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Indybay Feature

Bernard White Defends Himself.

by Frank LeFever (helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org)
Bernard White, dismissed Program Director of Pacifica station WBAI (99.5 FM, NYC) has launched a nationwide campaign to get his job back, alleging that his firing is part of a racial purge throughout Pacifica (see “Kicking Pacifica When It's Down” at http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/pacificakickingdown.html). Alternative analyses point to incompetence resulting in a 6-year downtrend in listeners, and fiscal mismanagement which may include not just incompetence but embezzlement.
Bernard White, dismissed Program Director of Pacifica station WBAI (99.5 FM, NYC) has launched a nationwide campaign to get his job back, alleging that his firing is part of a racial purge throughout Pacifica (see “Kicking Pacifica When It's Down” at http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/pacificakickingdown.html). Alternative analyses point to incompetence resulting in a 6-year downtrend in listeners, and fiscal mismanagement which may include not just incompetence but embezzlement. White's only known “defense” has been culled from comments to “7 Removed in LA, DC and NY by the Grace Aaron-Steve Brown led purge of Pacifica (Facebook)” Saturday Jun 20th, 2009 7:36 http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/pacificakickingdown.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bernard, will you deny it under oath?
by Frank LeFver
( HelpFixWBAI (at) yahoo (dot) com ) Sunday Jun 28th, 2009 10:16 AM
For the moment, I'll just address this one point you bring up: "unsubstantiated allegations of theft of membership and funds".

Will you state under oath that you have never misallocated WBAI funds?

I don't think you will. I don't think you would be so foolish as to risk indictment for perjury.
http://takeFORWARDwbai.org
--------------------------------------------------
COME ON FRANK, EVEN YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT
by Bernard White
Sunday Jun 28th, 2009 11:00 AM
What you are implying is of course manifestly absurd. If I had ever misallocated funds your gang would have had me hung then tried and sentenced, in that order.

But as I said Frank, you are going to have to wait your turn.
Add a Comment
That's an evasion, not a denial
by Frank LeFever
( HelpFixWBAI (at) yahoo (dot) com ) Sunday Jun 28th, 2009 11:43 AM
Bernard, YOU should be better than THIS: "...If I had ever misallocated funds your gang would have had me hung then tried and sentenced, in that order..."

You know very well that your protectors (local and national) would not allow your being penalized in any way (except for returning at least SOME of the funds). They are gone now. (Ironically, gone when you are no longer in a position to misallocate funds.)
----------------/ /------------------------------
Tony's trying to save face.
by Frank LeFever
( HelpFixWBAI (at) yahoo (dot) com ) Sunday Jun 28th, 2009 5:22 PM
"...WBAI did not get one eviction notice...the owner sent a “Three Day Notice to Quit.” This is a predicate notice: Pay us or we will begin the legal process to collect or evict. It is a warning. It is the only one we got during my tenure..."

That's like Bernard saying "I didn't mis-allocate $5,000, it was only $3,000, and I only did it once."

"...We paid the entire Empire State rent owed a full month ahead of schedule..."

I think Tony means "We paid the OVERDUE rent ahead of schedule", so that we were ALMOST caught up on our arrears.
-----------------/ /------------------------------
§TIME WILL TELL
by Bernard White
Thursday Jul 2nd, 2009 9:18 AM
This a graphic example of what I've been talking about. Frank wants you to believe that because negative statements were made about me in a "closed session" of the LSB board meeting, by members of the Steve Brown led majority, that those statements have some validity. Further, if I say okay tell everyone what was said in the closed session, I must have been trying to hide what was said from public scrutiny.

More succinctly I would be agreeing that:

1. I knew what the statements were.
2. That the statements made in closed session have some validity
3. That I had something to hide therefore I was trying to keep this information from the public

Talk about SMOKESCREEN!!!

The fact is, I've been out of commission for the last six months during which time I underwent major surgery. I couldn't have committed any violations while I was out of the office. If I had committed any inappropriate acts when did they happen? Believe me, if I had this gang would have brought it up as soon as they found it out. If they didn't, why not? Isn't it a violation of there responsibility as board members to act on information as quickly and as responsibly as is possible? Do you really think that they would have waited for Grace Aaron to make her surreptitious midnight attempt to take over the transmitter or make her so called fact-finding visit to WBAI?

Their request is illogical at its base. What would give their request validity is my acquiescing to their demand.

As usual Frank and the Brown gang underestimate the intelligence of our listeners. They have always underestimated mine.

Evaluate the evidence that is in front of you. These folks are relying on your blind, unchallenged acceptance of what they say and the manner in which they say it.

Don't be guided by the illogical presentations of these people who are actively in the process restructuring Pacifica in contravention of the Pacifica Mission.
------------------------------------------------
We both know when and why there were no immediate consequences
by Frank LeFever
Thursday Jul 2nd, 2009 1:16 PM
BERNARD: "...If I had committed any inappropriate acts when did they happen? Believe me, if I had this gang would have brought it up as soon as they found it out. If they didn't, why not? Isn't it a violation of there responsibility as board members to act on information as quickly and as responsibly as is possible?..."

I have already answered that (rhetorical?) question. I refer you to my reply four days ago:
...............................................
That's an evasion, not a denial
by Frank LeFever
( HelpFixWBAI (at) yahoo (dot) com ) Sunday Jun 28th, 2009 11:43 AM
Bernard, YOU should be better than THIS: "...If I had ever misallocated funds your gang would have had me hung then tried and sentenced, in that order..."

You know very well that your protectors (local and national) would not allow your being penalized in any way (except for returning at least SOME of the funds). They are gone now. (Ironically, gone when you are no longer in a position to misallocate funds.)
............................................

"When..."? I think Bernard knows very well when, unless he is thinking of other occasions I don't know of.

Meanwhile, the evasion stands: so long as Bernard refuses to permit disclosure of what was said in executive session, he is free to perpetuate whatever fiction suits his purpose -- without fear of contradiction.
----------------------------------------------------
FRANK I SEE YOU'RE NOT BETTER THAN THAT
by Bernard White
Thursday Jul 2nd, 2009 6:44 PM
Dear Frank,

Put up or shut up.

If you got something then bring it. Stop slinging poo poo with the hope that some of it will stick.

Put up or shut up.
--------------------------------------------
I'm waiting.
by Frank LeFever
( HelpFixWBAI (at) yahoo (dot) com ) Thursday Jul 2nd, 2009 7:47 PM
So far, Bernard has not made an out-right assertion that he never "mis-allocated" any WBAI funds.

He deflects questions about this with a "rhetorical" question.

He asserts that any allegations about mis-allocation of funds is "absurd".

