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10/23 Press Conference At KPFA To Outline Election Violations-Play The Radio Carts
KFPA candidates for the local station board will outline charges of election violations and
efforts to prevent equal treatement for all candidates at a press conference at 12:00 noon
at KFPA Radio which is located at 1929 Martin Luther King Drive, Berkeley.
efforts to prevent equal treatement for all candidates at a press conference at 12:00 noon
at KFPA Radio which is located at 1929 Martin Luther King Drive, Berkeley.
Press Conference Press Conference Press Conference
Stop Illegal Election Violations At Pacifica KFPA Radio
Play The KPFA Candidate Radio Carts Now!
"Democracy Now" Radio Needs Fair and Democratic Elections
No More Election Violations
Monday October 23, 2006 12:00 Noon
KPFA Radio
1929 Martin Luther King Drive Berkeley, CA
The violation of election rules in the 2006 KPFA Board of Directors election threatens the viability and fairness of the entire election process. KPFA is the largest community radio station in the United States and has a budget of $4.5 million dollars and a staff of over 44 full time workers.
Candidates and listener members of KFPA will be having a press conference outside the station on Monday November 23, 2006 at 12:00 noon to provide documentation that the election process has been tainted by illegal election violations including:
1.Distribution of campaign literature by the Concerned Listeners Group in the station's public offices and phone room during the marathon.
2. Refusal of the KPFA election officer Tracy Rosenberg to run radio carts of the candidates as they have been completed and after ballots have been mailed and already received by the listener members.
3.Election rules and procedures have not been provided in writing to all the candidates and instead rules have been made by word of mouth for some candidates and not others.
4.The election officer has been complicit with some of the candidates and slates in allowing the distribution of literature in KFPA facilities.
5.KFPA election officer has prevented candidate Steve Zeltzer from running as a listener for the KFPA Board Of Directors despite the fact he is no longer a programmer thereby disenfranchising him and the listeners.
The KPFA election candidates and listeners subscribers will speak about these violations and what needs to be done to have a democratic election
For information call 415-867-0628
http://www.allianceforademocratickpfa.org
adkpfa [at] yahoo.com
Stop Illegal Election Violations At Pacifica KFPA Radio
Play The KPFA Candidate Radio Carts Now!
"Democracy Now" Radio Needs Fair and Democratic Elections
No More Election Violations
Monday October 23, 2006 12:00 Noon
KPFA Radio
1929 Martin Luther King Drive Berkeley, CA
The violation of election rules in the 2006 KPFA Board of Directors election threatens the viability and fairness of the entire election process. KPFA is the largest community radio station in the United States and has a budget of $4.5 million dollars and a staff of over 44 full time workers.
Candidates and listener members of KFPA will be having a press conference outside the station on Monday November 23, 2006 at 12:00 noon to provide documentation that the election process has been tainted by illegal election violations including:
1.Distribution of campaign literature by the Concerned Listeners Group in the station's public offices and phone room during the marathon.
2. Refusal of the KPFA election officer Tracy Rosenberg to run radio carts of the candidates as they have been completed and after ballots have been mailed and already received by the listener members.
3.Election rules and procedures have not been provided in writing to all the candidates and instead rules have been made by word of mouth for some candidates and not others.
4.The election officer has been complicit with some of the candidates and slates in allowing the distribution of literature in KFPA facilities.
5.KFPA election officer has prevented candidate Steve Zeltzer from running as a listener for the KFPA Board Of Directors despite the fact he is no longer a programmer thereby disenfranchising him and the listeners.
The KPFA election candidates and listeners subscribers will speak about these violations and what needs to be done to have a democratic election
For information call 415-867-0628
http://www.allianceforademocratickpfa.org
adkpfa [at] yahoo.com
For more information:
http://www.allianceforademocratickpfa.org
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Comments
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Should anyone actually attend this thing - here is the documentation to rebut these inaccurate charges:
-1.Distribution of campaign literature by the Concerned Listeners Group in the station's public -offices and phone room during the marathon.
Here is the ruling issued on the subject on October 20, 2006 (one day after a complaint was received on October 20, 2006. The National Election Supervisor has also stated for the record
that there was and is no existing rule from any existing election cycle prohibiting the distribution of any campaign literature in the station's public office or phone room.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS REQUIRED
The enclosed complaint was filed with the Local Election Supervisor by candidate XXXXXX on Thursday, October 19, 2006. It is my understanding that a similiar complaint was filed by programmer XXXXX with the National Election Supervisor, Les Radke.
The complaint refers to the placing of Concerned Listeners postcards, and later People's Radio Campaign materials, inside the phone room volunteer packets during the fund drive period: seemingly to provide these materials to volunteers manning the phones.
There have also been verbal complaints filed by candidate XXXXX regarding the placement of flyers on station bulletin boards and literature tables.
After researching recent campaign history and precedent, it is apparent that the practice of using station literature space as a vehicle for campaign flyers has been established in previous election cycles, when many candidates have left flyers pinned to walls or sitting in literature areas. Indeed, this is a major mode of campaigning for many of the staff candidates. While "space" per se, may be defined as a station resource, it is not one that is more or less available to any
one candidate than another, with the only limitation being the one of geography, namely this being an easier task to accomplish for candidates who live locally than for those who don't. It is not a campaign violation, as it has not been in previous years, to place campaign flyers on the literature rack outside the station, on the lobby table, to place them in mailboxes, or to tape them to the wall of any hallway bulletin board.
However, the packaging of campaign materials within fund drive volunteer packets is another matter. Since the packets are nominally prepared by staff members and not by others, and are technically station property not to be tampered with, there is, at least formally, not equal access to this "station space". Therefore I am going to issue a written warning to the relevant staff members that this was an improper campaign practice that occurred within their general area of oversight that should not be repeated. Had this been reported while the fund drive was going on, then all such materials could have been promptly removed, but since it was not, a retroactive warning is all it is within my power to do. Anecdotal mention that People's Radio materials were
also placed in the fund drive room packets have been received, which is also an improper procedure.
Given that penalties to slate candidates would, in this case, offset each other, and that there was no pre-existing rule prohibiting fund drive room flyers, I am not going to restrict candidate on-air time over the incident. But this ruling is being issued to establish precendent that fund drive packets are not to be used this way in future elections, as they are not "space equally available to all the candidates".
As always, any parties not satisified with this ruling are free to appeal it to the National Election Supervisor.
Tracy Rosenberg
Local Election Supervisor
KPFA
-2. Refusal of the KPFA election officer Tracy Rosenberg to run radio carts of the candidates as -they have been completed and after ballots have been mailed and already received by the -listener members.
The Fair Campaign Provisions state that "no candidate can be provided on-air access that is not available to all of the other candidates" which require all candidate carts to be rotated on a strict basis. Therefore I cannot, by statute, just begin randomly playing them when some have been completed and some not. IN FACT, Alliance for a Democratic KPFA candidate has an appointment to record his cart on Monday, October 23rd at 11am - one hour before this so-called press conference by his slate. Candidates Erik Oberg and Howard Beeman have also not completed their carts to date, although hopefully those last will be dealt with on Monday. The carts need to be mixed together in groups of 3 and scheduled, and then they will be ready to go. Candidates were offered a 6 hour open studio on Monday October 16th from 12-4pm and from 7-9pm to record their materials. Had they all participated, the carts would have begun playing on Friday.
Since 8 did not for reasons varying from busyness, to illness, to vacations, to an insistence on self-recording, it will take an extra 2 days or so to gather them together for on-air play. That's a choice the candidates made, including several on the Alliance for a Democratic KPFA slate - not a choice that I made.
Voters can access ballot statements with their ballots (500 words) - access 1000+ word questionnaires at http://www.kpfa/election.org, download a 2-hour forum with all the candidates broadcast on October 2, 2006 at http://www.kpfa.org, and tuni into an additional 2 hour forum to be broadcast on October 29, 2006 at 11am - all of which will provide them substantially more information than a 59-second 120 word cart.
-3.Election rules and procedures have not been provided in writing to all the candidates and -instead rules have been made by word of mouth for some candidates and not others.
Election rules are readily available at: http://www.kpfa.org/elections/2006/faircampaign.php
Long and ponderous rulings like that above are regularly issued on additional concerns when
questions are raised.
-4.The election officer has been complicit with some of the candidates and slates in allowing
-the distribution of literature in KFPA facilities.
There is no rule prohibiting the distribution of campaign literature in station areas designed for the distribution of flyers including display tables and bulletin boards - just as any candidate may leave literature in a cafe, on a lampost or any other public area. Rules state that the only prohibition are the radio's on-air capacity, its website, and non-partisan candidate events announced on-air.
-5.KFPA election officer has prevented candidate Steve Zeltzer from running as a listener for the -KFPA Board Of Directors despite the fact he is no longer a programmer thereby disenfranchising -him and the listeners.
