KPFA: Incorrect Material It Ain't

Facts

1) KPFA's financial position improved over the past year. In the fiscal year ending 9/30/10, KPFA lost $587k. In the fiscal year ending 9/30/1, KPFA lost about 37k.

2) At binding arbitration, the arbitrator ruled the layoff of Aimee Allison was due to economic necessity and not "retaliatory" or a breach of the union contract.

3) The National Labor Relations Board ruled that consulting with board members concerning layoffs is the right of management and not "tortious interference" with KPFA's union contract.

4) About a year ago, an email promoting the new Morning Mix program and raising funds directly for KPFA was sent by a Pacifica Director from an outside email server at the request of KPFA staff members.

5) A year ago the Pacifica Natiional Board determined that under the Pacifica Bylaws prohibition against "public office holders" and "political appointees" serving on Pacifica's boards, Dan Siegel's acceptance of appointments to advisory positions in the Mayor of Oakland's administration disqualified him from the KPFA LSB and PNB.

Siegel and several KPFA LSB members took the matter to court. On December 29th the court ruled that Pacifica's bylaws prohibitions should be narrowly construed to only apply to holders of "public office" as defined by California case law, and therefore that Siegel's political appointments do not disqualify him from Pacifica's boards.

An appeal of this decision may be taken in order to preserve Pacifica's bylaws protections against undue political influence on local and national boards.