However, he is careful not to deny, in writing, that he ever mis-allocated WBAI funds.

Similarly, he is careful not to say he will permit disclosure of what was said in the most recent executive session at which his performance was discussed.
--------------------------------------------------
What About the Phone Lines?
by Ma Bell
Thursday Jul 2nd, 2009 9:28 PM
Were numerous off station phone lines with no reasons or clear location and the >$100,000 phone bill discussed?
-------------------------/ /-----------------
DON'T LET THE FACTS INTERFERE WITH YOUR FABRICATIONS
by Bernard White
Friday Jul 3rd, 2009 7:26 AM
You continue to ignore what is documented while trying to get me to respond to your fantasies.

Gentlemen we have reached an impasse and this discussion is no longer fruitful. You obviously have your position and I have mine. Fortunately it is not up to you or the people who you are representing. It is in the final analysis it is up to our listeners to decide who is lying and who is telling the truth. It may take some time but our listeners will sort this all out and you and your fabrications will be exposed.

You have you purposely ignored documentable evidence and continue to repeat your fiction to which I am supposed to provide evidence to counter you anecdotes. These exchanges have become a fruitless, non-productive exercise. (Do you still beat your wife? Yes or No?)

Information contained in these web locations strongly sugggest and support that there are factors in this equation that you have totally ignored. More than that, your role has been to steer people away from investigating the information they contain. But then, you are not actually trying to get to the truth anyway.

For those who are interested in getting clear documentable evidence upon which you can use to make intelligent decisions about the future of WBAI and the honesty and values of those who are presently diverting the network from its historical mission, I suggest that you visit the following websites...
----------------------------------------------
Documentation?
by Frank LeFever
( HelpFixWBAI (at) yahoo (dot) com ) Friday Jul 3rd, 2009 8:30 AM
BERNARD: "...You have you purposely ignored documentable evidence and continue to repeat your fiction to which I am supposed to provide evidence to counter you anecdotes. These exchanges have become a fruitless, non-productive exercise. (Do you still beat your wife? Yes or No?)..."

(1) Perhaps Bernard's "evidence" is "documentable", but I don't see it DOCUMENTED. I see assertions as to personal motivations, I see assertions about "racism", but I don't see any DOCUMENTS.

(2) My evidence is not anecdotal. It is documented, at least for one occasion. For other occasions, it may be anecdotal, but the one Bernard knows I am alluding to is documented.

(3) My question is NOT the analogue of "do you still beat your wife?", but the analogue of "did you EVER beat your wife?" In other words, I am not asking "do you still mis-allocate WBAI funds?" -- I am asking, "did you EVER mis-allocate WBAI funds?"
-------------------------------------
kangaroo court
by G.F
Saturday Jul 4th, 2009 10:23 AM
Re :"Did you ever mis-allocate WBAI funds?"
Mr LeFever where is your evidence ? Without citation your question strikes me as disingenuous. You are making the accusation. The responsibility is on you to demonstrate it's validity.
Add a Comment
§Why can't Barnard simply say "No, I never did"?
by Frank LeFever
Saturday Jul 4th, 2009 11:00 AM
"...Mr [sic] LeFever where is your evidence ? Without citation your question strikes me as disingenuous. You are making the accusation. The responsibility is on you to demonstrate it's validity."

WBAI has not served its mission for "education" if its listeners cannot distinguish between a question and an accusation.

This is an example of an accusation: "You have beaten your wife."

This is an example of a question: "Have you ever beaten your wife?"

See the difference?

In the case of an accusation, the accuser needs to be ready with evidence to support the accusation.

In the case of a question, there is no need for "evidence" (one could ask simply out of idle curiosity). It is up to the person questioned to say "no", "yes", or "I refuse to answer"

As regard this question, "Did you ever mis-allocate WBAI funds?", Bernard refuses to answer.
Why? His refusal to answer must surely raise other questions, such as "Why does he refuse? Why can't he say, 'no'?"

I think you need to ponder the meaning of "disingenuous" also.
---------------------------------------------
ponder the meaning of "disingenuous"
by G.F
Sunday Jul 5th, 2009 6:28 AM
Re : Why cant Bernard say "No ,I never did ?
In the case of a question, there is no need for "evidence." If I had it I would have used it by now , but insinuation is just as effective : Swiftboating works folks ! One could ask out of idle curiosity " Are you or have you ever been a communist ? " [Whoops that straw man bit the dust ! ] Financial impropriety suits me just fine ,I have DOCUMENTATION and EVIDENCE to that effect. But like Tony Blair I can't lay open my dossier , you must trust me. After all i am the accuser not he.

"It is up to the person questioned to say "no" , " yes" , or " I refuse to answer." Thus recognizing my little question game as to what the argument is about , whereby Bernard shall be "hung by his own petard ," [without a scrap of evidence or documentation] how ever he answers.

Arthur Miller turns in his grave. Mr LeFever you claim to have evidence and documentation, produce it now.
----------------/ /-----------------------
insinuation is just as effective?
by Frank LeFever
( HelpFixWBAI (at) yahoo (dot) com ) Sunday Jul 5th, 2009 12:46 PM
Insinuation is effective only up to the moment that the question is answered, yes or no.

If Bernard says yes, that ends the insinuation and it remains only to hear the details.

If Bernard says no, then it will be up to me to provide contradictory evidence.

The power to end that insinuation rests entirely in Bernard's hands.
------------------------------------------
slam dunk?
by G.F
Monday Jul 6th, 2009 3:28 AM
If you have documentation as you claim your responsibility quite clearly is to produce it for the listeners who trust WBAI and the wider community by which the station is funded.Good representation ends where insinuation begins Mr LeFever ; Remember Colin Powell's slam dunk? What kind of radio station do you want to build with this kind of conduct ? One of "gag rules" and accusation ? You stated : " My evidence is not anecdotal. It is documented, at least for one occasion." I have asked you to produce this "evidence" three times and remind you of your responsibility to do so. I don't believe that you have it , this reflects badly on you and your associates other claims.
------------------------------------------
Bernard is ducking the issue.
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org ) Monday Jul 6th, 2009 1:16 PM
I am letting Bernard continue talking about "false allegations", as a test of his character.

Surely you know that a man with nothing to hide would have said "No, I never mis-allocated WBAI funds" the FIRST time I asked.

Similarly, more than once he has been asked (by others, not just myself) to permit disclosure of the LSB executive session proceedings, so others can see whether his version of things is confirmed or contradicted by the facts.

A reasonable person would conclude that he does not want this side-by-side comparison of what happened with what he says happened, and must ask why he is reluctant to do this.

Don't YOU wonder?

