It's time to vote on a future for WBAI.
At the beginning of August, you may have received an email from the Pacifica National Election Supervisor ("WBAI/Pacifica Foundation Radio Network" nes@pacifica.org) about voting in the WBAI Local Station Board election. And this Thurs., Aug. 15, many of you will receive an email from Simply Voting (vote@simplyvoting.com) containing the information you need to vote online.
You will also receive a paper brochure from Justice and Unity, as well as the usual collection of celebrity photos — inferring endorsements — and disinformation from the majority slate which has been in charge of the station during its decade-long downward landslide.
A few quick points:
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Please vote only for the Justice & Unity candidates and in our requested order, then vote for the 3 ARISE candidates we recommend. See here: https://justiceunity.org/2019-listener-candidates/
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There's a hard push for online voting in the name of costs and environment, but we know some of you have concerns about electronic tampering. If you want a paper ballot or if you did not receive last week's email, complete this ballot request form: https://elections.pacifica.org/wordpress/2019ballotrequestform/
You may leave your name, address and phone number for the election supervisor at 510-854-9663.
A ballot is to be sent to each listener who contributed at least $25 between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. If you and others in your household combined your contributions, a family that contributed $75 could get a total of 3 ballots if all 3 names are submitted. The person in whose name the payment was made will have to complete a separate form for each household member: https://elections.pacifica.org/wordpress/2019ballotrequestform/
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Stay in touch with us and read about our great candidates who have histories of achievement and who live the message of inclusion at JusticeUnity.org
WBAI really needs your help and your close attention in these times. As the board goes, so does the station. Choose people who will work to build the station, not those who would neglect or boycott it.
After not showing up for meetings in 2016 and only convening about half the meetings in 2017 & 2018, as we write, the Indy-ACE majority has dropped the pretense of working and cancelled the August board meeting. Why do that when the Board is years behind in meeting mandated responsibilities:
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Despite a recent $200,000 bequest, WBAI remains deeply in debt and severely understaffed. There's been no budget approval by the LSB in many years. Not enough money comes in; there are serious concerns about how money is raised; and there are no real discussions about how it will be spent.
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There is no known process for program changes or program evaluations. People appear on air; people disappear. No transparency. Huge swaths of underrepresented community and topics are missing from our air.
Justice & Unity works and fights for all of us.
WBAI Justice and Unity Campaign
info@justiceunity.org
JusticeUnity.org
212-591-2111
Inclusion on all sides of the microphone...
