The national trend of declining listener revenue that affects all of community radio has collided with rising costs and has hit WBAI hard. This trend is not unique to WBAI: a report last year by Audience 2010 projected a $30-60 million drop in public radio revenue. The financial impact of 9/11 and rising NYC poverty and unemployment rates make it very difficult for listeners to be as generous as they would like. And when the board’s opposing bloc speaks of WBAI’s debt to the national office, what they don’t tell you is that WBAI faces a financial burden unmatched by any other Pacifica station. WBAI’s operational cost (transmitter rent, studio rent and utilities) is $736,000 a year — no other station’s exceeds
$146,000.
| The Justice & Unity board majority has scrutinized management’s proposed budgets and corrected errors and excesses, producing more accurate and economical budgets. We’ll work with the incoming permanent manager to launch a major capital campaign so the station can purchase its own facility. We’re working with the Pacifica National Board to bring in a professional to raise funds off-air. We’ll also build on our Board’s past successes and help the station hold more community fundraising events, run ads in diverse publications, and create a Pacifica record label. |
Justice & Unity recognizes that racism is not dead, or even asleep, and remains committed to ensuring that WBAI maintains and expands its progressive, activist, anti-racist programming, and to advancing affirmative action throughout Pacifica. Some opposition board members are against this, and have even campaigned to fire progressive Program Director Bernard White and to purge other anti-racist programmers by disseminating vitriolic, unsubstantiated allegations against them. To stand up against this opposition and protect WBAI’s legacy as a powerful tool for oppressed communities, Justice & Unity needs a stronger board majority.
Don’t Be Fooled! Most of the “independent” candidates are joined with the same hostile bloc that for years has undermined WBAI, demoralizing listeners and staff with unsubstantiated allegations. (More details at http://www.justiceunity.org/index.html#Pacifica.) Justice & Unity candidates have varied backgrounds but shared values supporting racial, gender, and class justice.
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