Do you think this level of evasion speaks well for how WBAI has been managed for the past 6 years or more?
---------------------/ /-----------------------
Help -- run the "demon" tape again!
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org ) Monday Jul 6th, 2009 4:44 PM
Every time Bernard is confronted with a question he dares not answer, he hauls out Steve Brown to provoke a Big Brother 1984 hate session...

...hoping people's attention will be diverted from himself long enough for him to get by -- or get over.
---------------/ /-----------------------------
Wow, a lot of questions!
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org ) Tuesday Jul 7th, 2009 8:25 PM
A lot of questions; I will TRY to answer.

JUST A LISTENER: "...Here we are, Bernard and crew are gone and there should be a new era of openness and harmony - but is that so?..."

There are not as many people gone as JUC would have you believe, and they have not all left for the same reasons.

For example,

"Don DeBar writes that he has 'actually been banned and fired by
WBAI.' In actuality, he quit the station in a huff even though
management told him explicitly that they were continuing his regular
reports from Westchester and other projects."

"He also had written that Mimi Rosenberg had been fired from WakeUp
call. In actuality, Mimi has been given the job of 'labor reporter'
for WakeUp Call, appears there in that capacity on a regular basis
and also continues to do her own show, Building Bridges, with Ken Nash..."

[posted to one or more "Green" lists by Mitchel Cohen]


Ayo Harrington had ALREADY been laid off as "premium non-mailer" by former GM, Anthony Riddle, long ago.

Anthony Riddle was removed from his GM position, but has been transferred to a different job, working on development projects for WBAI.

Most of the people whose tenure as broadcasters depended on fealty to Bernard are still there, and they are MANY.

Ken Nash, for example, will again try to use his role in the "shadow" company-union "USOC" to determine who is allowed to vote for staff representatives to the LSB -- as he managed to do in past elections.

Even so, the atmosphere at 120 Wall Street has improved, and the animosity you see chiefly fueled by weekly rallies and demonstrations (including picketing the station) by JUC supplemented by the troops of the WWP front, ANSWER, supplemented by numerous online efforts.

The animosity will continue and indeed intensify as we move towards the LSB elections, because the people desperate to "take back" what they consider to be "their" station see no other option, and have managed to inflame the passions of a lot of rank and file members who truly believe that there is a racist conspiracy to deprive them of a progressive radio voice.

JUST A LISTENER: "...I listened the the 'Talk to the Listeners' and frankly thought Ms Williams sounded as if she were trained in the Dick Cheney School of Governance. She had a curt 'my way or the highway' attitude toward some of the callers..."

I am reminded of the fable of a young mouse returning from a venture into the barnyard reporting of seeing a frightening monster, all red and shiny and making harsh noises but then finding a reassuringly soft & fuzzy gray-furred potential friend who seemed to want to play. Dear foolish one, mouse-mother said: the first one was a rooster, who would not harm you, but the other is a cat, a deadly enemy.

Bernard has a purring radio voice (albeit HE has been known to cut people off, and to vilify absent listeners by name). LaVarn means business and may be impatient with those who are misusing such calls or mis-stating facts -- I would have to know the details of the exchange to comment further.

JUST A LISTENER: "...I keep hearing there is no gag rule except regarding private personnel information..."

That is not exactly it: the prohibition is chiefly against defamatory comments about ANY individual not present with access to the mic for a reply. Bernard and side-kick Errol Maitland have been notorious for doing this.

JUST A LISTENER: "...Yet the host of 'City Watch' was suspended and one episode purged from the archives when he expressed his disapproval of Bernard's firing (I did not hear any private information mentioned on the bootleg recording available on other websites)..."

If the recording was complete, it would have included his bad-mouthing specific individuals, including one who IS A CANDIDATE FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE LSB. This was a clear violation of very explicit Fair Campaign rules. Consequently, the penalty was imposed by the Local Election Supervisor, who is independent, answerable only to the National Election Supervisor, and cannot be instructed or constrained by Pacifica management, national or local.

JUST A LISTENER: "...What of Bernard's firing? If Bernard harassed staffers as some allege, why has no one gone public?..."

They have. Most famously, Interim GM Indra Hardat at the PNB meeting in L.A. (2006). Mike Feder complained of being harassed. Other examples are out there.

JUST A LISTENER: "...Why weren't formal complaints filed? Why did nobody capture Bernard's misbehavior on an audio or video recording?..."

You could say that Indra's complaint, as IGM speaking to the PNB, was formal.

A complaint was filed (a police complain, I think) about one of his foot-soldiers (Cerene Roberts), who was subsequently banned from the premises for 9 months.

As for audio or video recording... aw, c'mon -- you've watched too many episodes of Mission Impossible. Compact (hidden) recording devices are not cheap, WBAI staff are not wealthy, and how many devices would have to be carried 24/7 to catch the right moment? Harassment can be accomplished by very subtle gestures, words, facial expressions, etc. in situations where one person has all the power and the other person is vulnerable.

JUST A LISTENER: "...If Bernard misappropriated (doesn't that mean stole?) funds why haven't charges been filed? If someone steals from WBAI they are not only stealing from WBAI and Pacifica, but from the supporters of the station..."

As I have tried to explain before, at the time he was caught doing this, his protectors were solidly in power. Even if local management WANTED to file charges, Pacifica national would have ensured that would be the local manager's last act as a Pacifica employee.

JUST A LISTENER: "...Something else that strikes me as odd. For some time fundraisers have failed to meet their goal, yet miraculously this latest fundraiser, the first under the new management not only met, but exceeded the goal. Hmm, Ms Williams and others contend that weak station programming turned off potential donors. Yet this last fundraiser happened early in the new regime, before any noticeable on air changes..."

Many people stated publicly that they were resuming donations (or resuming former high amounts) because news of the management change gave them HOPE for improvement. It may be also that the message FINALLY sank in (even the JUC had to admit it after denying it for many years) that WBAI was in deep, deep, deep financial trouble.

JUST A LISTENER: "...Was the old management stealing donations?..."

One of the things we are trying to determine in our lawsuit (I am one plaintiff) is the reason why so many members failed to get ballots in the last election. It may be that many pledge cards were "lost", either systematically (Cerene Roberts handled many of them and knew who would be likely to vote how, based on the programs during which they called in pledges) or just randomly -- i.e. by careless handling.

JUST A LISTENER: "...Is the new management rigging the fundraiser to look good?..."

The pledge cards are there. It's easy to tear up good ones and hard to write phony ones in large numbers. The truth will out in the FULFILLMENT rate.


STILL A LISTENER: "...Was Bernard and friends running the station for their personal gain?..."