M. Zeltzer filed an appeal on August 21st stating that he insisted that he be added to the unpaid staff list. Mr. Zeltzer filed another appeal on September 26th insisting that he be removed from the unpaid staff list and run as a listener candidate. Since they were contradictory, both could not be upheld simultaneously. After revewing the on-air archives of eligible programming (the eight hours associated with the Labor Collective between September 2, 2005 and September 1, 2006),
the sudio evidence proved that Mr. Zeltzer co-hosted three hours of programming in the eligible period. Per the existing unpaid staff organization regulations, that is enough to qualify for unpaid staff status. Here is the documentation referring to Mr. Zeltzer's two appeals and their dispensation:
Memo
To: Les Radke, National Election Supervisor, Lemlem Rijjio, Interim General Manager, Unpaid Staff Organization Council Members, Jude Fletcher, Steve Zeltzer, Nancy Keilor
From: Tracy Rosenberg, Local Election Supervisor
Re: 2006 UPSO Membership Appeals
These rulings are in accordance with the memo received from Pacifica counsel stating:
2. May the election supervisors validate the accuracy of the lists of unpaid staff members and the eligibility of unpaid staff members to vote in elections for local station boards?
Answer: Yes. The election supervisors are responsible for insuring that only eligible persons vote in the elections for local station boards. Accordingly, they may inspect records or speak with the paid or unpaid staff members to insure that they meet eligibility requirements.
In accordance with these instructions, I have reviewed the following appeals that have been received and evaluated.
Here are the results: Please see detail below for specific notes regarding each appeal:
2. Name: Steve Zeltzer
Request: Add to UPSO Voter Rolls for 2005-2006
Date: August 21, 2006
Result: Granted
3. Name: Steve Zeltzer
Request: Remove from UPSO Voter Rolls
Date: September 26, 2006
Result: Unable to Fulfill Request
Please note that the Election Supervisor is not determining nor attempting to determine eligibility for UPSO member status for the period September 2, 2004 to September 1, 2005. This task is outside the scope of work assigned to the position and outside the parameters provided by Pacifica counsel and I am unable to address any concerns relating to work performed outside the LSB Election eligibility period of September 2, 2005 to September 1, 2006.
Detail:
Appeal #2 Steve Zeltzer
Hours Claimed: Mr. Zeltzer’s appeal is non-specific – claiming “hundreds of hours”.
(See text below).
The Election Supervisor listened to the following Labor Collective programs:
September 5, 2005
7pm to midnight
Labor Day Special
October 29, 2005
10am to 12 noon
Special Election Coverage
Mr. Zeltzer’s on-air participation recorded as follows:
September 5, 2005: 7pm to 7:30pm – Segment titled: CA State Workers, High Stress and The Battle For A Contract Guests: Barbara Lombrida, Steve Hart, Nora Foster
Co-Hosted by Maria Arguelles, Tami Bryant and Steve Zeltzer
September 5, 2005 7:30pm to 8:00pm – Segment titled: Teachers, Privatization And the Right To An Education Guests: Betty Olson Jones, Ben Vishnik, Dennis Kelley
Co-Hosted by Maria Arguelles, Tami Bryant and Steve Zeltzer
September 5, 2005 8:00pm to 9:00pm – Segment titled: The Crisis In Labor and The AFL-CIO & The AMFA-NWA Strike With Call-Ins
Co-hosted by Carl Bryant and Steve Zeltzer Guests: Jack Heyman, Allen Holley, Janice Cisco (audio), Joanne Otis (audio), call-ins
September 5, 2005 9pm to 9:30pm – Segment titled: Wal-Martization, What It Is and How To Fight It
Pre-recorded Audio Material – Mr Zeltzer’s voice heard on-air conducting interviews in
aired footage for this segment
October 29, 2005 11am to 12 noon – Statewide Call-in on State Special Election
Co-Hosted by: Steve Zeltzer – (SF), Eric Mann (LA), Ken Wong (LA)
On-Air Hours recorded in KPFA Archives: 3.5 hours
Attached Preparation Time: 31.5
Total UPSO-eligible hours: 35.00
Request: Granted
Text of Appeal:
I have just learned that I have been excluded from a list of unpaid staff eligible to run for unpaid staff positions in the upcoming elections.
I protest the exclusion and challenge the action by the Program Council in banning myself and all other members of the KFPA Labor Collective from presenting programming proposals for one year without a hearing on the charges against us.
This flagrant conflict of interest by the program council and endorsed by KFPA management puts the election qualifications for unpaid staff positions in question. I and others from the KFPA Labor Collective have provided hundreds of hours of labor for programming at KFPA and now due to these actions we have been disenfranchized from running in the election for program council and the Local Station Board.
I believe this is a violation of the KPFA and Pacifica bylaws and you should take action to rectify this decision.
Appeal #3 Steve Zeltzer
Note: This appeal requested removal from the UPSO voter eligibility list for 2005-2006
Hours Claimed:
ON-AIR HOURS CLAIMED:
DATES TIMES DESCRIPTION
September 5, 2005 1 hour On the air for one hour
Ocober 29, 2005 1 hour On the air for one hour
PREPARATION HOURS CLAIMED
DATES TIMES DESCRIPTION
September 5, 2005 9 hours preparation time
Ocober 29, 2005 9 hours preparation time
On audio review of (8) hours of KPFA Labor Collective Programming on the dates cited
on this appeal form (September 5th 2005 and October 29th 2005), archival evidence demonstrated that the on-air hours on September 5, 2005 are documented in excess of
those claimed on the forum. (See appeal #2 for specifics).
Consistent application of UPSO eligibility criteria to all unpaid workers states that individuals who have been on-air for a total of 3 hours or more in the eligibility period of September 2, 2005 to September 1, 2006 qualify for UPSO status for the 2006 LSB election.
On-Air Hours recorded in KPFA Archives: 3.5 hours
Attached Preparation Time: 31.5
Total UPSO-eligible hours: 35.00
Request: Denied
-1.Distribution of campaign literature by the Concerned Listeners Group in the station's public -offices and phone room during the marathon.
Here is the ruling issued on the subject on October 20, 2006 (one day after a complaint was received on October 20, 2006. The National Election Supervisor has also stated for the record
that there was and is no existing rule from any existing election cycle prohibiting the distribution of any campaign literature in the station's public office or phone room.
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS REQUIRED
The enclosed complaint was filed with the Local Election Supervisor by candidate XXXXXX on Thursday, October 19, 2006. It is my understanding that a similiar complaint was filed by programmer XXXXX with the National Election Supervisor, Les Radke.
The complaint refers to the placing of Concerned Listeners postcards, and later People's Radio Campaign materials, inside the phone room volunteer packets during the fund drive period: seemingly to provide these materials to volunteers manning the phones.
There have also been verbal complaints filed by candidate XXXXX regarding the placement of flyers on station bulletin boards and literature tables.
After researching recent campaign history and precedent, it is apparent that the practice of using station literature space as a vehicle for campaign flyers has been established in previous election cycles, when many candidates have left flyers pinned to walls or sitting in literature areas. Indeed, this is a major mode of campaigning for many of the staff candidates. While "space" per se, may be defined as a station resource, it is not one that is more or less available to any
one candidate than another, with the only limitation being the one of geography, namely this being an easier task to accomplish for candidates who live locally than for those who don't. It is not a campaign violation, as it has not been in previous years, to place campaign flyers on the literature rack outside the station, on the lobby table, to place them in mailboxes, or to tape them to the wall of any hallway bulletin board.
However, the packaging of campaign materials within fund drive volunteer packets is another matter. Since the packets are nominally prepared by staff members and not by others, and are technically station property not to be tampered with, there is, at least formally, not equal access to this "station space". Therefore I am going to issue a written warning to the relevant staff members that this was an improper campaign practice that occurred within their general area of oversight that should not be repeated. Had this been reported while the fund drive was going on, then all such materials could have been promptly removed, but since it was not, a retroactive warning is all it is within my power to do. Anecdotal mention that People's Radio materials were
also placed in the fund drive room packets have been received, which is also an improper procedure.
Given that penalties to slate candidates would, in this case, offset each other, and that there was no pre-existing rule prohibiting fund drive room flyers, I am not going to restrict candidate on-air time over the incident. But this ruling is being issued to establish precendent that fund drive packets are not to be used this way in future elections, as they are not "space equally available to all the candidates".
As always, any parties not satisified with this ruling are free to appeal it to the National Election Supervisor.
Tracy Rosenberg
Local Election Supervisor
KPFA
-2. Refusal of the KPFA election officer Tracy Rosenberg to run radio carts of the candidates as -they have been completed and after ballots have been mailed and already received by the -listener members.
The Fair Campaign Provisions state that "no candidate can be provided on-air access that is not available to all of the other candidates" which require all candidate carts to be rotated on a strict basis. Therefore I cannot, by statute, just begin randomly playing them when some have been completed and some not. IN FACT, Alliance for a Democratic KPFA candidate has an appointment to record his cart on Monday, October 23rd at 11am - one hour before this so-called press conference by his slate. Candidates Erik Oberg and Howard Beeman have also not completed their carts to date, although hopefully those last will be dealt with on Monday. The carts need to be mixed together in groups of 3 and scheduled, and then they will be ready to go. Candidates were offered a 6 hour open studio on Monday October 16th from 12-4pm and from 7-9pm to record their materials. Had they all participated, the carts would have begun playing on Friday.
