Live: KPFA local station board meeting

I'm so glad to be able to listen to these meetings
But what happened? - halfway through you cut out, with no explanation!

The meeting went into Executive (non-public) session.

Executive session was scheduled for 1:15, acc. to the agenda at
KPFA.org/lsb. The 5 minute break after public comments was when
ECR cut out, & it was way before 1:15.
I'm wondering if we missed an abenda item or even 2, in that time.
I didn't hear them clear the room.

Former KPFA Employee Charges Sex Discrimination
By MATTHEW ARTZ

A former KPFA radio employee has filed a sexual discrimination and harassment suit against the station, charging that she was repeatedly harassed by her male supervisor and that station management refused to respond to her complaints and ultimately fired her when she continued to press her concerns.
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?issue=06-10-05&storyID=21580

No idea why, but it looked like IMC got what it came for and left without covering the rest of the meeting, which went until 2 or 2:30 before the LSB went to executive session.

Well we were told that the meeting was going to executive session after the recess, oh well. Not sure why/how we were given incorrect info. The stream had only 1 listener, but still I would have stayed if I hadn't received wrong info. There seems to be pretty low demand for a live stream so I'm not sure if I'll stream every meeting, but Brightpathvideo will probably be doing it -- see the other thread http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/06/1747037.php

Whoever you are thank you! You're streams and brightpaths archives are the only way I can track goings on internally at KPFA/Pacifica. I ran as a candidate in the first round of LSB elections and have not been able to stay informed or involved in the work. I live and work in the northbay, and am involved in many political and cultural projects at home, traveling to the eastbay to essentially listen to a meeting is more work than anyone should have to put in to stay informed on the governance of the station. Especially with the technology available today.

I believe the low listenership to the stream occurs for the same reason that the public comment voices are usually the same: no on-air promotion of board meetings, no on-air mentioning of goverenance difficulties. Subverting this strangle hold on information and debate will be difficult. Your streaming of the meetings is a crucial element of listener/community involvement. I will do all I can to promote your work and encourage others to take advantage of it.

Again thank you,

Ben Saari

Thanks for archiving this meeting... I listened to it 3am late last night. I've attended many of these meeting in person, but yesterday had a work conflict and couldn't come. Hopefully these LSB meetings, including the all important public comments, can be regularly archived and prominently featured with the other KPFA archives at http://www.kpfa.org. This is a public meeting and IMO there can be no legal liability created by recording and archiving the entire public content for public access later on. Creative fearful legal minds may disagree, but let's continually challenge such thinking lest we imprison ourselves... Yay Indybay.org!

Yeah, too bad that later part of the meeting was missed. (Would your referring to an agenda have helped?)

I wonder if I was that one listener. The volume of my gratefulness may not make up for the smallness of my number, but I do think your audience can increase as we get the word out. And BTW, my computer won't access
Bright Path Video versions of the LSB meeting stream & archive.

I'll contact the following to see if they will publicize your live & archived videos:

http://www.kpfa.org & http://www.kpfa.org/lsb
http://www.peoplesradio.net
http://www.struggleandwin.net
I believe they all have comments links/forms.
People's Radio also has periodic forums.

You might want to contact them, & so might others who are looking for more news of KPFA. Also remember that the LSB promised to have a town hall meeting on violence at KPFA in the next 90 days.

Thanks for doing videos of KPFA Local Station Board meetings -- BTW could you post to the IndyMedia section rather than Labor. Features page is good but could it end up in IM.
I can't get the videos off of your site -- are they even there? I can get other videos which have a link on IndyBay usually. Will you/are you going to put them there?
By the way I offered ECR to get publicity/links for their videos, I could do that for BP coverage if you want, & if I can access the coverage.

The Town Hall was proposed, not promised, and Riva Enteen strangely, or maybe not so strangely considering it was proposed by Mark Hernandez, vigorously opposed it. I wonder why and so should you. She was happy to give the dozen or so in attendance at the meeting 30 minutes. But not a Town Hall.

The proposal was added under new business as is common practice, but all the arguing, nitcpicking, obfuscating and obstruction by some -- though not all -- of the PR.net side contributed to that item never being voted on.

I hope Hernandez pushes to get that Town Hall on the calendar with or without a vote.

It looks like ECR doesn't have enough volunteers to webcast each and every LSB meeting.. Are there members of the KPFA community who would be interested in learning how to do the webcast? All you need is a laptop with wireless internet (wifi), PC or mac, old or new. Please spread the word and ask people to contact ecr [at] indymedia.org Thanks!