In my opinion, yes. This belief can be supported by evidence such as an on-air fund-raiser actually LOSING money (i.e. more "expenses" than revenue), and others for which itemized accounting of expenses & revenue has been missing or with-held. It can be supported by one Bernard mutual-protector GM having equipment purchased for WBAI sent elsewhere. It can be supported by people using office space and/or equipment for their own private enterprises [re office space: see front page of http://takeFORWARDwbai.org ]

JUST A LISTENER: "...Is the new regime a front for Steve Brown's effort to turn the station into a channel to push his products?.."

Excuse me while I clear the milk out of my nostrils (too funny for me to resist a spasmodic laugh). Steve Brown has relatively little influence over what any of us do or say, locally or nationally. I don't know that much about his finances, but I doubt that he needs or wants to earn more money. WBAI would lose its non-profit status and license if it were used to hawk commercial items. The usual story is that he wants to control programming to advance Zionism or some such crap.

Incidentally, Bernard recruited one "alternate health" broadcaster who can be said to be pushing his "products" and whose family is (in effect) paying for these "infomercials".


JUST A LISTENER: "...WBAI listeners are taught to be suspicious, to look for hidden agendas, to distrust those who withhold information..."

This sometimes goes to an extreme, of course. "Conspiracy theories" are big sellers a WBAI. However, what information do you feel is being withheld in the current situation? If I can provide it or find someone who can, I will.

STILL A LISTENER: "...I don't entirely agree with Bernard's argument but I understand it..."

I can "understand" it also, having seen it used repeatedly to divert attention from real issues. I have even had the "argument" turned on me: when I criticized a committee chair's absurdly incompetent screw-up of planning for a Town Hall meeting, I was told that I had a "melanin deficiency disease".

JUST A LISTENER: "...Williams and company have so far done a poor job of gaining the trust of this and I believe many other listeners..."

What would she have to do to gain your trust?

JUST A LISTENER: "...Secrecy may help in legal battles but it will loose the war for listener dollars and (LSB) votes..."

What "secrets" do you propose that LaVarn and others should reveal?

JUST A LISTENER: "...PS Why aren't all LSB meetings videoed and viewable online?"

Easy: there is no provision for doing that and no money for doing that. JUC has multiple video cameras in operation at every meeting, but use selected segments for widely-distributed propaganda. ONE person (Albert Solomon) does record entire sessions, un-edited, on his own volition, and makes them available online. However, he could scarcely afford the equipment & supplies, and has asked people to help defray costs. Try his website: http://pacvid1.com/page3.html and [because he is rather eccentric and does not organize the site in a way that facilitates communication] try emailing him, hobces (at) yahoo (dot) com.
----------------------------------------------
Re : Bernard is ducking the issue.
by G.F
Wednesday Jul 8th, 2009 6:39 AM
I ask you a again Mr LeFever for the evidence .
Obviously your permitting Mr White to " continue talking about
"false allegations", as a test of his character," is more important than your responsibility to basic transparency at a public institution . Fair enough , let the voters decide.

If Mr White waved confidentiality would it not prejudice any case
he bought against you for unfair dismissal ? Hence insinuation to force his hand ? Or did Pacifica's lawyers advise you not to disclose it because his dismissal was illegal ?

Talk of Lawyers reminds me of the last coup ; when the network was liberated from a 'self selecting' PNB huge bills to expensive Washington law firms were discovered.
-------------------/ /---------------------
Evidence provided immediately.
by Frank LeFever
Wednesday Jul 8th, 2009 2:04 PM
G.F.: "...I ask you again Mr LeFever for the evidence.."

Moments after Bernard answers "yes" or "no", I will present the documentation by which one can judge the validity of his answer.
-----------------/ /--------------------------
How about THESE questions?
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org ) Friday Jul 10th, 2009 9:55 PM
Do Bernard's video cameo appearances include one in which he answers THIS question?

"Have you ever mis-allocated WBAI funds?"

Or this question?

"Will you authorize disclosure of the proceedings of the executive session of the LSB that resulted in a negative evaluation of your performance as Program Director?"
------------------------------------------------
re:How about THESE questions?
by G.F
Saturday Jul 11th, 2009 10:05 PM
Mr LeFever ,
"Moments after Bernard answers "yes" or "no", I will present the documentation by which one can judge the validity of his answer." Justice delayed is justice denied.Your stipulation that Mr White answer the question when you CLAIM to have secret evidence is McCarthyite ; the burden of proof is upon you.

Do you have evidence that Mr White mis-allocated funds ? Have you launched legal action to recoup the funds? If not why not ? You alone would not be privy to this information. Please list all those who have seen it so we can ask them about your insinuations.
---------------/ /--------------------------------
More than one executive session.
by Frank LeFever
Sunday Jul 12th, 2009 1:13 PM
ENLIGHTENED: "I was just going over the roster of WBAI LSB members and I see that you are not a member of the board. So, I'm wondering if there was some discussion in this illegal, secret, closed session board meeting that led to the firing of Mr. White regarding the theft of funds, how did you get a copy of the proceedings? How do you know what was discussed in this closed session meeting?..."

Good work, Enlightened! I respect people who do their research (being a researcher -- in neuroscience -- myself).

HOWEVER:

(1) Of these 3 descriptors, "illegal, secret, closed session board meeting", two are redundant ("closed session" and "secret"), and the other is false. Closed ("executive") sessions are specifically provided for in Pacifica governance, and are MANDATORY when confidential personnel matters are discussed.

(2) I do not know WHAT was discussed at that meeting. I have no idea whether mis-allocation of funds was included [n.b. "theft" is your term, not mine]

ENLIGHTENED: "...I also read some thing written by Mr. White where he stated specifically the reasons given to him by LaVarn Williams as to the reasons he was terminated. Neither of the two reasons he gave contain your allegations..."

(1) These are the reasons that LaVarn made public as the basis for HER decision.

(2) Whether these are the only reasons for the RECOMMENDATION by the LSB is a matter of speculation.

(3) There is no requirement that the LSB and the GM agree on details: it suffices that they agree on the action to be taken (retention or dismissal).

ENLIGHTENED: "...Why should anyone believe you and not LaVarn Williams? Was she lying Frank? Is she a liar? After all the termination letter is a legal document and the only statement that will stand up in court as to the reasons for White's termination..."

If she saw those reasons as sufficient for dismissal, there is no need for her to add other reasons. Whether other reasons strengthened her resolve, I have no way of knowing.

ENLIGHTENED: "...What gives here? Are trying to pull a fast one on us Frank? Are you running some private campaign? Why should anyone listen to you?"