Since 8 did not for reasons varying from busyness, to illness, to vacations, to an insistence on self-recording, it will take an extra 2 days or so to gather them together for on-air play. That's a choice the candidates made, including several on the Alliance for a Democratic KPFA slate - not a choice that I made.
Voters can access ballot statements with their ballots (500 words) - access 1000+ word questionnaires at http://www.kpfa/election.org, download a 2-hour forum with all the candidates broadcast on October 2, 2006 at http://www.kpfa.org, and tuni into an additional 2 hour forum to be broadcast on October 29, 2006 at 11am - all of which will provide them substantially more information than a 59-second 120 word cart.
-3.Election rules and procedures have not been provided in writing to all the candidates and -instead rules have been made by word of mouth for some candidates and not others.
Election rules are readily available at: http://www.kpfa.org/elections/2006/faircampaign.php
Long and ponderous rulings like that above are regularly issued on additional concerns when
questions are raised.
-4.The election officer has been complicit with some of the candidates and slates in allowing
-the distribution of literature in KFPA facilities.
There is no rule prohibiting the distribution of campaign literature in station areas designed for the distribution of flyers including display tables and bulletin boards - just as any candidate may leave literature in a cafe, on a lampost or any other public area. Rules state that the only prohibition are the radio's on-air capacity, its website, and non-partisan candidate events announced on-air.
-5.KFPA election officer has prevented candidate Steve Zeltzer from running as a listener for the -KFPA Board Of Directors despite the fact he is no longer a programmer thereby disenfranchising -him and the listeners.
M. Zeltzer filed an appeal on August 21st stating that he insisted that he be added to the unpaid staff list. Mr. Zeltzer filed another appeal on September 26th insisting that he be removed from the unpaid staff list and run as a listener candidate. Since they were contradictory, both could not be upheld simultaneously. After revewing the on-air archives of eligible programming (the eight hours associated with the Labor Collective between September 2, 2005 and September 1, 2006),
the sudio evidence proved that Mr. Zeltzer co-hosted three hours of programming in the eligible period. Per the existing unpaid staff organization regulations, that is enough to qualify for unpaid staff status. Here is the documentation referring to Mr. Zeltzer's two appeals and their dispensation:
Memo
To: Les Radke, National Election Supervisor, Lemlem Rijjio, Interim General Manager, Unpaid Staff Organization Council Members, Jude Fletcher, Steve Zeltzer, Nancy Keilor
From: Tracy Rosenberg, Local Election Supervisor
Re: 2006 UPSO Membership Appeals
These rulings are in accordance with the memo received from Pacifica counsel stating:
2. May the election supervisors validate the accuracy of the lists of unpaid staff members and the eligibility of unpaid staff members to vote in elections for local station boards?
Answer: Yes. The election supervisors are responsible for insuring that only eligible persons vote in the elections for local station boards. Accordingly, they may inspect records or speak with the paid or unpaid staff members to insure that they meet eligibility requirements.
In accordance with these instructions, I have reviewed the following appeals that have been received and evaluated.
Here are the results: Please see detail below for specific notes regarding each appeal:
2. Name: Steve Zeltzer
Request: Add to UPSO Voter Rolls for 2005-2006
Date: August 21, 2006
Result: Granted
3. Name: Steve Zeltzer
Request: Remove from UPSO Voter Rolls
Date: September 26, 2006
Result: Unable to Fulfill Request
Please note that the Election Supervisor is not determining nor attempting to determine eligibility for UPSO member status for the period September 2, 2004 to September 1, 2005. This task is outside the scope of work assigned to the position and outside the parameters provided by Pacifica counsel and I am unable to address any concerns relating to work performed outside the LSB Election eligibility period of September 2, 2005 to September 1, 2006.
Detail:
Appeal #2 Steve Zeltzer
Hours Claimed: Mr. Zeltzer’s appeal is non-specific – claiming “hundreds of hours”.
(See text below).
The Election Supervisor listened to the following Labor Collective programs:
September 5, 2005
7pm to midnight
Labor Day Special
October 29, 2005
10am to 12 noon
Special Election Coverage
Mr. Zeltzer’s on-air participation recorded as follows:
September 5, 2005: 7pm to 7:30pm – Segment titled: CA State Workers, High Stress and The Battle For A Contract Guests: Barbara Lombrida, Steve Hart, Nora Foster
Co-Hosted by Maria Arguelles, Tami Bryant and Steve Zeltzer
September 5, 2005 7:30pm to 8:00pm – Segment titled: Teachers, Privatization And the Right To An Education Guests: Betty Olson Jones, Ben Vishnik, Dennis Kelley
Co-Hosted by Maria Arguelles, Tami Bryant and Steve Zeltzer
September 5, 2005 8:00pm to 9:00pm – Segment titled: The Crisis In Labor and The AFL-CIO & The AMFA-NWA Strike With Call-Ins
Co-hosted by Carl Bryant and Steve Zeltzer Guests: Jack Heyman, Allen Holley, Janice Cisco (audio), Joanne Otis (audio), call-ins
September 5, 2005 9pm to 9:30pm – Segment titled: Wal-Martization, What It Is and How To Fight It
Pre-recorded Audio Material – Mr Zeltzer’s voice heard on-air conducting interviews in
aired footage for this segment
October 29, 2005 11am to 12 noon – Statewide Call-in on State Special Election
Co-Hosted by: Steve Zeltzer – (SF), Eric Mann (LA), Ken Wong (LA)
On-Air Hours recorded in KPFA Archives: 3.5 hours
Attached Preparation Time: 31.5
Total UPSO-eligible hours: 35.00
Request: Granted
Text of Appeal:
I have just learned that I have been excluded from a list of unpaid staff eligible to run for unpaid staff positions in the upcoming elections.
I protest the exclusion and challenge the action by the Program Council in banning myself and all other members of the KFPA Labor Collective from presenting programming proposals for one year without a hearing on the charges against us.
This flagrant conflict of interest by the program council and endorsed by KFPA management puts the election qualifications for unpaid staff positions in question. I and others from the KFPA Labor Collective have provided hundreds of hours of labor for programming at KFPA and now due to these actions we have been disenfranchized from running in the election for program council and the Local Station Board.
I believe this is a violation of the KPFA and Pacifica bylaws and you should take action to rectify this decision.
Appeal #3 Steve Zeltzer
Note: This appeal requested removal from the UPSO voter eligibility list for 2005-2006
Hours Claimed:
ON-AIR HOURS CLAIMED:
DATES TIMES DESCRIPTION
September 5, 2005 1 hour On the air for one hour
Ocober 29, 2005 1 hour On the air for one hour
PREPARATION HOURS CLAIMED
DATES TIMES DESCRIPTION
September 5, 2005 9 hours preparation time
Ocober 29, 2005 9 hours preparation time
On audio review of (8) hours of KPFA Labor Collective Programming on the dates cited
on this appeal form (September 5th 2005 and October 29th 2005), archival evidence demonstrated that the on-air hours on September 5, 2005 are documented in excess of
those claimed on the forum. (See appeal #2 for specifics).
Consistent application of UPSO eligibility criteria to all unpaid workers states that individuals who have been on-air for a total of 3 hours or more in the eligibility period of September 2, 2005 to September 1, 2006 qualify for UPSO status for the 2006 LSB election.
On-Air Hours recorded in KPFA Archives: 3.5 hours
Attached Preparation Time: 31.5
Total UPSO-eligible hours: 35.00
Request: Denied
It's fairly obvious that Peoples Radio and Alliance for a Democratic KPFA are
striking out to insure that the election will not run smoothly, and drive voters
away from involvement.
The same tactic we're seeing the Republican Party trying to do with anyone
who questions their efforts.
At the same time, however, isn't it an election violation to allow the use of the
KPFA building for an exclusive campaign purpose?
I saw someone on AC Transit reading a Concerned Listener flier. Shouldn't we
file an election complaint against AC Transit?
Wait! Concerned Listeners are breathing KPFA air when they are in the KPFA
building, and they aren't sharing!!!
Quick!!! File a complaint against them!!!
I apologize, but sometimes, the irony just can't be stopped.
striking out to insure that the election will not run smoothly, and drive voters
away from involvement.
The same tactic we're seeing the Republican Party trying to do with anyone
who questions their efforts.
At the same time, however, isn't it an election violation to allow the use of the
KPFA building for an exclusive campaign purpose?
I saw someone on AC Transit reading a Concerned Listener flier. Shouldn't we
file an election complaint against AC Transit?
Wait! Concerned Listeners are breathing KPFA air when they are in the KPFA
building, and they aren't sharing!!!
Quick!!! File a complaint against them!!!
I apologize, but sometimes, the irony just can't be stopped.
The message of the comment above is, if election violations are occurring, just shut up about it or voters will be scared away!
How ridiculous. Why don't you tell that to all the people across the US protesting the voting machines - "just shut up or you'll scare voters away!"
If you talked about the merits of the situation that would be one thing, but all you do is try to demonize one side without any evidence.
