Pacifica's Rashomon

by Akio Tanaka

Thu, Nov 14, 2019 2:51AM

The real danger to Pacifica is not a ‘corporate coup’. The real danger is a financial failure which is what the current governance structure has brought about.

There are two contradictory narratives regarding the current crisis at WBAI and Pacifica

One side says that there was a coup at WBAI, and proposed Bylaws is to facilitate a corporate takeover of the Foundation.

Other side says the fiscal crisis and the intervention at WBAI was result of lack of financial oversight over the years, and there needs to be a change in the governance structure.

It is like Rashomon, where an event is given contradictory (but equally plausible) interpretations by the individuals involved.

Following is my response to recent articles by Pete Dolack in CounterPunch:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/11/12/response-to-pete-dolack-articles-on-wbai-and-pacifica/

The real danger to Pacifica is not a ‘corporate coup’. The real danger is a financial failure which is what the current governance structure has brought about.

Pacifica is a member supported network. The members should decide.

Add Your Comments

§The Real Story

by long time listener

Sun, Jan 26, 2020 12:36AM

The financial crisis at KPFA has 2 aspects: one is the decline of listenership of radio generally, and the other is the use of the drop in income as a tactic for a group of a Democratic clubsters to gain control of the station to push a "moderate" Democrat agenda. This group has mishandled the finances to deliberately run the station into the ground financially, and then take possession of it for themselves along with a portion of the paid staff who have always wanted to maintain their professional status and be the sole decision makers.

They destroyed the semi-democratic Program Council,and have recently taken 5 radical programs off the air at KPFA.
This October they created a raid of the New York Pacifica station WBAI, destroyed its new broadcast studio, fired its workers, took its programming off the air, created several new court cases to further drain its coffers, and claimed this was to prevent the lack of resources to pay the staff and to reorganize the station. This was done in the midst of a fund drive which had already gained $30,000, enough to pay the staff.
The facts put the lie to their cover story, but the facts make up a long story, so for now, let's just say, don't believe the hype.
You can find more of the real story at http://PacificaInExile.org and RescuePacifica.net .

And if you're a member, or will contribute at least $25 at KPFA.org to become one now, you can vote No in the upcoming vote, to defeat their attempt to "restructure the Bylaws" which would take control away from the listeners and put their big D Democratic small group firmly in charge.

Add a Comment

Support Independent Media

We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!