Since the 2009 management changes, WBAI doesn’t cover community and world events as it used to. The LSB majority has failed to fix finances and blatantly violates the by-laws. I am a candidate with the Justice & Unity Campaign (www.justiceunity.org) because I love WBAI and want to help improve it.
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linda@justiceunity.org, 212-591-2111
I am proud to run with other candidates of the Justice & Unity Campaign (www.justiceunity.org) who share my concerns about the direction our beloved WBAI has taken in the past year.
When I moved to New York 35 years ago, I found WBAI as I searched the radio dial for music I liked and discussion of the political issues relevant to those turbulent times–the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. Now, unfortunately, the station is becoming less relevant as a voice for the local community and those ignored and rendered voiceless by other media. New management at both WBAI and the Pacifica network have other ideas about what is important. They seem less interested in covering major world events and local issues than in repeating the same premiums again and again to make money–even hawking miracle products and get-rich-quick schemes. This contravenes Pacifica’s mission.
I am a Spanish interpreter in Family Court, and work every day with immigrants who need help in many ways. Immigration is a key issue, yet WBAI just doesn’t seem to get it. This is just one example of how coverage has deteriorated since the new regime took over.
Since last May, the General Manager, Program Director, and several producers who dedicated their lives to the station have been removed from their positions, banned and silenced without due process. The Local Station Board’s majority faction has been operating with total disregard for Pacifica’s by-laws. They usually announce the location of the monthly LSB meeting at the last minute, which reduces audience attendance. They also go into executive session without any explanation before or afterward as required by the bylaws, and this promotes secrecy and stifles public participation.
Although the main reason given for the sudden management changes was that the station’s finances were a shambles and a new team was needed to fix things, a year later the financial situation has deteriorated rather than improved. The budget was submitted 4 months late, and the independent auditor found a huge loss of listener revenue and “atrocious” internal controls, concluding that “this organization is out of control.”
I have 20 years’ experience in banking, with an MBA in finance. My training and practical business experience can be used to improve the financial situation at WBAI. I also bring valuable skills as a tenants’ association secretary, member of the DC37 union, and organizer with the Take Back WBAI Coalition. Through a collective and concerted effort, I know we can make the station financially sound and relevant to the community again.
Please vote for me and the entire Justice and Unity slate–endorsed by Pam Africa, Dr. Joy DeGruy (Leary), Sandy Bernabei of the Antiracist Alliance, and the Pakistan USA Freedom Forum, among others–ranked in the following order:
1. Bernard White
2. Suzanne Adely
3. John Brinkley
4. Father Lawrence Lucas
5. Ray Laforest
6. Wellington Echegaray
7. Sharonne Salaam
8. Linda Bergnes
9. Myriam Decime
10. Carlos Canales
11. Sarah Klepner
12. Henry Hagins
13. Eugene Hamond
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linda@justiceunity.org, 212-591-2111
1. Why do you want to be on the Local Station Board (LSB)?
I am running this year as a candidate for the Local Station Board because I am very concerned about the direction that the station, its management, and the LSB have taken in the past year (since spring 2009). The abrupt firings of key management personnel and selected producers without due process are a violation of the by-laws and/or the network’s personnel rules and union contracts. Many more violations of the by-laws, too numerous to list here, occur on a regular basis. The resulting change in programming is also of concern to me. WBAI is becoming more commercial-sounding as it turns away from serving the local community to focus more on national programming. The new team in power is abandoning the traditional progressive issues that were always WBAI’s bread and butter. In the past WBAI was always a voice for the voiceless, but now this new group in charge has little interest in progressive issues such as advocating for people of color, denouncing racism, supporting the labor movement, or genuinely promoting women’s rights and gay rights, just to name a few. The station’s financial situation is also at a critical juncture. I hope to help solve WBAI’s financial problems by offering solid business experience and creative solutions to put the station on the road to financial health.
