The Concerned Listener Management Group is Changing the Culture of KPFA To Pay To Hear!

Richard Phelps, at various time on indybay, has "volunteered" to:
be Pacifica's lawyer
be Pacifica's executive director
be KPFA's GM
be Pacifica and KPFA's mediator
be KPFA's program director
be Larry Bensky's replacement
be the Pacifica chair
and now
KPFA's development director.

Is there nothing this man can't do?!

This management hack who likes to attack Phelps is one of those who is keeping KPFA in a state of decline. Declining audience, declining donations and the same old entrenched programmers.
The costs of the police attack on Nadra Foster both on her personally and the costs to the station are another example of this bankrupt and incompetent crew who is really running the station. The fact of the matter is that there are many talented people in the bay area who could run the station much better but then the entrenched crew including this mouthpiece for the entrenched crew supported by the concerned listeners. However these people might lose their lifetime jobs and this is what is most important.

If Richard is so concerned, perhaps he can come up with a way for KPFA to raise the funds to simply stay on the air without fundraising.

Even if there were no salaries paid, and any rational person knows that you still need a bonded bookkeeper to make sure power, water and operational expenses are kept current, you still need to pay PG&E or SoCal Edison or some other entity to keep not only the studio but the transmitter on the air as well.

Volunteers and organic potlucks at the UU don't buy kilowatts; money does. If promoting speeches and books for sale to THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT brings in cash to keep the station going, how is that the "bad thing" Richard tries to spin his as?

I just go down and ask for a copy on CD, and bring my own blanks; the receptionist usually has it ready the next day or two. I used to use cassettes but, alas, my old Lafayette died many a moon ago...

And who are these "entrenched" staff? Dennis Bernstein is the longest employed staff person at KPFA; aside from Dennis, there are the news directors who have been at KPFA for more than three years. There are a couple of people paid from grants that don't cost KPFA a penny. All of them are drawing salary...but notice that Richard *always* excludes Bernstein from his lectures?

Is it true, Richard? Does Dennis Bernstein get 'special dispensation' and protection from your tirades, or is he another "entrenched staff" whose salary promotes KPFA selling 'free speech' for a profit?

If its the volunteer staff, the unpaid staff, there are maybe ten or twelve people out of nearly three hundred who have been at KPFA for more than three years.

So...who are these "entrenched staff" that Richard rails against?

They are people whom Richard cannot bully; they are people who do not believe that Richard speaks the One Univesal Truth. They are people who realize that in the hands of a group with monomaniacal tendencies, like Peoples Radio, we would see the destruction of KPFA as a valued voice of the Left and the imposition of a single super-radical view that will not allow any other to share the airwaves.

We already see that in his posts and those of his allies, so we know it to be true of their intentions.

Being a attorney for the people may excite Richard to post this claim of elitism and accusation of incessant capitalism, but it seems more like Richard wants to keep his attorney fees in his pocket than offer them to KPFA, and use that to smear good people trying to keep the station on the air without letting one politically extreme view dominate to the exclusion of any other point of view.

§Richard is a God
by $
Thursday Jan 22nd, 2009 11:06 PM
Richard Phelps, at various time on indybay, has "volunteered" to:
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RP: This statement is an exaggeration as well as an evasion of the issue. If I was doing any of the jobs listed, here are just a few differences in how I would do them from how they are done now or in the recent past.
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be Pacifica's lawyer
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RP: I would provide legal opinions/advice in line with the bylaws and for the good of the Foundation and not for the benefit of any individual or faction. My general practice would be to present them in written form so there would be clarity and accountability.

I would not insert myself where there would be a conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict. If I did get involved I would follow the Rules of Professional Conduct and best practices and notify all involved of the potential conflict and only get involved after receiving a signed waiver from all involved.

I would not act like a PNB member and would only speak at PNB meetings when asked for a legal opinion. I would not try to act as the keeper of all confidential Foundation information, since as Counsel I would only be entitled to the confidential information needed to advise when asked.

I would never not settle a suit against Pacifica that should be settled And I would do it early to keep Pacifica's expenses as low as possible. My bills would be detailed not general.