Similarly, to accuse one side of trying to disrupt things is absurd -- people want to get a lot of votes and they see the other side doing what appear to be dirty tricks so they are speaking up. So what? No one is going around trying to "ruin" elections. People are trying to win and have it be a fair win. This is how democracy works.
Grow up.
I'm sick of 'entrenched staff' comments on here that are always so bogus and superficial.
How ridiculous. Why don't you tell that to all the people across the US protesting the voting machines - "just shut up or you'll scare voters away!"
If you talked about the merits of the situation that would be one thing, but all you do is try to demonize one side without any evidence.
Similarly, to accuse one side of trying to disrupt things is absurd -- people want to get a lot of votes and they see the other side doing what appear to be dirty tricks so they are speaking up. So what? No one is going around trying to "ruin" elections. People are trying to win and have it be a fair win. This is how democracy works.
Grow up.
I'm sick of 'entrenched staff' comments on here that are always so bogus and superficial.
As it turns out, Alliance for a Democratic KPFA and Peoples Radio (which recruited the slate) ALSO placed campaign material inside the station and phone rooms -- yet they "protest" those placed by Concerned Listeners and insist it is a violation. Apparently "violations" exist only to be called on OTHER candidates. It would be funny if it weren't so sickening. What I've seen coming from the Alliance group to date has been a steady stream of complaints, phony protests and an obvious smear campaign. If this is what they promise to bring to KPFA, count me out.
I voted for most of the Alliance candidates and others listed in the booklet because I am sick and tired of KPFA being a Democratic Party campaign station, which results in having only 28,000 subscribers in a Bay Area of 7 million people, and in Northern Califlornia, with 11 million people (including the Bay Area). The Concerned Listeners promises the same revenue-declining disaster at KPFA that now exists including the $150,000 shortfall in the latest fundraiser (at which time the Morning Show's weekly labor half hour is cancelled!), while the Alliance supports the 3 changes that will greatly increase revenue and listenership: (a) Have Democracy Now heard in the morning at 7 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. and rebroadcast in the evening at 7 p.m. (not 9 a.m.); (b) Move Guns & Butter from 1 p.m. on Wednesdays to prime time (weeknights 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. or weekends, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and (c) Have a weekly Labor Hour during prime time. I am also sick and tired of having the newscasts used as Democratic Party promotionals, and that will certainly change with the Alliance, who want more air time for socialist and Green Party candidates. I turned off the 6 p.m. news on 10/23 as they led with a story of Democrat Al Gore's visit to Berkeley, and promised more of the same type of "news" throughout the broadcast. After working very hard all day long, I am not going to be irritated by KPFA's campaigning for the Democratic Party on the evening news. On election night, instead of listening to that good Democrat Larry Bensky tell us what he "thinks" is election news (promoting Democrats), I will check the election websites online. It is really terrible when we cannot even listen to the evening news anymore. The above program changes were supported by the majority of the Local Station Board for the last 2 elections, but the entrenched staff, friends of Concerned Listeners, have refused to implement these changes. This cannot be tolerated if KPFA is to survive. Please do vote as we need 10% to make the election succeed and believe it or not, it will be difficult to achieve that goal.
Hmmmmm...
Is the above poster aware that there is higher radio listenership at weekdays 1pm than there is in the evening from 8 to 10pm or on the weekends from 9am to 10am?
This is why programming decisions need to have substantial input from people who understand radio usage and listenership patterns. People who want to program by virtue of their "opinions" often don't have any idea what they are talking about.
You'd be moving from a program from a more desirable spot to a less desirable spot.
Is the above poster aware that there is higher radio listenership at weekdays 1pm than there is in the evening from 8 to 10pm or on the weekends from 9am to 10am?
This is why programming decisions need to have substantial input from people who understand radio usage and listenership patterns. People who want to program by virtue of their "opinions" often don't have any idea what they are talking about.
You'd be moving from a program from a more desirable spot to a less desirable spot.
It's always something with these guys, isn't it? And to question their tactics is to be right in there with Diebold...just like that! This "coalition" reminds me of the students that used to smoke in class -- insisting that it was their "right" and anyone questioning that right was clearly a racist or whatever...
This election is not going to be won with leaflets and carts -- it will be a victory for the greater community that shares information many other ways.
This election is not going to be won with leaflets and carts -- it will be a victory for the greater community that shares information many other ways.
Ok, here's what I'm hearing...
* juggle the morning lineup by one hour (because "working people" aren't up by six?)
* run a rebroadcast of a 13-hour old program every weeknight at 7
* interrupt a popular music show one night per week for a two hours on 911 alternate theories
* interrupt another popular music program one night per week for a labor show (what exactly is a labor show?)
* cancel election night coverage -- or at least commentary
* don't cover Al Gore (the world's leading activist in the fight against global warming) next time he holds a rally in Berkeley
But the rest of the schedule is OK? So just these changes will dramatically boost KPFA's appeal to Northern Californians?
* juggle the morning lineup by one hour (because "working people" aren't up by six?)
* run a rebroadcast of a 13-hour old program every weeknight at 7
* interrupt a popular music show one night per week for a two hours on 911 alternate theories
* interrupt another popular music program one night per week for a labor show (what exactly is a labor show?)
* cancel election night coverage -- or at least commentary
* don't cover Al Gore (the world's leading activist in the fight against global warming) next time he holds a rally in Berkeley
But the rest of the schedule is OK? So just these changes will dramatically boost KPFA's appeal to Northern Californians?
... one slate cancels the other in the campaign flyers in station volunteers' packets issue discriminates against the independents. I feel that too many little irregularities have occurred when taken together have an impact on candidates. From my experience, it has not been a level playing field. The "big money" slate clearly has the advantage. We need to do away with slates.
The 60% of the programs that are music on KPFA are by deifnition filler programs. KPFA is not a lowest common denominator station and does not exist to broadcast music. The major need we have in the US is to teach and promote radical politics. IT IS APPALLING THAT SOMEONE WHO CLAIMS TO CARE ABOUT KPFA DOES NOT KNOW WHAT LABOR PROGRAMMING IS and this proves the need for labor programming. It is labor that creates all wealth and it is the profit motive that is the cause of war and fascism. Only labor organized sufficiently and broadly is capable of a general strike which can put an end to the private profit system. Labor programming includes, but is not limited to, all the labor actions taking place around the world (see http://www.wsws.org, Workers' Struggles Around the World for almost daily examples), labor history, labor biographies, labor's interest in elections, women's & gay liberation struggles, fighting racism, tenant issues, labor artists and writers, socialist theory and socialist candidates and the like.
As to programs, 13 years is very short and Democracy Now is very worthy of rebroadcast in the evening. Many of the programs on KPFA have been there for 30 years, as have many of the people working at KPFA. 7 a.m. is much better for most of us, and most of us are working people. 7 p.m. is also good for most of us. We are talking about saving KPFA from oblivion. The current program schedule is a formula for closing KPFA as losing $150,000 from the budget, and having only 28,000 subscribers is a SCREAMING WARNING that major programming changes must be made to increase funds and subscribers for the very survival of KPFA.
The 9/11 Truth Movement is the Shining Star of the Peace Movement, and Guns & Butter, broadcast at the ridiculous 1p.m. on Wednesdays slot, deserves much better as it is outstanding and to the extent that it can at that time, raises much money. MOST OF US CANNOT LISTEN TO THE RADIO AT WORK. Prime time is in the evening and on weekends. Guns & Butter not only covers the fact that the Reichstag Fire of 9/11/01 was an Inside Job, it covers a wide range of issues from socialism to CIA activities around the world. These are political ideas & information that are urgently needed in this country.
Just as it is unthinkable to discuss Republicans at KPFA, it should be unthinkable to discuss Democrats, the twin party of capitalism that only exists to keep the Reds and Greens out of office. Election coverage should focus on Peace & Freedom Party and the Green Party. The Democrats do not care about global warming; they are just as big investors in the oil companies as the Republicans. This is just the latest con game to get you to vote Democrat instead of Red or Green. Peace & Freedom Party's website is http://www.peaceandfreedom.org Krissy Keefer, the Green candidate (whom I have not heard interviewed on KPFA, and she should be extensively interviewed) is running against Nancy Pelosi. See http://www.krissyforcongress.com/
As to programs, 13 years is very short and Democracy Now is very worthy of rebroadcast in the evening. Many of the programs on KPFA have been there for 30 years, as have many of the people working at KPFA. 7 a.m. is much better for most of us, and most of us are working people. 7 p.m. is also good for most of us. We are talking about saving KPFA from oblivion. The current program schedule is a formula for closing KPFA as losing $150,000 from the budget, and having only 28,000 subscribers is a SCREAMING WARNING that major programming changes must be made to increase funds and subscribers for the very survival of KPFA.
The 9/11 Truth Movement is the Shining Star of the Peace Movement, and Guns & Butter, broadcast at the ridiculous 1p.m. on Wednesdays slot, deserves much better as it is outstanding and to the extent that it can at that time, raises much money. MOST OF US CANNOT LISTEN TO THE RADIO AT WORK. Prime time is in the evening and on weekends. Guns & Butter not only covers the fact that the Reichstag Fire of 9/11/01 was an Inside Job, it covers a wide range of issues from socialism to CIA activities around the world. These are political ideas & information that are urgently needed in this country.