Hernandez promised that the Town Hall meeting would be held within 90 days. It was partly on that basis, I'm sure, that his counterproposal NOT to allow rep respose to public questions was passed.
Riva was pushing for the proposal, I think it was hers, which in any case was made first, which was for reps to reply to questions asked within the public comment. Hernandez was opposing this with his: that reps NOT reply within the public comment. The Town Hall idea, while allowing more time for discussion of the violence issue, put off the discussion.
I myself would have preferred BOTH, & I don't believe Riva was opposing
that meeting, merely opposing forgoing staff answers.
All the time which was spent on this proposal-counterproposal set could
indeed have been used for staff response time
I look forward to such a town hall meeting, the sooner the better, to respond to events which must not be allowed to recur.

KPFA has enough money to hire a very EXPENSIVE 'security' guard (to try to intimidate listener activists; the expensive part is the money that goes to the security firm, not perhaps the guard himself) and "parliamentarian" for its local station board, but it doesn't have ANY money, personnel or resources to video/audio webcast and archive its own meetings?

It's because the conservative/obstructionist/NPR-oriented members of the board don't want the public -- especially the listener pledge doners -- to see and know what they're doing at those meetings. They even tried to stop a KPFA unpaid volunteer program staff member, pledge doner and listener-activist from videotaping the PUBLIC meeting!

Yes, how ironic that the ones most upset about the presence of a security guard are the ones who were directly involved in violence against another board member last year. No wonder they want security when you are around. And little wonder you and your enabler on the LSB are whining the loudest about it.

"Yes, how ironic that the ones most upset about the presence of a security guard are the ones who were directly involved in violence against another board member last year."

Or the ones who always make such accusations never being able to be *SPECIFIC*.

If the incident you *VAGUELY* and *NONSPECIFICALLY* allege had been audio/video **WEBCAST** at the KPFA LSB (Local Station Board) public meeting, we all wouldn't have to rely on your vague and nonspecific accusations!

How 'bout *THAT*!?

A camera at the LSB meeting would not have caught you having to be restrained by two of your "colleagues" from physically attacking Marnie Tattersall outside of a closed interview meeting in front of the MECA office last summer. Regardless of what you may think of Ms. Tattersall, for you to be now whining about violence at the station is pretty freakin funny.

'eyewitness': "A camera at the LSB meeting would not have caught you having to be restrained by two of your "colleagues" from physically attacking Marnie Tattersall..."

But before they pulled me off I told her that, "I got a tool for fools to put 'em in check!!, and I *SMACKED* her all upside her head with mah *GATT*!! Then I pulled mah blade, swung it and scarred tha side of her face. She screamed. And then I said, "Take *this* beeeotch!," and smacked her all upside her hed again!! She screamed, "Stop him! Stop him! He's going to *kill* me!," and I yelled, [wwwhomp!] Save the drama fo' yo' mama!!," and smacked her again! And after "my colleagues" let me whooop on her a bit, *then* they finally stepped in and pulled me off as I kept shoutin' at her, "You *DEAD*, muthafucka! You *DEAD*! Next time I'mo bust a CAP in yo' ass, beeeotch! Next time you see me you might as well lie down, 'cause you **DEAD**!!

Her hed was all bloody an' shit ...! I left Marnie all bloody on the ground cryin' like a l'il bitch!!

I wish there *had* been a camera there! So I could have publicly established mah RRREP for *ALLLL* ta see!! I'd have stretched my arms and hands out to tha side and nodded my hed right in front of the lens, gangbanger style! --Just ta show I wasn't afraid to do it right on camera! --Just ta show how *BAAAD* I am...! --Just *BRAZEN*!!! And then, if I had been arrested and charged, Johnny Cochran could have gotten me off.

--Let muthafuckas know what *TIME* it is ...!!

*YOU* GOT A PROBLEM *NOW*, SO-CALLED "EYEWITNESS"...!?

ANYONE **ELSE** ALL UP IN THIS HERE SHIT GOT A PROBLEM ...!!???

NOW, WHAT *YOU* GOT TA SAY...???

Thank you, Joseph, for making my point for me.

Thanks Mr. Kennedy for starting VietnamWar

thank you
by eyewitness Wednesday, Jun. 22, 2005 at 12:01 AM:

"Thank you, Joseph, for making my point for me."

In 1996, Ebonics waz ofisaly rekonisd by the Oakland Skool Bored as naitive laingwhich of AfricanAmerican chuldren.