Bernard is trying to portray his dismissal as part of a nation-wide racist conspiracy directed against local autonomy, free speech, and progressive broadcasting. I am trying to get people to question that and see what insiders at WBAI see: tawdry self-serving efforts to hold on to a feudal domain controlled by patronage and access to station resources for personal gain.

ENLIGHTENED: "...how did you get a copy of the proceedings? How do you know what was discussed in this closed session meeting?..."

I did get a copy of proceedings of a PREVIOUS executive session. Bernard surely must know this, otherwise he would have answered very simply, "no, I never mis-allocated WBAI funds."

I also know (from my work in the Finance committee) of at least one (in house, on air) fund-raiser by one of his cronies that had expenses EXCEEDING revenues, and numerous others for which no itemized accounting of expenses OR revenue could be obtained; and of a hge budget over-run of un-named "consultants" whose services, dates of service, or individual fees could not be identified.

And there is also the matter of rent-free office space for somebody's private enterprises:
http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/whohasarentfreewbai.html
--------------/ /--------------------------------
Sounds BAD, and it DOES make sense!
by Frank LeFever
Monday Jul 13th, 2009 4:37 PM
ENLIGHTENED: "What you are saying just doesn't make much sense..."

I can understand your consternation. A lot of things "don't make sense" if your experience has not included the context in which they DO make sense. Didn't make sense to me as a child that a boat made of reinforced concrete or metal could float. Didn't make sense to millions of people to say that the earth wasn't "flat".

To do some catch-up work on the context in which these paradoxical WBAI phenomena make sense, do some preliminary reading on the PACIFICA "Big Picture": http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/thebigpicture.html

ENLIGHTENED: "...When did these things allegedly happen?..."

Various things happened at various times, but the thing Bernard dares not deny publicly happened in the fall of 2003.

ENLIGHTENED: "...Why isn't the finance committee making these claims?..."

Here are some early Finance Committee discussions:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wbailsbfinance/message/209
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wbailsbfinance/message/285
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wbailsbfinance/message/312

Scroll to earlier and later messages to get a fuller picture.

[NOTE: at the time, the public was NOT allowed to see any Finance Committee messages, only in the past year have we had a Treasurer (R. Paul Martin) who agreed with me that the list should be publicly accessible.]

ENLIGHTENED: "...I thought only the Station Managers can hire and fire paid staff?..."

In theory, yes. However, people on the scene know that Bernard has always called the shots. His most spectacular act of insubordination was his over-riding his nominal superior (iGM Indra Hardat) in a physically menacing way when she dared negotiate a deal for Gary Null to return for a "farewell" broadcast after Bernard kicked him out. He "asked" iGM Adams to give himself responsibility for Premiums (non-)Mailing and promptly hired Ayo Harrington (who had managed a secret "evaluation" of Bernard's performance).

As you can see in early Finance Committee exchanges, we never were able to identify the "consultants" that were hired.

ENLIGHTENED: "...How could Bernard be held responsible if in fact a private enterprise had space in WBAI? Why would the last five Station Managers let a private enterprise exist in the station? Would each of them jeopardize their employment to allow this to go on under their watch?..."

Read http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/thebigpicture.html now, if you haven't read it already, or read it again if you have. The Power Structure was such that their jobs would have been jeopardized if they penalized Bernard in any way.

ENLIGHTENED: "...Were they all corrupt too?????..."

Well, let's just say that at the time of the mis-allocation I have alluded to, Don Rojas was GM. He was not in a very good position to discipline Bernard because (1) he had abandoned his station during this period without making arrangements for supervision, and (2) he mis-allocated WBAI resources himself, most notably when he had $65,000 of equipment purchased "for WBAI" sent to his father's address in NJ. Bernard rode rough-shod over Indra Hardat, she was the obvious target of Bernard protectors on the national level (as well as JUC locally) and her own fall-back job (Financial Officer) was insecure. Robert Scott Adams was a recovering(?) substance abuser and internet sex-trash blogger who was in what was essentially a temp job (iGM) and no place to go afterwards.

Indra DID succeed in some minor reforms in the handling of the WBAI cash-cow: she insisted that NUMBERED TICKETS be used for the cash-only door fees for WBAI's "Pier Parties", to allow SOME accounting of revenues.

ENLIGHTENED: "...You seem to be dumping a lot on Bernard's table that was not a part of his area of responsibility and that all of the five station managers allowed this to happen without ever reporting it to the board or the Finance Committee. I find that extremely difficult to believe. It just doesn't make sense...."

Yes, in a normal organization with normal safe-guards it would not make sense. It makes sense only if you understand how entrenched management and staff at each (or almost all) Pacifica stations colluded with each other to maintain control of their own private turfs.

I'll give you examples of the kind of people we're dealing with:

Sherry Gendelman (KPFA, former chair of the PNB and former iED of Pacifica), a lawyer KNOWN to have (1) lied to a client, (2) failed to prepare for a hearing (to the disadvantage of the client), and (3) misled the court.

Dan Siegel: as General Counsel advised EDs to ignore more than one law, and as iED ignoring it himself -- as well as intervening in LSB elections on behalf of turf-protectors (including the JUC).

Lonnie Hicks: as CFO, tried to obtain signature privileges for a WBAI bank account for a former ED (Dan Coughlin) AFTER that ED was already out of office.

ENLIGHTENED: "...You've answered all my questions but you have used nonsensical responses. I find this to be very insulting to my intelligence..."

"Nonsensical" is in the mind of the beholder (or the bewildered, or simply uninformed).

ENLIGHTENED: "...This is a childish tactic that is not worthy of the truth teller you purport to be..."

Like Socrates, I hope to goad you into asking enough questions until you manage to educate yourself.

COMING UP SOON: similarities between Ron Pinchback and Bernard other than the "racial" one that is all Bernard sees; also, what the new auditor found, compared with what the old auditor found.
--------------/ /------------------------------
Is this a forgery?
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org ) Monday Jul 13th, 2009 8:16 PM
After "Enlightened" posts a series of apparently sincere and "indignant" challenges requiring me to provide details, I provide details which SOMEBODY using the name "Enlightened" immediately tries to bury:

Heeere's Stevie
by Enlightened
Monday Jul 13th, 2009 7:43 PM

Same old smokescreen Bernard's gang always resorts to, same old demon to divert attention from Bernard's record.

Bytheway:
(1) "Enlightened" is not very well-informed about who is running for re-election and who is not.
(2) As you can see by my messages to IndyMedia (http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2009/05/105526.html ) and elsewhere, I and others have been encouraging EVERYBODY independent of JUC to file as candidates. The independent movement is much bigger than Steve Brown -- and is independent of him.