Just as it is unthinkable to discuss Republicans at KPFA, it should be unthinkable to discuss Democrats, the twin party of capitalism that only exists to keep the Reds and Greens out of office. Election coverage should focus on Peace & Freedom Party and the Green Party. The Democrats do not care about global warming; they are just as big investors in the oil companies as the Republicans. This is just the latest con game to get you to vote Democrat instead of Red or Green. Peace & Freedom Party's website is http://www.peaceandfreedom.org Krissy Keefer, the Green candidate (whom I have not heard interviewed on KPFA, and she should be extensively interviewed) is running against Nancy Pelosi. See http://www.krissyforcongress.com/
Really : hasn't it been proven by now with our amazing art and puppets and marching bands that anyone running around saying that "music is the lowest common denominator" is a crackpot with a following of three other humorless losers?
The prescription doesn't work. People have souls and they need art and sound with their radical politics.
Folks, if you hand KPFA over to people like this (some but not all of the Alliance slate), you'll deserve what you get - a steadily dwindling audience.
Screaming in capital letters doesn't make untrue things true. Radio has higher listenership at 1pm Wednesays than from 8-10pm on weekdays or 9-10am on the weekends. KPFA's listenership just improved slightly in the Summer 2006 Arbitrons over Summer 2005. The station is not losing listenership. These lies need to stop. It isn't any more noble to try to win elections by lying as a leftist than to do so as a right-wing lunatic. If the truth won't serve you - you're not advocating for the right things.
The prescription doesn't work. People have souls and they need art and sound with their radical politics.
Folks, if you hand KPFA over to people like this (some but not all of the Alliance slate), you'll deserve what you get - a steadily dwindling audience.
Screaming in capital letters doesn't make untrue things true. Radio has higher listenership at 1pm Wednesays than from 8-10pm on weekdays or 9-10am on the weekends. KPFA's listenership just improved slightly in the Summer 2006 Arbitrons over Summer 2005. The station is not losing listenership. These lies need to stop. It isn't any more noble to try to win elections by lying as a leftist than to do so as a right-wing lunatic. If the truth won't serve you - you're not advocating for the right things.
You say that is if there is only one. Entrenched staff member Dennis Bernstein is hosting a big shindig where he will "help you fill out your ballot" for $15-20 just to walk in the door for the Alliance slate, as you are well aware. If you are willing to file a complaint about this, as was done against a house party where the hat was passed for the opposition, it would mean more than the incessant whining going on about one slate and never about the other's own behavior.
Dear "^"
I think the above poster said "13 hours" not 13 years. Does it make sense to re-heat DM! for dinner when most already had it for breakfast?
"MOST OF US CANNOT LISTEN TO THE RADIO AT WORK"
Well...thank you for that bit of enlightenment. But who exactly is "most of us...?" Like you, I don't have the stats to prove it, but it seems these days "most" people can listen to the radio at work (on headphones if necessary) or at least listen to the KPFA archive later at home. Or get the DM! PodCast and listen anywhere, even in the car or on public transit. Most people, certainly the ones interested in what Amy Goodman has to say, live in the 21st century. The fact that we're having this discussion on the Web suggests that even those who long agitated against the Internet as a bastion of elitism, have come to accept it as a basic part of daily life. The Labor website you cited is widely available 24/7. Why then this desperate clutching to the past when it comes to favorite listening times? "Most" people have, or will soon have Tivo-like DVR features that allow them to watch their favorite TV shows at any time. Likewise, via the Internet KPFA can be easily and effortlessly time-shifted to meet your exact needs. Have you even tried it?
One can hardly take a candidate or slate of candidates claiming to be in favor of advancing KPFA's technical progress, when they don't even walk the talk themselves.
But the music comment really takes the cake -- so glad that you just blurted it out...
"The 60% of the programs that are music on KPFA are by deifnition filler programs. KPFA is not a lowest common denominator station and does not exist to broadcast music."
By who's definition? Granted, KPFA is not an LCD station, yet it does in fact exist to foster the arts -- it's clearly stated in the mission, a mission that predates the takeover by humorless hyper-radical Socialists and Communists intent on bringing down Babylon via general strike. Like that's going to grow the audience! ;-)
Just as a footnote, if that 60% music figure is accurate, one should also note that these are the least-listened-to hours in radio, not just KPFA. The AM and PM drive times (where listenership surges) are all News and Public Affairs.
Before using KPFA to educate the world, please at least give some value to becoming educated about radio....
I think the above poster said "13 hours" not 13 years. Does it make sense to re-heat DM! for dinner when most already had it for breakfast?
"MOST OF US CANNOT LISTEN TO THE RADIO AT WORK"
Well...thank you for that bit of enlightenment. But who exactly is "most of us...?" Like you, I don't have the stats to prove it, but it seems these days "most" people can listen to the radio at work (on headphones if necessary) or at least listen to the KPFA archive later at home. Or get the DM! PodCast and listen anywhere, even in the car or on public transit. Most people, certainly the ones interested in what Amy Goodman has to say, live in the 21st century. The fact that we're having this discussion on the Web suggests that even those who long agitated against the Internet as a bastion of elitism, have come to accept it as a basic part of daily life. The Labor website you cited is widely available 24/7. Why then this desperate clutching to the past when it comes to favorite listening times? "Most" people have, or will soon have Tivo-like DVR features that allow them to watch their favorite TV shows at any time. Likewise, via the Internet KPFA can be easily and effortlessly time-shifted to meet your exact needs. Have you even tried it?
One can hardly take a candidate or slate of candidates claiming to be in favor of advancing KPFA's technical progress, when they don't even walk the talk themselves.
But the music comment really takes the cake -- so glad that you just blurted it out...
"The 60% of the programs that are music on KPFA are by deifnition filler programs. KPFA is not a lowest common denominator station and does not exist to broadcast music."
By who's definition? Granted, KPFA is not an LCD station, yet it does in fact exist to foster the arts -- it's clearly stated in the mission, a mission that predates the takeover by humorless hyper-radical Socialists and Communists intent on bringing down Babylon via general strike. Like that's going to grow the audience! ;-)
Just as a footnote, if that 60% music figure is accurate, one should also note that these are the least-listened-to hours in radio, not just KPFA. The AM and PM drive times (where listenership surges) are all News and Public Affairs.
Before using KPFA to educate the world, please at least give some value to becoming educated about radio....
I was referring to the thousands of dollars Concerned Listeners paid to do mass mailings through the KPFA mailing house.
I am not on the Alliance slate. I don't blindly support any one group, I either agree or don't agree with certain issues and concerns, and I don't condone bad behavior. I have two grown children and I am a grandmother. I don't molly-cuddle to tantrums and I don't suffer fools gladly.
I am not a head-nodder, I don't run with any pack, and I don't vote in a "block." I am an independent thinker. I don't live my life as if I am in a popularity contest. If listeners don't vote for me, by my reaching out using the means available to me, then so be it. It will be their loss.
I am not on the Alliance slate. I don't blindly support any one group, I either agree or don't agree with certain issues and concerns, and I don't condone bad behavior. I have two grown children and I am a grandmother. I don't molly-cuddle to tantrums and I don't suffer fools gladly.
I am not a head-nodder, I don't run with any pack, and I don't vote in a "block." I am an independent thinker. I don't live my life as if I am in a popularity contest. If listeners don't vote for me, by my reaching out using the means available to me, then so be it. It will be their loss.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/13/PKGDOIM2CT1.DTL
Return to regular view
RADIO WAVES
- Ben Fong-Torres
Sunday, August 13, 2006
WE GET LETTERS: Steve Nguyen writes: "I enjoy your Radio Waves columns, which I try to read every Sunday. I was wondering if there's a Web site that shows radio ratings (at least for San Francisco) by day part or demographic? Radio and Records only provides overall numbers."
Thanks, Steve. I appreciate your trying to read me every week, which can't be easy, since I appear only every other week. Regarding ratings: Arbitron doesn't allow any media -- general or trade -- to publish other than the overall numbers, for all listeners age 12 and older, from 6 a.m. to midnight every day. I get occasional breakouts from stations that have an interest in letting me know about their performance (see below), but we're all stuck with the overalls.
Reader Manuel Torres wonders why I don't run those quarterly numbers. The truth is, I got tired of 'em. They're not taken seriously by time buyers, who go after listeners by age and sex, and by specific times. Still, the ratings give the top stations bragging rights -- witness KGO, which has been No. 1 since before radio was even invented, it seems.
That said, here are the spring numbers (March 30-June 21) for the top 26 stations. And, so that you can see which ones moved up and down, the winter ratings are listed first. Each point represents a percentage of all radio listening.