I would provide ED/PNB members constant updates on all open litigation or claims and provide copies of pleadings when requested.
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be Pacifica's executive director
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RP: I would never interfere with the elections and make sure no staff or management interferes. I would work to make the elections inclusive and require all station managers to do the same.

I would make sure that the Bylaws and proper HR practices are followed at all stations uniformly.

I would never interfere with Director's Inspections, on the contrary I would facilitate them and encourage transparency throughout the Foundation.

I would develop the best programs for Foundation wide broadcasting.

I would seek advice from the experts among our listeners on technology and fund raising.

I would have a Foundation wide program on the air every two months to discuss with our listener/subscribers what's going on and to get their feedback. If the listeners are our main concern, aren't they? Why be afraid to tell them what is going on and to hear from them.

I would also encourage monthly LSB report programs at each station.
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be KPFA's GM
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RP: I would support the development of a democratic unpaid staff organization.
I would budget money for unpaid staff expenses.

I would have written HR policies and proceedures that comply with the law or are more progressive and treat all employees fairly and equally.

I would maintain a Program Council that complies with the LSB motion of May 2004.

I would have a NO violence or physical intimidation policy. I would have a policy of progressive discipline applied equally to all.

I would make sure our news doesn't read wire copy with corporate or pentagon spin.

I would do more outreach to increase listeners from all communities.

I would have a policy to never call the police to the station unless there was potential for bodily harm or significant property damage or theft that would effect the stations ability to broadcast.

I would use the stations resources to involve the listener/subscribers in our elections. I would demand that all staff support fair elections. Anyone caught wrongfully using station resources for a candidate or slate would be in serious trouble.

No one would be banned from the station without due process.

I would attend all LSB meetings and work cooperatively with the LSB. I would require that the bylaws requirements for on air announcements of the LSB meetings are always done.

I would not allow any dishonesty during fund drives. Honesty builds a loyal audience.

I would play speeches in a timely fashion for all to hear and promote them in the community.

I would follow the bylaws and allow time on the air for an LSB monthly report.

I would have a monthly GM report to inform and engage our listeners. It wouldn't be a public relations spin time, but part of transparency at a free speech station.
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be Pacifica and KPFA's mediator
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RP: I would gladly volunteer my services. However, for a mediation to have any chance for success, and not be a waste of time, people have to engage in good faith. And if the response to this article, attack the writer, instead of dealing with the issues, is any indication, mediation with the CL folks would probably be a wate of time. I did sit in on a discussion of a problem at a PNB meeting resess, invited as a mediator.
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be KPFA's program director
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RP: I would not have disbanded the Program Council and would seek involvement from the community, who is, after all, who the station exists for.

I would make sure that public service announcements get on the air even on short notice when possible.

I would not discourage broadcasters from encouraging listeners to go to peace marches etc. as long as they do it responsibily. I would discipline broadcasters that risk our licence by encouraging listeners to attend commercial events or businesses in violation of the FCC rules on "Calls to Action".

I would work cooperatively with staff that wants to give live coverage to progressive events.

I would encourage progressive community activists to learn radio and help us relate to and serve their communities.

I would make sure our news folks don't read wire copy with corporate or pentagon spin included.
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be Larry Bensky's replacement
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RP: I wouldn't hang up on people that I disagree with. I wouldn't be afraid of different opinions on 911. I wouldn't refuse to take calls from folks that I know disagree with me on some issue.

I wouldn't praise the Clintons' speeches at the Convention, I would have deconstructed them for all their BS.

I wouldn't advertise for my own business like he did, (classes at Vista College, now Berkeley City College)

I wouldn't bad rap the democratic process at Pacifica. Instead I would encourage listeners to participate.

I wouldn't violate election rules and use station resources to endorse candidates.

I wouldn't tell the same stories of my life over and over and over again. In fact I wouldn't talk about myself much.
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be the Pacifica chair
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RP: I would run the meetings fairly for all. I would not allow my allies or anyone to speak out of turn or go on and on when off point.

I would require minutes be done promptly and made available to the public promptly. I would only suggest executive session for things that belong there. I would follow the direction of the PNB, not act against it outside of the meetings. I would encourage and practice transparency.

I would respect the bylaws and follow them. I would encourage and support due process and progressive discipline.

