because you want it to be that way so you can attack Peoplesradio. By the way I wounldn't want you or your ilk as a client. I have more than enough rational people to represent that have no axe to grind.
by Higgins
It's possible a parrot landed on his shoulder and whispered it in his ear. Parrots can mimic human speech and it may have overheard someone talking about the GM candidate. It's possible but so unlikely as to not even be worth considering. Rational people don't form conclusions on what's possible. They look at the available information and draw reasonable conclusions.

Based on all the credible information, which I've already broken down, a reasonable thinking adult would conclude that a People's Radio friend or ally of Saba told him. Nobody outside the board had the info. Go back and read your Sherlock Holmes: "Once all the other possibilities have been eliminated, what's left must be the truth." And I'm relieved that if I needed a lawyer I would never end up with you.
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$110.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network