2. How do you envision the LSB working with the Pacifica Foundation, WBAI staff and listener members?
Pacifica has specific by-laws that govern the LSB’s interaction with the Pacifica Foundation, WBAI staff, and listener members. It needs to follow those by-laws carefully. In the past year, the LSB majority has allowed the Pacifica national office to have too much control in the running of the station’s affairs, even encouraging it to take over areas that should be the purview of the LSB and WBAI management. Regarding listener members, the LSB is required to allow public comment at monthly LSB meetings. However, the LSB has consistently delayed announcing the venue of meetings to limit public attendance, and I have seen members of the current majority show disregard for listener members who speak their minds at LSB meetings by talking among themselves or heckling or shouting down those who disagree with them. They also go into executive session without any explanation before or afterward as required by the bylaws, and this promotes secrecy and stifles public participation. These practices need to be corrected so that the organization’s members and by-laws are respected.
3. How can WBAI better serve the community? Please define community.
As stated in #2 above, WBAI can better serve the community by reinstating access for on-air callers through elimination of the gag rule. My definition of the community means the local community, i.e. primarily the Tri-State area, and within that community, constituent groups whose issues and concerns are not covered by the mainstream commercial media. Many groups and individuals with whom I have spoken feel that WBAI is no longer interested in covering their issues. More outreach needs to be done. This would improve listener contributions and help return the station to financial soundness.
4. Describe some actions you would take to increase the influence of the station in underrepresented communities and to increase the diversity of the listening audience.
Groups and individuals in our community need to be spotlighted through forums that address their concerns and provide the kind of information they are seeking. People also need to feel welcomed at the station. The new management has declared the station off-limits to many individuals in the community. Relocation to a less expensive and more listener-friendly facility would do a great deal to both ease financial strains and achieve greater acceptance and appeal to a wider audience. The recent shift towards more national programming has alienated local groups and served to reduce diversity. I would recommend a return to locally focused programs that serve the needs of the many diverse groups in our geographic listening area. More programs need to be developed that appeal to groups who are ignored by the mainstream media, such as Native Americans, parents with school-age children, and immigrants. I would definitely boost bilingual programming and educational programming.
5. What sources of funding, other than listener donations, do you feel WBAI should solicit? Do you have any ideas with respect to improving the current funding mechanisms?
I would explore the idea of cooperative programs produced by WBAI in conjunction with community groups who may have grant money available for such projects. I would encourage such groups to join as partners with WBAI and allow them access to air time to inform listeners about their activities.
6. Please state briefly the skills, experience, educational background, work history, organizational affiliations, areas of community service, areas of interest and expertise that you would bring to the Pacifica network as a member of the Local Station Board.
I am a Hispanic woman who is bilingual in Spanish and English. Currently I work full-time as a court interpreter in Family Court. This job affords me firsthand knowledge of the needs and concerns of both Spanish-speaking immigrants and anyone facing the issues associated with family law. Family law includes custody, visitation, adoptions, domestic violence, and child-protective matters. WBAI does not currently do much coverage of family law issues. I could also offer suggestions as to how to improve programming to appeal to the burgeoning Hispanic community. I have a B.A. from Hamilton College and an M.A. from NYU, both in Spanish. Prior to becoming an interpreter, I spent 20 years working in the financial field after receiving my MBA in finance from NYU’s Stern School of Business. When I retired as a vice president of Sanwa-UFJ Bank, I had garnered experience in mergers and acquisitions and in lending and credit analysis. I know how to read financial statements and offer creative solutions to a company’s financial and funding needs. WBAI’s current financial health is of particular concern to me. Since moving to Manhattan in 1974, I have been active in the area of tenants’ rights, and have served as Secretary for my apartment complex’s tenants’ association for the past 10 years. Despite a long career in corporate America, I never abandoned the progressive principles that are at the core of my formation as an individual.
7. On which Local Station Board committees are you interested in actively serving?
Due to my 20+ years experience as an investment and commercial banker, I intend to actively serve on the Finance Committee of the LSB.
If you are a current Local Station Board member, on which committees do you currently serve?
I am not a current Board member.
8. If you are currently on the Board and wish to be re-elected please describe your 3 year experience on the LSB. What did you accomplish? What were the obstacles you faced? Do you envision any change in the next three years if you are re-elected?
Not applicable.
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