Now, let's get back to something REALLY relevant, examining Bernard's mis-allocation of WBAI funds and the misdeeds of his protectors.
-------------------------------------------------
COME ONE COME ALL!
by Bernard White
Monday Jul 13th, 2009 8:35 PM
Just thought I'd drop in to let you know about this important event.

THE COALITION TO TAKE BACK WBAI
The Action for Justice Committee
The Anti-Racism Team & Resistance Cinema

PRESENTS: T I M W I S E

“PROGRESSIVE LEFT MEDIA AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM”
Thursday, July 23
6:30-9:00 pm

Tim Wise is one of the most brilliant, articulate and courageous critics of white privilege in the nation." — Michael Eric Dyson, best-selling author and University of Pennsylvania professor

Community updates on the purge at WBAI and throughout Pacifica

BERNARD WHITE: Fired Program Director of WBAI
LESLIE RADFORD: National Board Member from KPFK, Los Angeles FERNANDO VELASQUEZ: Fired KPFK News Director, Executive Producer of Informativo Pacifica, Pacifica's daily Spanish language news program
LAWRENCE REYES: KPFK Member and Community Activist
and others...

The Community Church of New York
40 E. 35th St. (bet. Park & Madison Aves.) Manhattan (#6 Train to 33rd St.)
Admission Free….Donations will be accepted.
Tim Wise’s books will be available for purchase.
For more information, call: 212-561-7231

Should be a nice program on the eve of the PNB meeting. Hopefully Cynthia McKinney will attend the PNB to tell her story of dealings with the Steve Brown/Grace Aaron administration.

Although this guy Frank has been assigned to give everyone who reads his stuff the impression that this is about me, after the PNB weekend it will have become clear for all to see that this is by no means, about me. It's about the theft of the network.

Come out and hear for yourself and come to your own conclusions.
--------------------------------------------------
Yes, it's all about theft.
by Frank LeFever
Monday Jul 13th, 2009 9:52 PM
(1) Nobody "assigns" me to do ANYTHING.

(2) I'll acknowledge Bernard's expertise regarding "theft".

Go ahead: pull out the Big Bad Steve Brown smokescreen again!
-------------------------------------------------
worker
by SuperS
Tuesday Jul 14th, 2009 5:23 AM
speaking of theft

has anyone seen
the wbai cameras
the MLK DVDs, the midnight Ravers DVD
The results of the money paid for premium distribution to a contract agency
the box of "premium books" now missing from the premium office
the on air results of many long distance calls particularly to Jamaca, the Island
the source, reason for WBAI conference calls after 9pm
Xerox paper used to xerox JUC and Mumia flyers
the equiptment taken from WBAI via hired truck and by paid staff later retrieved in WBAI assigned locker
all this without mention of the "pier party" cash cows
need I go on?
Add a Comment
§Follow-up to all this: "Kicking Pacifica when it's down."
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org ) Tuesday Jul 21st, 2009 9:25 PM
The real reasons for JUC's front group (the "take back" movement) and the damage it is doing to Pacifica:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/20/18611770.php
--------------/ /---------------------------
§Which program was that?
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org ) Sunday Jul 26th, 2009 2:10 PM
TRANSPARENT "GF" (JUC posing as "newcomer seeking answers"): "...Mr LeFever's claim of some kicking WBAI when it's down is a case in point. He's bad mouthed at least one program that airs on WBAI in this thread. Perhaps his own reprimands don't apply to him?..."

(1) This has been a long thread, and I don't recall "badmouthing" even one WBAI program (nevermind "at least one"). Perhaps "GF" would care to specify?

(2) I will never hesitate to criticize programs, and usually offer a balanced criticism (e.g. I value MORC for its very interesting mix of music we don't usually hear -- middle east, North African, Central America, etc. -- and interesting commentary on less-well covered social/political movements in those regions; but I give the host poor marks for his inability to dialogue with listeners who call in). However, this is far from attempting to discredit the entire elected governance and management of Pacifica by calling all of its actions "racist".

"GF" re TIMING: "...I believe you have to contextualize his actions within what is happening. He's not going to say 'They were decent people (White & Riddle etc)but we rolled them because we wanted power to be in the hands of our cronies.' Is he ?..."

Although I (very naively) welcomed the return of Bernard and the rest of the "fired and banned" several years ago, I learned enough about Bernard and other WBAI managers soon enough to want a house-cleaning years before I ever heard of Grace Aaron or LaVarne Williams, and scarcely knew others on the national scene even by name. [for some insight into the national scene and some names, see http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/thebigpicture.html and for some insight as to what I was learning at the local level, read the early archives (c. 2004-2005) of WBAI's Finance Committee, at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wbailsbfinance -- who knows, you might even see something about mis-allocation of funds there!]

[NOTE re TRANSPARENCY: one of my fights from the beginning was to make Finance Committee archives readable by the public; JUC fought this. Is wasn't until R. Paul Martin became Treasurer that a Finance Committee chair agreed with me that this should be done.]

"GF": "...A still more timely reason for his insinuations is the LSB elections. Again he's not going to say ' That I myself have asserted to have evidence against Mr White which I will not show to anyone else while making the claim over and over again begs belief .But if even one voter is swayed by my little untruth it's a win for me.' That's called a smear campaign and demonstrates a clear contempt for the voters..."

Bernard's mis-allocations (in at least one case) were made public several years ago. I have explained why he got away with it then. Reminding people of this is timely now because his protectors have only recently been deprived of their ability to shield him from the consequences of his actions and his inactions.

As for Riddle: that is a more complex story. I had great hopes for Riddle and got a lot of flak for saying so. I have considerable compassion for him -- even though he has escaped firing and has been "bumped upstairs" to an easier Pacifica job. When I say easier, I have in mind the extraordinary hard work and long hours he put into his work as a GM, in sharp contrast to Bernard White's sloth and complacency. Unfortunately, JUC got to him very early (Ayo Harrington helped him get an apartment in her building) and he found their flattery more persuasive than our criticism.
--------------/ /-------------------------------
Step By Step
by Bernard White
Wednesday Jul 29th, 2009 12:36 PM
Dear Friends and supporters,

I want to express my sincerest gratitude to those of you who attended the “Takeback WBAI Coalition” forum this past Thursday at the Community Church. You were part of an enthusiastic standing-room-only audience. Tim Wise was, as usual, exciting and informative as he deconstructed institutional racism in progressive left media. Tim was also able to draw parallels from the struggle at WBAI, Pacifica and so called progressive left media as it relates to the issue of systemic racism. We also heard from the fired Executive Director of Informativo, Fernando Velasquez and Lawrence Reyes community activist and observer of the KPFK experience. They were able to give us some primary source information about the actions of Grace Aaron at KPFK. Their testimonials illustrated the fact that what is happening at WBAI is not an isolated incident but part of a network wide purge of people of color.