Itz estamtid ova fifdy million peoples speek ebonics fluintly. Ebonic Persuit waz diszind to hulp bridge the kumucatin gap b'tween ur fellow brothas & sistas.

Hi, I'm JA, a bigoted moron who smokes too much crack.

This is the bio I used to win election to the WPFW LSB
as unpaid staff representative, from which I resigned
in August 2004, after posting the following on an
internal Pacifica listserve on Apr. 30, 2004:

We here at the DC Radio Co-Op had a meeting yesterday
to address racism and sexism here. A lot of the
producers in the Co-Op are part of UNITY and as the
caucus has put itself out there on these issues young
producers, in my opinion rightly, hold us to high
standards of accountability when they bring forward
such concerns. That did not mean our process was free
of acrimony, or that it is not ongoing, but some basic
things were addressed seriously and resolved. We
decided that our co-op will not tolerate anyone
acting in a manner that blatantly violates the rights
of others without taking decisive action. In doing so
we did nothing particularly heroic beyond what is
called for in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the DC
Human Relations Act. We chose not to tolerate a
hostile work enviorment and called on our station
manager to get involved in resolving a complaint of
harassmentand intimidation by a male producer who had
worked closely with us since our inception. At the
request of the complaining producer we employed an
open process in which all co-op members could
participate. It was difficult, not all of us are happy
with the outcome, but the offending freelance producer
has agreed to resign.

Confronting racism, sexism, and patriarchy is never
easy. It is made no easier by thinking you are good on
these issues. The process we used involved bringing in
an outside arbitrator as well as the station manager.
After a meeting of almost five hours many of us felt
drained. While we had made progress many felt fearful
that the personal as the political could create a
byzantine climate of charges and counter charges in
which race, class, and gender become clubs to beat
each other over the head. That said we had as a group
moved forward on a set of explosive internal issues
and are continuing to advance. Heterosexual men, myself
included, are often reluctant to confront themselves and each other
on these issues, but they must be addressed. Instead
too often men cover-up and make excuses for one and
other. This is especially true of older men with
greater stature in the movement who's accusers are
often young women with little history. We have
established a 'zero tolerance' policy as of last
night. If a grievance is brought forward we have made
a commitment to investigating the facts and calling
for accountability, no matter who the perpetrator may
be. That's a step forward, it isn't the end of our
road though. But it is a step, and I commend our station manager
for joining us as we, no pun intended, grope our way
forward. Our process no doubt will fall short of
perfection and in the process of developing a process
we will lose some people whatever we do.

I am concerned to have received reports that KPFA has
shown cconsiderably less willness to confront some of
these issues openly than our group of freelancers.
Specifically a source on the paid staff claiming first
hand knowledge of the situation has claimed to me that
Dennis Bernstein has for years sexually harassed and
assaulted women at KPFA. It was further claimed to me
by the same source (who I am unwilling to name without
their consent as they, justifiablyor not, fear
reprisal) that one woman was actually terminated on
the final day of her probation, possibly for refusing
to "put out" for Mr. Bernstein Is this true? Have we
been taken to court on this before? If so how much has
been paid by the foundation to settle these kinds of
complaints? No one is perfect on these issues....but
for God's sake if these charges are true and we do
nothing but defend privilegeand patriarchy we stand
for nothing.

When I as a member of the ED search Committee, and my local LSB, I openly invoked what are now called 'director's inspection rights' I was vilified and demonized. Even though I was responding to a complaint I had received as a foundation officer and calling for an investigation. I was threatened with litigation for my efforts. Truth is a defense against libel. We now know over $200,000 in public money was paid out to protect Bernstein. Who authorized that? Carol has already sent me an email dening knowing anything. I saved the one's she sent me after the April 30 post, that she wanted to know nothing is closer to the truth (in managing public money called 'gross negligence' I beleive)
The CPB has already cut budget by 1 million. Ambrose and his new 'administrative council"
are interested in settling nothing. Allegations have been made to me by persons to work out
of KPFA during the period in question that then GM Jim Bennet deliberately destroyed
records he knew would be subject to subpoena in Berstein's personnel file, a crime
incidently. I smell the US Attorney General asking a lot of embarrassing questions once he convenes a grand jury (which believe
me he will).

Now the legal bills: first Haharan, Solange Echeverría is I beleive in discovery now (where
you request relevant official records of a non-profit prior to going into open court), Myself,
my complainy of discrimination on basis of National Origin will go before the HRC Jul 19,
another similar complaint is being filed by DC Radio Co-Op founder Rhyme Kakthouda.
Pacifca needs to prepare to potentially defend its actions before grand jury (obstruction of
justice, destruction of public records, conspiracy to misuse public funds, gross nefligence
etc, etc.

