WBAI: YOURS TO LOSE – or SAVE!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About WBAI’s 2012 Local Station Board Election

Who can vote?
Anyone who contributed at least $25, or volunteered for 3 hours or more between September 13, 2011 and September 13, 2012, is a voting member. Couples (or household members) who pledged at least $50 in both parties’ names should get separate ballots.

Where’s my ballot?
Ballots were mailed on Nov. 13. If you have not yet received one, call 866-720-4357. Also, notify J&U at (212) 591-2111 or email: info@justiceunity.org.

What’s the deadline?
Completed ballots must be received, not just postmarked, by Dec. 18, at the designated Long Island address. Don’t mail it to / drop at Wall Street or send with pledge payment or with other offers or requests. Mail only to the address received with your actual ballot.

Why vote?
The board majority has everything to do with the direction of the station! If you turn to WBAI to share your hope or despair about developments in our neighborhoods, cities, or capitals, you should vote. The continued existence of our station is not assured! Insolvency and detailed calls to sell BAI and disband the network are real threats.

What is the Justice and Unity Campaign?
J&U is a coalition of listeners, staff, and grassroots organizations dedicated to strengthening WBAI’s financial independence, increasing its involvement with oppressed communities, and fulfilling its mission of decreasing group antagonism through dialog.

What are some of the issues facing the station and the board?
Yes, there’s a money shortage, but the issues are more complex than this. While not all problems are new, the tactics being implemented by management and the ACE board majority are extremely disturbing:
•    No long-term planning with the full board or with full staff; only certain voices have management’s ear
•    No operational or programming planning with the majority of staff
•    Nepotistic hiring without required job postings or search committees
•    No useful financial reporting to the board which is supposed to approve the annual budget and review results quarterly
•    Merchandising of consumable products and questionable cures
•    Listeners shut out of board operation due to inadequate meeting notice, dormant committees, and closed self-selecting committee membership   
•    Rejected proposal to move to temporary quarters instead of renewing lease for 3 years at more than $380K/year; disappeared $150K building fund started in 2006.

www.justiceunity.org    WBAI Justice and Unity Campaign    (212) 591-2111
Inclusion on all sides of the microphone

What’s the difference between Justice & Unity and the other slate?

J&U was formed in 2003 during the revision of the Pacifica bylaws around the issue of amplifying the voices of those ordinarily rendered voiceless in mass media. During board elections, we run a slate of candidates and staff associates committed to this purpose. On the board, we have sought to maximize member involvement in governance and to eliminate the influence of money in elections.

J&U is firmly opposed to any signal sale or swap that would deprive our radio audience access to WBAI programming. Those who suggest otherwise are simply lying. While a great tool, we believe that Internet radio is not a substitute for terrestrial radio and that the Pacifica mission calls/requires us to be as accessible as possible.

The grouping known alternately as List-Prog, “Independents,” and ACE repeatedly flout election rules about equal access to Pacifica resources, practice dirty tricks including falsely implying endorsements, making false accusations, and have shown a disregard for truth that would be shocking if it weren’t so consistent.

Who will speak for you?
Only you can answer this question and we thank you for considering us.
Please vote in this recommended ranking order:

1. Father Luis Barrios – Activist priest and professor; co-exec, IFCO/Pastors for Peace
2. Cerene Roberts – Former WBAI producer, pledge-room coordinator, and LSB member
3. William Heerwagen – Accountant; computer programmer; former host, “Jazz and Things”
4. Sharonne Salaam – founder, People United for Children; activist for wrongly convicted Central Park 5; LSB member
5. Russell Dale – LSB member, philosophy professor, music teacher, anti-war activist
6. Carlos Canales – Immigrants’ rights & day-laborer activist, May 1st Coalition Steering Committee
7. Diana Crowder – Immigrants’ rights activist, union rep, member – Trabajadores Por la Paz
8. Shahid Comrade – Gen. Sec., Pakistan-USA Freedom Forum; immigrants’ rights and
peace activist
9. Ebon Charles – Elementary school teacher, advocate for youth

10. Eugene Hamond – Ex-producer, WBAI Community Bulletin Bd.; member, NYC Labor Chorus