Your presence was in stark contrast to the fund raising event that was held by the staff at WBAI a week earlier. Even though they were able to advertise the event incessantly over a two-week period they were only able to get thirty people to attend. About fifty percent of the thirty people in attendance were either WBAI staff members or non-paying friends of the performers. This is a clear example of their disconnection with community. If they were linked to community issues, struggles and culture they would have known that this program would not attract an audience. This is not an indictment of the quality of the performers that donated their time but it is an illustration of the lack of connection to community that the new leadership at WBAI shares in common.

Following Tim Wise’s presentation of Thursday the Takeback WBAI Coalition focused its efforts on the Pacifica Nation Board meeting that was held in Manhattan this weekend. The coalition took a very vocal, no-business-as usual stance and was able to successfully disrupt the meeting. Members of the coalition were able to confront members of the board majority over its violations of Pacifica’s bylaws, employment policies and their overt bigotry.

Having two very successful actions is not enough to turn this coup around. We have to continue to turn up the heat at every occasion. Our next opportunity to get their attention is the up-coming WBAI fund drive. The major question that we must grapple with is whether or not listeners should continue to finance the purge of African American and Latino employees or give financial contributions in support of racism and the abandonment of the Pacifica Mission.

It’s up to you. WBAI/Pacifica’s future depends on the actions that you take or on your inactions.

Bernard White
Add a Comment
§Bernard is working to BANKRUPT the station he can no longer exploit.
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai at yahoo dot com ) Sunday Aug 9th, 2009 5:32 PM
Bernard brags about (1) competing with WBAI for funds and (2) disrupting a session of a democratically elected board of directors who have the legal responsibility for ensuring the survival of WBAI and the Pacifica Foundation (which owns WBAI). HE ALSO WANTS TO MAKE THE ON-AIR FUNDRAISER FAIL.

Step By Step
by Bernard White
Wednesday Jul 29th, 2009 12:36 PM
Dear Friends and supporters,

EXCERPTS:

"I want to express my sincerest gratitude to those of you who attended the “Takeback WBAI Coalition” forum this past Thursday at the Community Church. You were part of an enthusiastic standing-room-only audience. Tim Wise was, as usual, exciting and informative...Your presence was in stark contrast to the fund raising event that was held by the staff at WBAI a week earlier..."

"...Following Tim Wise’s presentation of Thursday the Takeback WBAI Coalition focused its efforts on the Pacifica Nation Board meeting that was held in Manhattan this weekend. The coalition took a very vocal, no-business-as usual stance and was able to successfully disrupt the meeting..."

BERNARD IS ALSO SAYING "MAYBE WE SHOULD FORCE WBAI INTO BANKRUPTCY"

PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS!

BERNARD WHITE SAYS: "...Our next opportunity to get their attention is the up-coming WBAI fund drive. The major question that we must grapple with is whether or not listeners should continue to finance the purge of African American and Latino employees or give financial contributions in support of racism and the abandonment of the Pacifica Mission..."

BERNARD IS SAYING: "Let all the remaining staff at WBAI be fired, let the landlord evict WBAI from its studios, and let WBAI lose its irreplaceable Empire State Building transmitter & antenna!"

BERNARD IS SAYING: "Apres moi, le deluge!"

HIS MOTTO: IF I CAN'T HAVE IT, NOBODY CAN HAVE IT!

http://take FORWARDwbai.org
Add a Comment
§Step By Step
by Bernard White
Tuesday Aug 11th, 2009 2:44 PM
Hey Frank ,

You're still here?

Are people responding to your distorted message?

Have WBAI's listeners begun to recognize that you are lying?
-----------------------------------------------
How Brown Gets Down
by Bernard White
Tuesday Aug 11th, 2009 3:21 PM
Frank your boss, Steve Brown has brought this same behavior to Pacifica.

You know it's that changing spots thing.

Check this one out.

http://takebackwbai.org/pdf/1988-05-07.NYTimes.Mail-OrderHouseof100Names-.pdf
----------------------------------------
Reaching back 21 years? Bernard's abuses are RECENT.
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai at yahoo dot com ) Friday Aug 14th, 2009 11:33 PM
You reach back TWENTY-ONE YEARS for a story of dubious accuracy and relevance, about someone who has no more authority in WBAI than any other LSB member and no special influence or power over me or other independent candidates.

However, I need go back less than 21 MONTHS to find SOME of Bernard White's abuses or misuse of station resources, and there are a few more, beginning less than SIX years ago.

Considering that he was a MANAGER at WBAI and had responsibilities, as well as power, far exceeding those of any LSB member, I think it is MUCH more relevant to talk about Bernard White than to talk about Steve Brown.
------------------------------------------------
Bernard White and Ron Pinchback have more than one thing in common
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai at yahoo dot com ) Friday Aug 14th, 2009 11:45 PM
G.F says "I think some perspectives about events at KPFK and WPFW from listeners would be helpful in this discussion .There seem to be commonalities in what is happening at these two stations with what has occurred at WBAI. Lets put the pieces together."

Yes, "commonalities" indeed! Bernard sees only one shared attribute among managers recently removed from their positions: "race".

Judging by the first report of the newly-appointed WPFW General Manager (who, incidentally, shares that attribute), there may be something else Bernard White and Ron Pinchback have in common:

"...we have been unearthing unpaid invoices to us from the 2007 Gala event which was itself a curious accounting misadventure in the many ways it blended Pacifica Foundation payments with those from WPFW...WPFW has not fared well with its events. Our latest, popularly known as “The Duck Race”, lost $14,612.40..."
http://www.pacificafoundation.org/national/documents/task,doc_download/gid,110/
-----------------------------------------------
typo!
by Frank LeFever
( helpfixwbai at yahoo dot com ) Saturday Aug 15th, 2009 6:54 PM
Please note that somewhere along the way the saved URL for take FORWARD wbai got corrupted and copied into each subsequent IndyBay comment.

It should read: http://takeFORWARDwbai.org
http://takeFORWARDwbai.org
Add a Comment
§Keep Talking To Yourself
by Bernard White
Thursday Aug 27th, 2009 11:01 PM
Hey LeFever,

I see that you are still actively creating fantastic tales to capture the imagination of the public. It won't work Frank. You might as well give it up. Many, many people have known me for years. They know who I am and what I stand for. You will never be able to sell your nonsense to them. But, I guess that you have nothing else to do with your little life so you want to build up yours by destroying mine. You are obviously a very lonely person.

As I told you before WBAI listeners for the most part are not stupid and they have very sensitive "Bullshit Sensors." Your fabrications moves their gauge to the high-end of the scale.