I would not let the Pacifica counsel speak on political issues at meetings, only on legal issues that the PNB needs advice on, even if he was my friend, ally and former attorney.
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and now
KPFA's development director.
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RP: Well, I guess it is obvious that I would play the wonderful speeches that get recorded, in a timely fashion, for all to hear and use them to promote the station and encourage loyalty and raise donations. This will create excitement and broaden our audience as explained in one of my earlier writing on this subject. They can all be found on Indybay or at the Berkeley Daily Planet.

Many of the issues listed above would help with loyalty and expanding our audience, thus helping with fund raising. I would incorporate the elections in the fund raising as was done the first election. It was stopped when the status quo realized that they may not be able to control the election results and decided to act like LSB elections don't exist except when they have to.
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Is there nothing this man can't do?!
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RP: Given the lack of quality performance by those in these positions and their selfish opportunistic nature it would not be hard for any intelligent person with radio experience, 26 years legal experience, 13 years mediation experience, 40+ years of progressive activity and a committment to progressive principles (transparency, due process, accountability, honesty, democratic process, inclusive elections and equal treatment for all) to do a better job for the Foundation and its MISSION!

I would like to not have be writing this or to do any of these jobs and just be able to listen to a truly progressive station (progressive on the air and in its internal practices) and do all the other things I am busy with. But given the infection by opportunistic folks I have no choice but to speak out to try to save the station and the Foundation.

Richard Phelps

Old lib still not willing to back up your lies with your name. And of course totally afraid to debate me or any knowledgeable person in public.

The money comes when you have a station dedicated to the listener/subscribers not run like the private property of a few incompetant staff and political opportunist/power before Mission pseudo progressives. People that sabatoge elections to win and really don't want elections can't be progressive.

The money will come from loyal listeners that get to hear important speeches in a timely fashion and not have to pay $6-, $75 or $100.

It should not come from selling the items that we exist to provide to the people. KPFA selling speeches that it refuses to play for its entire audience is JUST PLAIN WRONG! TOTALLY CONTRARY TO THE MISSION.

KPFA selling speeches that it refuses to play for everyone, is like a childcare center putting the kids to work in the garage to make money.

> Old lib still not willing to back up your lies with your name.

Notice the Rovian tactic to label everything a "lie" up front, without being specific as to what exactly is a "lie"?

Notice how any response to Richard that doesn't automatically agree with him is a "lie" or a "personal attack" or any other metaphor of "something that Richard cannot honestly respond to"?

Why, if Richard weren't the uber-progressive that he claims to be, his argumentation methodology would almost seem to be out of the Rove/Ailes handbook used by Limbaugh and Hannity.

> And of course totally afraid to debate me or any knowledgeable person in public.

Doing it here puts in on record, inviolate, and in a manner that you cannot twist to meaning anything other than what is actually stated.

I believe it is your fear of being on the record that prompts your "afraid to debate" response.

> The money comes when you have a station dedicated to the listener/subscribers
> not run like the private property of a few incompetant staff and political
> opportunist/power before Mission pseudo progressives. People that sabatoge
> elections to win and really don't want elections can't be progressive.

These same "incompetent staff" who have kept the station on the air and paying the bills while the rest of Pacifica cannot? People so incompetent that one station is able to support four other stations, a radio archive, a network and a national foundation that is almost bankrupt? Staff that despite the economy is still able to raise funds to stay on the air another day?

It would appear that they are meeting the mission quite remarkably, just not spouting your particularly narrow political agenda.

But, again, you fail to address why you exempt Dennis Bernstein from your tirades.

Hasn't Bernstein been central to the single biggest expenses to KPFA over the past ten years between the lawsuits, the missing studio equipment from New College, and the hiring of personal staff during the financial crisis?

Why does he get a pass from the non-specific accusations you bring forward? How is everyone else with a salary "entrenched" except him?

> The money will come from loyal listeners that get to hear important speeches
> in a timely fashion and not have to pay $6-, $75 or $100.

So your "financial plan" is that by giving away these premiums, we will then magically see one-two more people subscribe to make up the difference.

What is your evidence for this supposition, Counselor?