KGO: from 6.3 in winter to 5.6 in spring
KOIT : 5.0 to 4.5
KMEL: 4.3 to 3.9
KSOL/KSQL: 2.6 to 3.8
KCBS: 3.9 to 3.6
KDFC: 3.9 to 3.6
KSFO: 3.2 to 3.2
KBLX: 2.9 to 3.1
KYLD: 2.6 to 3.1
KKSF: 2.5 to 2.9
KFOG/KFFG: 2.9 to 2.8
KISQ: 2.6 to 2.8
KNBR: 2.0 to 2.8
KIOI: 2.4 to 2.6
KSAN: 2.3 to 2.6
KFRC: 2.1 to 2.5
KRZZ: 2.5 to 2.5
KLLC: 2.2 to 2.3
KBRG: 2.3 to 1.6
KITS: 1.4 to 1.6
KSJO: 1.4 to 1.6
KVVF/KVVZ: 1.6 to 1.6
KRTY: 0.9 to 1.4
KNEW: 1.2 to 1.3
KUFX: 1.1 to 1.2
KMAX: 1.4 to 1.1
Three postscripts: I've said that Arbitron does not include numbers for noncommercial stations, including the NPR powerhouse KQED-FM. If it did, KQED would be No. 3, with a 4.2 (down from 4.9). KCSM had a 1.0, down from a decent 1.5. KALW is at .5, same as it was the previous book, while KPFA dipped from 1.0 to .5.
Surprise, Surprise. Minutes after the 10/23 press conference to protest election violations and
the thwarting of a democratic election at KPFA, Pacifica Executive Director Greg Guma has now issued
a directive about the need to play the election carts.
Is this an accident that it came after the press conference?
From: mavmedia [at] aol.com
To: poc-whole [at] pacifica.org; ballot [at] pacifica.org
Cc: pnb [at] pacifica.org
Sent: Mon, 23 Oct 2006 1:45 PM
Subject: Pacifica Election updates
Dear National Election Supervisor, General Managers, and Program Directors,
I know that our stations are either in the midst of on air drives, just finishing up, or about to start. Nevertheless, the Pacifica elections are also upon us, and the Board is concerned about the level of interest and participation. As a result, it recently passed two motions that station management should carefully consider. The first concerns candidate carts and forums.
According to the motion, between September 25 and November 15, each station is supposed to play
a) each candidate's cart at least 10 times, and
b) hold at least one candidate forum, including all available candidates no later than October 31.
Within these requirements, the Local Election Supervisor is supposed to work together with each station's Program Director and General Manager to create a cart rotation schedule that doesn’t disrupt any fund drive underway, but allows each candidate to be heard the same number of times, distributed in different parts of the day including drive time and different parts of the election period.
Stations are also supposed to post the carts and forums on their websites, and maintain logs of actual playing times, providing them to the Local Election Supervisor. Station can do more than the above, but this is the minimum.
In the case of WPFW, whose schedule has shifted slightly, the dates should be adjusted accordingly.
When the elections are over, the PNB would like to receive summaries of the performance and cooperation of each station’s management, prepared by the local and national elections supervisor after consultation with the respective managers, if possible. That's the second motion I mentioned.
The summaries are supposed to be transmitted to the managers and the ED. They are also refered to as evaluations, and along with any written response by the respective manager or myself, they are supposed to be placed in the personnel file of the manager and/or myself, and incorporated into our annual personnel evaluations.
Beyond that, I’ve also been instructed by the Board to apply "progressive discipline measures" on station management if election directives by the National Election Supervisor aren't followed. In order to avoid this, it would be best to keep the Board updated as we proceed.
For example, here is a brief report received last Friday from Bernard White at WBAI:
“WBAI will begin airing carts for the Listener Candidates for the LSB on Monday October 23rd. Producers and announcers will be given a schedule that will allow each candidate to be heard during the day, evening and on weekends. Engineers will log each airing into a log to be reviewed by the Local Elections Supervisor.
“We are coordinating our on air Listener Candidates Forum with our Local Elections Supervisor, Attieno Davis, and hope to chose with her a date by tomorrow. Our fund drive does not end until Saturday, October 28th. During this period we will schedule no non fund raising programs. Attieno has scheduled a Listener Candidate Forum for Sunday, October 29th and has advised us that many candidates will not be available for Monday, the 30th. Both she and we prefer not to hold the forum on Halloween, October 31st. Therefore, she has contacted the National Elections Supervisor to determine whether or not WBAI can hold the forum directly after the 31st. If it not possible to do so, the forum will be held on October 31st.”
This is a start. In order to avoid problems later, I suggest that GMs and PDs keep the National Election Supervisor and me informed in writing about progress and problems. To that end, I’m requesting a brief status report by the end of this week. As much as possible, please try to cover the points listed below. I’ll bring your efforts and concerns to the attention of the PNB at an upcoming meeting, possibly as early as October 30.
At this point, the basic issues are:
1. Candidate carts: Progress being made in meeting the 10 play requirement. Are logs maintained?
2. PSAs: Dates when PSAs promoting the elections and candidacy were recorded. A rundown of times aired so far. Are logs maintained?
3. Any other approaches being used to promote the elections.
4. Obstacles and problems encountered, e.g. complaints about fair practices, lists, etc.
If we take some simple steps, I'm still hopeful that we can have successful and fair elections, and reduce the need for disciplinary actions and negative reports after the fact.
Please distribute this message as appropriate.
Thanks
Greg Guma, Executive Director
* * * *
Pacifica policy prohibiting workplace violence
Violence or the threat of violence by or against any employee or member of the Pacifica Foundation’s network is unacceptable and will subject the perpetrator to serious disciplinary action and possible criminal charges. There is no such thing as a "joke" when dealing with this subject. It is not funny when employees speak about "going postal", "getting" another employee or anything remotely similar.
Pacifica Foundation is committed to providing its employees a reasonably safe and healthy work environment, free from intimidation, harassment, threats and/or violent acts.
the thwarting of a democratic election at KPFA, Pacifica Executive Director Greg Guma has now issued
a directive about the need to play the election carts.
Is this an accident that it came after the press conference?
From: mavmedia [at] aol.com
To: poc-whole [at] pacifica.org; ballot [at] pacifica.org
Cc: pnb [at] pacifica.org
Sent: Mon, 23 Oct 2006 1:45 PM
Subject: Pacifica Election updates
Dear National Election Supervisor, General Managers, and Program Directors,
I know that our stations are either in the midst of on air drives, just finishing up, or about to start. Nevertheless, the Pacifica elections are also upon us, and the Board is concerned about the level of interest and participation. As a result, it recently passed two motions that station management should carefully consider. The first concerns candidate carts and forums.
According to the motion, between September 25 and November 15, each station is supposed to play
a) each candidate's cart at least 10 times, and
b) hold at least one candidate forum, including all available candidates no later than October 31.
Within these requirements, the Local Election Supervisor is supposed to work together with each station's Program Director and General Manager to create a cart rotation schedule that doesn’t disrupt any fund drive underway, but allows each candidate to be heard the same number of times, distributed in different parts of the day including drive time and different parts of the election period.
Stations are also supposed to post the carts and forums on their websites, and maintain logs of actual playing times, providing them to the Local Election Supervisor. Station can do more than the above, but this is the minimum.
In the case of WPFW, whose schedule has shifted slightly, the dates should be adjusted accordingly.
When the elections are over, the PNB would like to receive summaries of the performance and cooperation of each station’s management, prepared by the local and national elections supervisor after consultation with the respective managers, if possible. That's the second motion I mentioned.
The summaries are supposed to be transmitted to the managers and the ED. They are also refered to as evaluations, and along with any written response by the respective manager or myself, they are supposed to be placed in the personnel file of the manager and/or myself, and incorporated into our annual personnel evaluations.
Beyond that, I’ve also been instructed by the Board to apply "progressive discipline measures" on station management if election directives by the National Election Supervisor aren't followed. In order to avoid this, it would be best to keep the Board updated as we proceed.
For example, here is a brief report received last Friday from Bernard White at WBAI:
“WBAI will begin airing carts for the Listener Candidates for the LSB on Monday October 23rd. Producers and announcers will be given a schedule that will allow each candidate to be heard during the day, evening and on weekends. Engineers will log each airing into a log to be reviewed by the Local Elections Supervisor.
“We are coordinating our on air Listener Candidates Forum with our Local Elections Supervisor, Attieno Davis, and hope to chose with her a date by tomorrow. Our fund drive does not end until Saturday, October 28th. During this period we will schedule no non fund raising programs. Attieno has scheduled a Listener Candidate Forum for Sunday, October 29th and has advised us that many candidates will not be available for Monday, the 30th. Both she and we prefer not to hold the forum on Halloween, October 31st. Therefore, she has contacted the National Elections Supervisor to determine whether or not WBAI can hold the forum directly after the 31st. If it not possible to do so, the forum will be held on October 31st.”
This is a start. In order to avoid problems later, I suggest that GMs and PDs keep the National Election Supervisor and me informed in writing about progress and problems. To that end, I’m requesting a brief status report by the end of this week. As much as possible, please try to cover the points listed below. I’ll bring your efforts and concerns to the attention of the PNB at an upcoming meeting, possibly as early as October 30.
At this point, the basic issues are:
1. Candidate carts: Progress being made in meeting the 10 play requirement. Are logs maintained?
2. PSAs: Dates when PSAs promoting the elections and candidacy were recorded. A rundown of times aired so far. Are logs maintained?
