SaveKPFA

KPFA’s local board chair urges YES vote

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Original KPFA radio dial, circa 1949
Original KPFA radio dial, circa 1949

“Let me paint a picture of where KPFA is now — because it should concern all of us — no matter which side we’re on,” writes Margy Wilkinson, chair of KPFA’s local board in an open letter to listeners. Wilkinson cites evidence of the dramatic loss of listenership following Pacifica management’s purging of the station’s most listened-to program, the Morning Show, produced by a crew of young, diverse journalists. What follows is a tale of stunningly undemocratic dirty-tricks, financial mismanagement and anti-union maneuvers that have caused KPFA listeners to demand an immediate change in Pacifica’s management — starting with the recall of Pacifica treasurer Tracy Rosenberg. | READ WILKINSON’S  ENTIRE LETTER

Your participation is critical to saving KPFA

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The coming days are crucial to the struggle to retain local control of KPFA — your efforts have never been more important. Here’s what you can do to help ensure the recall succeeds:

  • Look for your ballot and VOTE YES to RECALL ROSENBERG.
  • Help us MONITOR THE ELECTION to be sure Pacifica conducts it fairly and impartially by sending an e-mail to  votesavekpfa@gmail.com once you’ve mailed your ballot in.
  • CALL THREE FRIENDS who listen to KPFA. Ask them to watch for their ballots, and explain why the recall is so important. Talking points are here, or print out some flyers to distribute.
  • If you use Twitter, alert your followers that the ballots are out. Here’s a sample tweet: Recall ballots were mailed to #KPFA members today. Vote YES to recall Tracy Rosenberg & restore local control! www.SaveKPFA.org
  • POST A STATUS UPDATE on Facebook, alerting KPFA members to watch for their ballots. Or just share this link: http://www.savekpfa.org/kpfa-listeners-look-for-your-recall-ballot-then-vote-yes
  • ENDORSE the YES campaign. Just send us a note at  votesavekpfa@gmail.com or call us at 510-969-9373.
  • VOLUNTEER to help Get Out the Vote. Contact us for details.

VOTING YES on the recall, which is endorsed by a long list of KPFA listeners and workers, is the first step toward regaining a Pacifica National Board that is responsive to listeners and local autonomy for KPFA.

You’re supposed to get a ballot if you’re a KPFA listener-member — meaning you gave $25 or more in a one-year period. Pacifica’s election supervisor writes: “If any listener-member fails to receive a ballot, or if it is lost or damaged, please contact kpfarecall@gmail.com or (323) 375-4126 during standard business hours PST for a replacement.”

Pacifica demanding $1 million from stations to fix network’s financial problems

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While KPFA’s fund drive came in a little low, the station’s overall budget remains balanced — the station is on track to have a small surplus. Not so with Pacifica, the corporation that owns KPFA as well as KPFK (Los Angeles), WPFW (Washington), WBAI (New York City) and KPFT (Houston).

Pacifica treasurer Tracy Rosenberg told KPFA’s local board on June 2 that Pacifica is demanding $1 million from all member five stations to balance its budget, and that cuts will likely come as staff layoffs. Rosenberg said KPFA would be responsible for a larger part of the cut since its budget is bigger than those of the other four stations.

“Pacifica is in crisis due to its own financial mismanagement,” said one board member.  Each station already pays 19.5% of its income to Pacifica for “central services” such as accounting, insurance, and common programming expenses. Pacifica has granted a 50% discount in those fees to WBAI, which has been operating with a huge deficit and an expensive Wall Street lease for years. In March, KPFA’s local treasurer and business manager reported serious problems with Pacifica’s taking more of KPFA’s money than it was owed — at that time, up to $154,000.

Listeners and staff are asking why KPFA and the other stations should continue to foot the bill. At June’s LSB meeting, several local board members questioned why KPFA would be asked to lay off staff to come up with $300,000 for Pacifica. “What is Pacifica doing about looking at ways in which WBAI can seriously cut their costs?” asked board member Sasha Futran, adding: “WBAI is taking the network down, potentially.” | LISTEN to an exchange between Futran & Rosenberg (3-min audio) or to the entire LSB meeting here: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4.