Right now, any member can go to the station and get these recordings, if they are not commercially produced. I'm informed that one can download them from the Pacifica Radio Archives web site as well.

The only exceptions are if the recording was commercially released or is copyrighted by the speaker, which means these need to be purchased and shipped, and since the Post Office and UPS aren't models of socialist government, that cost adds up...and is largely covered by those very same premiums that you condemn.

Or are you promoting that these copyrighted performances be pirated and no one gets paid royalties? That we should have the books and magazines photocopied and passed out freely, denying writers and artists, players and performers, recompense for the sweat of their brow?

And KPFA, which spends the time and money to record many of these non-copyrighted events, should be denied the ability to not only recover that expense, but also to pay for its archival in the Pacifica Archives?

If these "loyal listeners" ae not already supporting the station and doing this, what guarantee do you make that they will actually send any money then?

> It should not come from selling the items that we exist to provide to the
> people. KPFA selling speeches that it refuses to play for its entire
> audience is JUST PLAIN WRONG! TOTALLY CONTRARY TO THE MISSION.

Again, Richard, that isn't true. If you can afford it, you can subscribe and get it mailed to you.

If you are a member, you can go to the station and get a copy made.

Your complaint seems to be to give it away to non-members who are not supporting the station in the first place.

Do you have some guarantee that they will suddenly start paying when they have not yet done so before?

> KPFA selling speeches that it refuses to play for everyone, is like a
> childcare center putting the kids to work in the garage to make money.

Or like the Girl Scouts who sell cookies to support their activities, or like Youth Soccer league teams to support their games, or like our public schools to provide what the local budget will not.

Despite your rhetoric, you do not have the concerns about KPFA motivating your words.

You wish to establish a "crony-ocracy" of those who agree wih you, and with no real financial plan to keep the station going once you expunge all those "wrong-thinking" staff and listeners.

It is difficult to find sincerity in the words of someone who claims to support an organization, then actively seeks ways to prevent if from getting the funds that it needs to operate.

The thrust of your responses is to distract people from the fact that instead of following the Mission and playing all the listed speeches and programs for all to hear your gorup has decided to sell them and not play them. Pay per hear! Just like Comcast.

I didn't mention "entrenched" in my article. I didn't say that we don't need to raise money, I have donated thousands of dollars over the years, it is my way of saying how much I like or dislike what is happening on the air and behind the scenes, as it is with so many folks and that is why we have lost 5,000 listeners/subscribers in the last 5 years, the basic period of control of the current CL Mgt. Group. Many people have spoken with their feet and left. And during that time your group increased the payroll by 50%, from 28 to 42 full time equivalents.

I didn't say to give away premiums! All I have agrued for is the Mission: Play the speeches on the air for all to hear when they are fresh! If you do that I don't care if you sell them, if fact I encourage selling them to raise money. They do need to be completely played on the air so the people who can't afford to buy them can hear them. It seems to becoming clear that your group doesn't care about people that can't afford to buy the speeches. At least your practice of selling them and not playing them says that quite loud. Your groups come back that if they come to the station they coud get a copy for free is another distraction. Our Mission is to get these speeches out to tens of thousands of listeners, KPFA is a Radio Station, not a duplicating center. Most low income people don't have the time or the gas money to come to the station, that is why we have RADIO! And imagine how the staff and Mgt. would complain if 1000 people showed up and asked for a free CD copy of a speech? Not to mention that some low income people don't have CD players and rely on their RADIO to get information.

It is really simple, if you believe in the Mission: just play the speeches when fresh. If promoted right it will create excitement on the air, loyalty and donations. KPFA will again be known as the station that plays all the good stuff when it happens, instead of the "Alternative Home Shopping Network" where you can BUY all the things progressive people want to hear.

In years past I have bought many after hearing them on the air. Perhaps Old Lib isn't old enough to remember when KPFA used to play such speeches when they happened, sometimes live or shortly there after. They were not held for the next fund drive.

What can be deduced from your comment is that you see speeches as premiums, not as part of our Mission. So sad.

If the Girl Scouts Mission was to give away cookies then to sell them would be a violation of their Mission.