3. Any other approaches being used to promote the elections.
4. Obstacles and problems encountered, e.g. complaints about fair practices, lists, etc.
If we take some simple steps, I'm still hopeful that we can have successful and fair elections, and reduce the need for disciplinary actions and negative reports after the fact.
Please distribute this message as appropriate.
Thanks
Greg Guma, Executive Director
* * * *
Pacifica policy prohibiting workplace violence
Violence or the threat of violence by or against any employee or member of the Pacifica Foundation’s network is unacceptable and will subject the perpetrator to serious disciplinary action and possible criminal charges. There is no such thing as a "joke" when dealing with this subject. It is not funny when employees speak about "going postal", "getting" another employee or anything remotely similar.
Pacifica Foundation is committed to providing its employees a reasonably safe and healthy work environment, free from intimidation, harassment, threats and/or violent acts.
Steve Zeltzer (and Sasha Futron) of the Alliance made their announcement of their press conference on Indybay and who knows where else BEFORE having the go-ahead from others in People's Radio. This is my understanding. Now I believe perhaps others in People's Radio didn't quite know what to do, but I'm doing this anyway. I don't want everyone in the Alliance slate to be tainted just because some were stupid enough to think they could work with Zeltzer. I'm not "in" People's Radio , though I support them. I think it's worse not to admit that People's Radio made a mistake in trying to work with Steve Zeltzer than it is for them to own up to their mistaken trust that he would play fair. Akio Tenaka, just for one example, seems to be an extremely good candidate. He's worked for fair housing and open-space for the many poor and working people among us, (smarter than "smarting growth"), and is extremely easy to talk with, friendly, not nasty and insulting in any way. A very sweet, good-hearted capable progressive person.
I SO HOPE WE CAN HAVE SOME LIVE 'MEET THE CANDIDATES" NIGHTS/DAYS in the immediate Bay Area. Yes, I could try to help organize one if the trillion other things I'm working on get going. Can Tracy Rosenberg do this? Can someone?
I SO HOPE WE CAN HAVE SOME LIVE 'MEET THE CANDIDATES" NIGHTS/DAYS in the immediate Bay Area. Yes, I could try to help organize one if the trillion other things I'm working on get going. Can Tracy Rosenberg do this? Can someone?
Arbitron ratings aren't measured from winter to spring. They are measured from a parallel season one year to a parallel season the next year. You don't compare winter to spring - you compare winter to winter and spring to spring. (Top Line - readily available on the web)
KPFA - Summer 2006
AQH Persons
68
AQH Share %
0.9
Cume Persons
1513
Cume Ratings %
2.6
Summer 2005
AQH Persons
66
AQH Share %
0.9
Cume Persons
1659
Cume Ratings %
2.8
Listenership ain't dropping.
KPFA - Summer 2006
AQH Persons
68
AQH Share %
0.9
Cume Persons
1513
Cume Ratings %
2.6
Summer 2005
AQH Persons
66
AQH Share %
0.9
Cume Persons
1659
Cume Ratings %
2.8
Listenership ain't dropping.
First of all, Sasha Futran (note proper spelling) had nothing to do with the press conference. See announcment posted in this thread.
Second, Steve Zeltzer, who called the press conference all by himself like the big boy he is, never said it was a People's Radio press conference. PR has so much negative baggage in the form of its great white leader, Richard Phelps, that few want anything to do with it. Neither Steve Zeltzer nor Sasha Futran have ever been involved with People's Radio nor would they be.
Third, your role in disinformation -- a People's Radio trademark -- is duly noted.
Second, Steve Zeltzer, who called the press conference all by himself like the big boy he is, never said it was a People's Radio press conference. PR has so much negative baggage in the form of its great white leader, Richard Phelps, that few want anything to do with it. Neither Steve Zeltzer nor Sasha Futran have ever been involved with People's Radio nor would they be.
Third, your role in disinformation -- a People's Radio trademark -- is duly noted.
Exactly who or what is Peoples Radio? Please give specific names, please? Where do they meet, how does one join them? Are they democratic? Are they sectarian? Are they associated with KPFA or trying to infiltrate it or take it over? This group, if it is a group, seems very nebulous and Virgina said that Dennis announced Zeltzer and Futran without "checking" with Peoples Radio first?? Who is pulling the strings here?
I should be working not posting anyway, so I'm hoping (as I'm sure are others) this will be my last posting for awhile.
In general, I want to defend the people I know in People's radio because there is SO much high-powered ability of those who never even listen to KPFA anymore but do listen to people like Larry Bensky and others they know regarding their endorsements. I don't do this carefully enough to be throwing names around the way I did about Zeltzer. -- though I have seen him in action, I don't approve of my relatively slapdash postings about him previously. I've seen more than enough to know I wouldn't vote for him for station board if you paid me sixty million dollars. On the other hand, I've heard he has been a pioneer in labor film and other areas. I don't want to make enemies (probably too late in this case), but I don't want him to win. Well, yes, I know he's not "running," but neither do I want him to win by dismantling others' chances who have loosley been allied with him previously. I want people to know that people who have been watching do have opinions. These anonymous posters and friends of mine in the Wellstone club have not been going to LSB meetings the way I have. It is not true, as some of the "Listeners for a Democratic KPFA" slate endorsers seem to have said to some, that those other than Wellstone endoresements are bad for the LSB. The People's Radio group has not been formally endorsed by the portion of the Wellstone Club who knew anything abut KPFA's board, but less about current particular board members and candidates. "WHAT IS PEOPLE'S RADIO?" I'm not "in" it. I have spoken with members of the group and watched almost every board meeting for over a year. I believe it was formed by some board members and others to try to work together to continue keepsaking the newer tradition of guarding against anything like the hijacking of the 90s. You should probably ask some of the members of the group for more answers, (maybe they'll post) as I'm bound to say something that isn't quite complete. My understanding is that they felt they could best work on a board that also included some of the people in the "Alliance for Democratic KPFA" slate. What I have seen watching the board operate is that many members of the LSB NOT in People's Radio have wasted the majority of time in board meetings filibustering to prevent votes and even to prevent dialog. Richard Phelps, who is in People's Radio, and is the current chair of the board, seems to be trying hard to be fair to all board members and to encourage people to listen to each other. This is not the characterization you will see of People's Radio members by others who want seats for themselves or their allies, but it is what I have seen. If you dig even a little under the surface, you will soon find some very very articulate people such as Brian Edwards-Tiekert and doubtless others who sound very convincing in their criticisms. Brian is a master of rhetoric -- and I do mean a master. I tend to think his motives are not "bad" in some ultimate sense. He doesn't strike me as an uncaring person. He does great stories on the environment. But he has made the decision that preventing the board from working smoothly is part of his work, and that he does. Other times he appears to facilitate the smooth working of the board, so it's confusing. But if you take note over the long haul, you'll see him obstructing at least as much as he helps. He's great at facilitating when he puts his mind to it too -- but his reasons for choosing to be a smoother rather than a vexxer are a mystery to me. His email asks frankly about whether it's time to dismantle the board. The pretty obvious conclusion is that he (and others NOT in People's Radio) feel that "democracy" has gone too far. All I have time to say now is what I said somewhere else here -- it's great to quote Brian's friend Max Pringle, corporate news wire mouthpiece (and sometimes labor reporter) in the now-famous saying that you wouldn't want an airplane run by passengers. But it is, to me, still a real fear that the alternative needs also to be considered and isn't by the "KPFA Listeners for a Dem..." group: that you don't want the airplane run by hijackers either. Google the article by Maria Gilardin or the letter by Robbie Osman (that's on the People's Radio website) about how many many times something might have been done before 1999 if staff members hadn't been walking around, the way some seem to sometimes be doing now, oblivious to the need for safeguarding against the theft of the station.