Wait until the next election and you will see how few people have bought into your madness. By the way, what is this sexist statement you made about wanting to touch some woman's breast? Or do you deny making that statement? You dirty old man. (http://www.justiceunity.com)

By the way did you hear that there is a "Takeback Campaign" at KPFK, KPFA and one developing at WPFW. Do you think they formed because of me or do they see the same racist behavior manifesting at their stations.

I have to go now but I know we will all see you again the next time you crawl out of your dark hole to flash us again.

"No lie can live forever."
------------------------------------------------
No Denial in Sight
by Bernard White
Sunday Aug 30th, 2009 5:53 PM
Well Frank I guess you don't want the truth to be told. You're so quick on demanding a response to your odious assertions.

Why haven't you denied my charge?

I'm waiting!!!

"No lie can live forever."

http://www.takebackwbai.org

http://www.whoisstevebrown.info/

http://www.justiceandunity.org/steve-brown-disassociates.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY1PPeBxqGojusticeunity.org
--------------------------------------------------
Cat Got Your Pen?
by Bernard White
Thursday Sep 3rd, 2009 7:52 PM
Where are you Frank? I thought I'd hear from you by now.

If there is anyone else out there please visit these websites to get a better picture of this partially told story.


http://www.takebackwbai.org

http://www.whoisstevebrown.info/

http://www.justiceandunity.org/steve-brown-disassociates.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY1PPeBxqGo

http://www.justiceunity.org
----------------------------------------------------

NOTE: Early in this sequence, Bernard White abandoned the field an left it to (mostly anonymous) supporters to reply, obfuscate, or divert attention to other issues. His Sept. 3 comment is the last known response in this series of comments. The issue is still timely because of my comments on air during a Candidates Forum (see Candidate Forums box on front page of http://takeFORWARDwbai.org).
by Frank LeFever (helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org)
CORRECTION:
The "defense” has been culled from comments at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/20/18602969.php (“7 Removed in LA, DC and NY by the Grace Aaron-Steve Brown led purge of Pacifica (Facebook)” Saturday Jun 20th, 2009 7:36)
by Manny Two Words
How much will you pay me to hire a reader?
Nevermind, it's useless info anyway.
by Frank LeFever
Yeah, it's wordy, but I don't want anybody to say I didn't give Bernard a chance to defend himself.

He has been asked if he ever "mis-allocated" (or "reallocated" or "misused" or "used for his own private purposes") any WBAI funds.

So far, he has evaded answering the question, saying it is "absurd", but never saying "no, I did not", and this is an anthology of his repeated evasions. Just giving the man a fair chance to clear his name.

by Pilgrim's Prognosis
And said the exact same meaningless things
by Frank LeFever
BERNARD's the one saying meaningless things.

I'M saying Bernard took cash receipts from a WBAI fundraiser and used them for his own private purposes. Is that "meaningless"?

Don't you think that's kind of "meaningful"? Don't you think that means Bernard was doing something(s) at WBAI that he should not have been doing? Don't you think this is something to think about when he is conning people to disrupt Pacifica Foundation directors' meetings in an effort to get BACK into the station where he already has a history of mis-using its resources?
by Aaron Aarons (kpfa [at] aarons.f-m.fm)
I'm not a defender of Bernard White or the JUC and, if they had posted something like this, I might be challenging them. But, since this is Frank LeFever's post, I have a few questions for him:

1) Can you be more specific in defining "misallocation of funds" before expecting Bernard White to answer whether he has committed same?

2) Do you agree with one of the comments you included that refers to "Xerox paper used to xerox ... Mumia flyers" as if it were such a misallocation?
by Frank LeFever (helpfixwbai (at) yahoo (dot) org)
[1] Bernard knows damn well at least one incident I am referring to. The cash he ADMITTED to have taken on THAT occasion was c. $2,500. (If you examine the Finance Committee efforts to get a full accounting of revenues and expenses for that fund-raiser, you can see why one has to be a little uncertain as to whether $2,500 was the full amount.) I have been deliberately a little vague, because Bernard can not be sure that this is the ONLY "misallocation" or "reallocation" I know of. Many current JUC operatives (e.g. Cerene Roberts, Bob Lederer, Michael Warren, Lawrence Lucas, Ray Laforest) have first hand knowledge of this "incident" --- why not ask them? So far, they have been very very very quiet about this.

[2] As to xeroxing JUC and Mumia flyers. This was not MY comment. This was PART of a comment by someone else using the name of "SuperS". However, you will see or hear similar lists from people who have spent a lot of time at the studios in the past 5 or 6 years, suggesting that "everybody" knows the "$2,500" incident was just the tip of the ice-berg. For a SIGNED example, see http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/nystateandnyccountyd.html

Not being the author of the list you see in the comments here, I cannot be sure whether the author refers to separate leaflets for JUC and Mumia or leaflets that claimed a special role of JUC in Mumia's defense (just for the record, they are late-comers in the "Free Mumia!" movement compared to Carolyn Birden and Mitchell Cohen).

However, meritorious though it may seem, using the resources of a non-profit organization to advocate for specific individuals or organizations raises questions and may be problematic for its non-profit status. This is true in the case of non-WBAI fundraisers for Bernard White (sponsored by CEMOTAP, for example) -- especially those that competed with WBAI fund-raisers at a time when lesser-paid staff were being threatened with lay-offs or actually laid off (staff earning 1/4 what Bernard earned? he had 3rd highest salary in Pacifica, I believe).

Here is that list that refers to JUC & Mumia xeroxes:

----------------------------------------------------
worker
by SuperS
Tuesday Jul 14th, 2009 5:23 AM
speaking of theft

has anyone seen
the wbai cameras
the MLK DVDs, the midnight Ravers DVD
The results of the money paid for premium distribution to a contract agency
the box of "premium books" now missing from the premium office
the on air results of many long distance calls particularly to Jamaca, the Island
the source, reason for WBAI conference calls after 9pm
Xerox paper used to xerox JUC and Mumia flyers
the equiptment taken from WBAI via hired truck and by paid staff later retrieved in WBAI assigned locker
all this without mention of the "pier party" cash cows
need I go on?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please note that it does not include rent-free use of an office (and WBAI equipment) by a Bernard crony (est. $5,000 X 12 months X 6 years = ?). See http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/whohasarentfreewbai.html

Apparently, some people used WBAI equipment to make CDs which they sold to WBAI... One recently suspended broadcaster used 120 Wall Street, 10th floor and a WBAI phone number as his business address.

Tip of the iceberg, tip of the iceberg...

Titanic nearly sinking...
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