In every post responding to my factual articles you make direct of veiled personal attacks. Sometimes just straight personal attacks and this has been going on for years. Like calling my response Rovian. That is a projection, plain and simple. This coming from a man who stays anonymous to avoid responsibility for what you say and to not be held accountable for your lies and distortions of fact etc.

Your comparison of the stations successes and failures ignores the objective conditions of our history and reputation that your group has been living on and the fact that the Bay Area is more liberal/progressive than any of the other broadcast areas. And the fact that we have some very good programs that raise money inspite of your groups negative practices.

And please let's not forget the CL and KPFAForward elected PNB members always voting with the NY faction (JUC) that caused all the red ink for several years and thus the major financial problems that Pacifica now has.

Your PNB members wouldn't even support a vote to require that WBAI follow the Bylaws and do annual reviews of their GM and PD. Your folks allowed that to happen in return for support for your local groups election dirty tricks and other anti-bylaws practices. Your collusion to have no National oversight to prevent local tyranny of the majority has almost destroyed the Foundation. And now you try to divert attention from the fact that your folks are tyring to eliminate the Mission to shore up your finances instead of doing what is necessary to build a loyal audience that will support KPFA.

You didn't comment at all about the suggestion of playing the speeches on Tuesday or Wednesday night and developing an audience and raising money with the speeches while doing the Mission.

You know damn well if your group started playing Pepsi commercials the listeners would rebel. So your group went commercial under the radar. Holding back speeches and creating scarcity to increase sales. Your group has kept it real quiet that this is what they are doing, hoping that people will assume that the speeches you are selling are being played for all to hear. And that is why you and your cronyies are attacking me, the kid who said the CL MGT. is naked and has no Mission, just sales in mind.

Why hasn't Lemlem of Sasha explained this fund raising plan to the entire audience on the web site or during one of their many Management Reports to the listeners? Yes this is a rhetorical question. We both know the answer, your group is anti-transparency and you know that this ant-Mission Pay to Hear deception would be very unpopular with our listeners.

Lemlem put up a response yeaterday at 6:52 a.m. that was taken down later that morning and in it she lied and said that 20 of the items I listed could be found in the archives. She also said that "those people" can be found in the archives, another side step. She didn't say where you could find any of those speeches in complete form. Because you can't. Programs are in the archives when they are played on the air. Thus what you have of these speeches are the teaser parts that are played during the fund drives 30-40 minutes of a 90-180 minute speech. I searched after I read her response and could only find what was described by the announcer as "excerpts". So much for Mgt. being honest with the listeners.

Perhaps Lemlem's post was taken down when someone realized how dishonest it was and how that could be exposed. If anyone wants to see it let me know, I copied it and could put it back up. In fact below is part of her post. Notice how she tries to use my age to avoid a debate. I have more energy than she does. And my experience from many years of progressive politics allows me to spot opportunists very quickly.
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§Closure
by Lemlem
Sunday Jan 25th, 2009 6:52 AM
Mr. Phelps! I can't believe you say all these things! You are an elder so I won't get in to an argument with you in public, but I want to make sure you understand all these speeches you refer to, and more importantly the ideas, concepts, theories, political analyses the speeches address and explore, are on KPFA air 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year for listeners in 1/3 of California, and on kpfa.org always and forever* for everyone in the world to access. (*Music is only archived for 14-days, and copyright laws do not permit the station to archive some material).

You can listen to all the people you have listed above as 'speeches kpfa sells' which is not true. Again, I aspire to be a respectful and kind person, but I want to say, as gently as I can, please go to kpfa.org and you can listen to more than the 20 or so you have listed---there are over 10,000 archived files you can access and listen to again and again, download, share, or signup for podcast and you can get them all delivered to you! You don't have a computer? Please call and ask for a copy of anything you need; ask for Lemlem.
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So I am done with Old Lib and his anonymous BS. No one should believe anything you post until you are honest enough to claim it with your real name.

The facts are what they are. The CL Mgt. is selling speeches and public afairs that they don't play for all to hear. Clear anti-Mission activity. If two classes of listeners is the type of KPFA you want, support these people and you will have KQED underwriting soon. One of their allies suggested it at a PNB meeting a couple of years ago. It was not well received.

Richard Phelps