Unless the foundation wants to handle this itself Pacifica will need a PR firm. I
haven't even touched on the CPB, or the FCC....this the United Way all over again.
If Pacicfica wins it could be so expensive that the foundation is heading to bankruptcy court.
If they lose...mid 8 figures to the plaintiffs (and there will be more plaintiffs, on both coasts
if anyone wins the determination at the Human Rights Commission)....fines....loss of all
CPB money...lawyer bills either way...35-40% drop in listener contributions out west
sound reasonable? Plus lets not forget the FCC which under W would love to be able
justifying dissolving the foundation. Oh yeah, and some folks may actually get to find out
how effective that new prison rape legislation is.




If you care to visit DC Indymedia and type my name
in some of the audio I've done is aarchivedthere (I'm
especially proud of the piece called "Human Rights"
done at the end of 2003). I have also published for
Poor Magazine while residing in SF and in City Paper
here (just a letter). A search on Google will turn up
some of the direct action stuff and arrests. I am
co-founder of the group Mayday DC, which I am no
longer active with. My history with the housing
struggle goes back to the middle 80's (Paul DiRienzo,
once a personal friend, knows me personally as does
former Rev. Frank Morales). I currently reside at the
Olive Branch a house similar to the late Phillip
Berrigan's Jonah House in Baltimore, it is also
online.

I am not a journalist, but a community activist. I
first became involved in social issues during the 1986
occupation of Columbia University's Hamilton Hall in
protest to apartheid in South Africa. Two years ago I
was one of 4 activists to takeover the Franklin School
here in Washington DC in protest to the shortage of
homeless services in the District. The government has
since opened the building, unused for 17 years, as a
hypothermia shelter during the winter months.

For the past 2 years I have been been involved with
Rhyme Kakthouda and the DC radio co-op in creating
programming that seeks to address the causes of
conflict in our community, our nation, and our world.
Since then my work for radio has been heard
nationally on Free Speach Radio News, and Peacewatch
as well as locally on the DC Co-op's Voices with
Visions, Spirit in Action, and Metrowatch. In addition
my work has also appeared in both print and audio on
DC Indymedia. Last year I was elected to and
served on the WPFW local station board as a staff
delegate. " We can not expect that CNN or Fox will do
our work for us. Another world is possible only if we
build ourselves the society we want."

--- Jared Ball <Tables [at] mac.com <>> wrote:

> To: Thomas Gomez <adjustmentdisorder2000 [at] yahoo.com <>>,
> Mark <KasBa110 [at] aol.com <>>,
> Shani O'Neal <shanijamila [at] hotmail.com <>>,
> Lester B. Wallace lll < ;lbwallace [at] Howard.edu <>>,
> thomas ruffin <iska666 [at] earthlink.net <>>
> From: Jared Ball <Tables [at] mac.com <>>
> Subject: Fwd: WPFW Troubles...
> Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 13:09:06 -0400
>
> Hello everyone,
>
>
> Ron (Pinchback GM WPFW) emailed me back saying he
could not comment on
> the issue we
> discussed the other day nor could he allow Tom on
> the airwaves since
> formal complaints have been filed. He asked for my
> cooperation and i
> agreed.

Tomas Gomez writes: "Allegations have been made to me by persons to work out of KPFA during the period in question that then GM Jim Bennet deliberately destroyed records he knew would be subject to subpoena in Berstein's personnel file, a crime incidently."

Actually, this was done not by Jim Bennett but then-General Manager Nicole Sawaya.

FORGERY:

>> Peep This!
by JA Wednesday, Jun. 22, 2005 at 10:01 AM


ja_and_pig.jpg, image/jpeg, 189x265

In 1996, Ebonics waz ofisaly rekonisd by the Oakland Skool Bored as naitive laingwhich of AfricanAmerican chuldren.

Itz estamtid ova fifdy million peoples speek ebonics fluintly. Ebonic Persuit waz diszind to hulp bridge the kumucatin gap b'tween ur fellow brothas & sistas.


http://www.ebonicpersuit.com/


add your comments


I'm a bigoted moron
by JA Wednesday, Jun. 22, 2005 at 10:18 AM

Hi, I'm JA, a bigoted moron who smokes too much crack. <<

JA, no wonder the folks at KPFA call out security. You are clearly unhinged.