In general, I want to defend the people I know in People's radio because there is SO much high-powered ability of those who never even listen to KPFA anymore but do listen to people like Larry Bensky and others they know regarding their endorsements. I don't do this carefully enough to be throwing names around the way I did about Zeltzer. -- though I have seen him in action, I don't approve of my relatively slapdash postings about him previously. I've seen more than enough to know I wouldn't vote for him for station board if you paid me sixty million dollars. On the other hand, I've heard he has been a pioneer in labor film and other areas. I don't want to make enemies (probably too late in this case), but I don't want him to win. Well, yes, I know he's not "running," but neither do I want him to win by dismantling others' chances who have loosley been allied with him previously. I want people to know that people who have been watching do have opinions. These anonymous posters and friends of mine in the Wellstone club have not been going to LSB meetings the way I have. It is not true, as some of the "Listeners for a Democratic KPFA" slate endorsers seem to have said to some, that those other than Wellstone endoresements are bad for the LSB. The People's Radio group has not been formally endorsed by the portion of the Wellstone Club who knew anything abut KPFA's board, but less about current particular board members and candidates. "WHAT IS PEOPLE'S RADIO?" I'm not "in" it. I have spoken with members of the group and watched almost every board meeting for over a year. I believe it was formed by some board members and others to try to work together to continue keepsaking the newer tradition of guarding against anything like the hijacking of the 90s. You should probably ask some of the members of the group for more answers, (maybe they'll post) as I'm bound to say something that isn't quite complete. My understanding is that they felt they could best work on a board that also included some of the people in the "Alliance for Democratic KPFA" slate. What I have seen watching the board operate is that many members of the LSB NOT in People's Radio have wasted the majority of time in board meetings filibustering to prevent votes and even to prevent dialog. Richard Phelps, who is in People's Radio, and is the current chair of the board, seems to be trying hard to be fair to all board members and to encourage people to listen to each other. This is not the characterization you will see of People's Radio members by others who want seats for themselves or their allies, but it is what I have seen. If you dig even a little under the surface, you will soon find some very very articulate people such as Brian Edwards-Tiekert and doubtless others who sound very convincing in their criticisms. Brian is a master of rhetoric -- and I do mean a master. I tend to think his motives are not "bad" in some ultimate sense. He doesn't strike me as an uncaring person. He does great stories on the environment. But he has made the decision that preventing the board from working smoothly is part of his work, and that he does. Other times he appears to facilitate the smooth working of the board, so it's confusing. But if you take note over the long haul, you'll see him obstructing at least as much as he helps. He's great at facilitating when he puts his mind to it too -- but his reasons for choosing to be a smoother rather than a vexxer are a mystery to me. His email asks frankly about whether it's time to dismantle the board. The pretty obvious conclusion is that he (and others NOT in People's Radio) feel that "democracy" has gone too far. All I have time to say now is what I said somewhere else here -- it's great to quote Brian's friend Max Pringle, corporate news wire mouthpiece (and sometimes labor reporter) in the now-famous saying that you wouldn't want an airplane run by passengers. But it is, to me, still a real fear that the alternative needs also to be considered and isn't by the "KPFA Listeners for a Dem..." group: that you don't want the airplane run by hijackers either. Google the article by Maria Gilardin or the letter by Robbie Osman (that's on the People's Radio website) about how many many times something might have been done before 1999 if staff members hadn't been walking around, the way some seem to sometimes be doing now, oblivious to the need for safeguarding against the theft of the station.
I appreciate the yeoman's effort, Virginia. But you sound as confused as I am. I have now been told that Richard Phelps is no longer a "member" of peoples radio and neither is joe wanzala because they are fighting over who calls the shots. so i guess it's not a democratic organization open to just anybody. I don't think it really exists anymore, if it was ever more than just 4-5 people, but i suppose it sounds good on paper. I'm also wondering why you keep saying mark hernandez and sarv randawa do all these terrible things and makes all these nasty remarks but you can't seem to remember a single one. i'm listening to archives and i don't hear them but i sure hear richard phelps insulting people left and right. i will need truthful specifics, not speculation, or parroting what other people say, before condemning anyone. this negative campaigning by supporters of the alliance slate is a massive turnoff. i don't see members of the CL slate doing this so publiclly
anonymous poster: "I appreciate the yeoman's effort, Virginia. But you sound as confused as I am."
Virginia:I AM BUSY, not that confused.
anonymous poster:
"I have now been told that Richard Phelps is no longer a "member" of peoples radio and neither is joe wanzala because they are fighting over who calls the shots. so i guess it's not a democratic organization open to just anybody."
Virginia
THIS IS A STRANGE ASSUMPTION. IF RICHARD OR JOE TAKES MARBLES OR BOWS OUT OF A VOTE OR WHATEVER IT IS, THAT NEXT ASSUMPTION OF ITS BEING 'NOT A DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION OPEN TO ANYBODY' IS LIKE "HUH?"
ANYWAY, THE IMPORTANT THING FOR ME -- THE IMPORTANCE IS ABOUT WHO ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN, WHO HAPPEN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GROUP . THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO FIND OUT. CAN YOU TRY TO CONTACT THEM THROUGH TRACY ROSENBERG IF NOTHING ELSE? I HOPE YOU CAN MEET AND SPEAK WITH THEM. ASK FOR A FORUM!
anonymous poster:
"I don't think it really exists anymore, if it was ever more than just 4-5 people, but i suppose it sounds good on paper.
virginia:
PEOPLE ORGANIZED INTO PEOPLE'S RADIO DID MAKE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. CAMPAIGN OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED FOR A DEMOCRATIC PACIFICA DID TOO -- BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT IS ACTIVE CURRENTLY EXCEPT FOR A FEW PEOPLE. IF YOU LIKE WHAT THEY STAND FOR, MEET THEM AND WANT TO WORK WITH THEM, GREAT. just because an organization has a lot of money doesn't make it a better organization. i wish i had time to link a letter i just got from candidate Norr about this, who is running this time on this subject. maybe later or someone will.
"anonymous poster:
I'm also wondering why you keep saying mark hernandez and sarv randawa do all these terrible things and makes all these nasty remarks but you can't seem to remember a single one.
Virginia:
I SAID THEY VOTED WITH THE OBSTRUCTORS, WHO TIED MEETINGS UP FOR HOURS WITHOUT ALLOWING VOTES. I SAID THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO ASK ABOUT THE HONDA WORKERS RESOLUTION OR ENGAGE IN DIALOG DURING THE BREAKS EVEN ABOUT IT. I PROBABLY SAID OTHER THINGS, I DIDN'T "NOT REMEMBER A SINGLE THING." (THOUGH i ADMIT i AM RUSHING AROUND AND HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO SORT THROUGH AND PROBABLY DIDN'T ORGANIZE THIS THE BEST. ) SURELY YOU HAVE OTHER RESOURCES HOWEVER.
anonymous poster:
i'm listening to archives and i don't hear them but i sure hear richard phelps insulting people left and right. i will need truthful specifics, not speculation, or parroting what other people say, before condemning anyone. this negative campaigning by supporters of the alliance slate is a massive turnoff. i don't see members of the CL slate doing this so publiclly
virginia:
HUH? LAST I LOOKED, THEIR MAILER AND WEBSITE WERE ALMOST NOTHING BUT???? HAVEN'T LOOKED LATELY.
Virginia:I AM BUSY, not that confused.
anonymous poster:
"I have now been told that Richard Phelps is no longer a "member" of peoples radio and neither is joe wanzala because they are fighting over who calls the shots. so i guess it's not a democratic organization open to just anybody."
Virginia
THIS IS A STRANGE ASSUMPTION. IF RICHARD OR JOE TAKES MARBLES OR BOWS OUT OF A VOTE OR WHATEVER IT IS, THAT NEXT ASSUMPTION OF ITS BEING 'NOT A DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION OPEN TO ANYBODY' IS LIKE "HUH?"
ANYWAY, THE IMPORTANT THING FOR ME -- THE IMPORTANCE IS ABOUT WHO ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN, WHO HAPPEN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GROUP . THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO FIND OUT. CAN YOU TRY TO CONTACT THEM THROUGH TRACY ROSENBERG IF NOTHING ELSE? I HOPE YOU CAN MEET AND SPEAK WITH THEM. ASK FOR A FORUM!
anonymous poster:
"I don't think it really exists anymore, if it was ever more than just 4-5 people, but i suppose it sounds good on paper.
virginia:
PEOPLE ORGANIZED INTO PEOPLE'S RADIO DID MAKE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. CAMPAIGN OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED FOR A DEMOCRATIC PACIFICA DID TOO -- BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT IS ACTIVE CURRENTLY EXCEPT FOR A FEW PEOPLE. IF YOU LIKE WHAT THEY STAND FOR, MEET THEM AND WANT TO WORK WITH THEM, GREAT. just because an organization has a lot of money doesn't make it a better organization. i wish i had time to link a letter i just got from candidate Norr about this, who is running this time on this subject. maybe later or someone will.
"anonymous poster:
I'm also wondering why you keep saying mark hernandez and sarv randawa do all these terrible things and makes all these nasty remarks but you can't seem to remember a single one.
Virginia:
I SAID THEY VOTED WITH THE OBSTRUCTORS, WHO TIED MEETINGS UP FOR HOURS WITHOUT ALLOWING VOTES. I SAID THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO ASK ABOUT THE HONDA WORKERS RESOLUTION OR ENGAGE IN DIALOG DURING THE BREAKS EVEN ABOUT IT. I PROBABLY SAID OTHER THINGS, I DIDN'T "NOT REMEMBER A SINGLE THING." (THOUGH i ADMIT i AM RUSHING AROUND AND HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO SORT THROUGH AND PROBABLY DIDN'T ORGANIZE THIS THE BEST. ) SURELY YOU HAVE OTHER RESOURCES HOWEVER.
anonymous poster:
i'm listening to archives and i don't hear them but i sure hear richard phelps insulting people left and right. i will need truthful specifics, not speculation, or parroting what other people say, before condemning anyone. this negative campaigning by supporters of the alliance slate is a massive turnoff. i don't see members of the CL slate doing this so publiclly
virginia:
HUH? LAST I LOOKED, THEIR MAILER AND WEBSITE WERE ALMOST NOTHING BUT???? HAVEN'T LOOKED LATELY.
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