Dear fellow progressive Union-D list member,
Please read and forward this to everyone you know who supports free speech. While I realize that many of you are in other countries and may have no direct relationship to the issue, I feel that you need to be aware of and provide support from the International progressive community as one of ours is in serious trouble and needs all that we can do, even if it is only to inform others or put a link on our web page about the issues.
As you may know there is a major free speech fight going on at KPFA of the Pacifica Network of the United States that has resulted in 77 arrests so far. And the effects are going to flow over to the affiliate stations all over the country.
The Pacifica Foundation is attempting to gag the workers at all of the Pacifica stations and has imposed gag rules on some of the affiliate stations.
If you live near any of the Pacifica stations or one of the affiliated stations listed at: <http://www.pacifica.org/about/afsubs.html>, then please involve yourself, call and tell them to stop using scab programs and restore the workers to KPFA.
You can get more information about the history of the conflict, even the fact that Pacifica hired a union busting attornery to wreak the New York bargaining unit, at <http://www.savepacifica.net>.
Below are two e-mails, one from savepacifica and the other from East Timor Action Network supporting the workers.
At the end of the second e-mail is a very revealing e-mail that was accidentally sent to Media Alliance that may indicate the reasoning behind the oppressive tactics - the corporate, make big bucks, mentality - even for a publicly financed and run radio station.
Thank you,
Allen Schaaf, C.A.S.
IATSE Locals 16 & 695
NABET-CWA Local 51
NWU-UAW Local 3
Production Sound Mixer
Post-Production Sound Mixer
Technical and Web Authoring
==============================
>BULLETIN: PACIFICA PLAN TO BRING SCAB SIGNAL TO KPFA...HELP THEM RIGHT NOW!!!!
>From: "savepacifica" <savepacifica@peacenet.org> >Subject: BULLETIN: PACIFICA PLAN TO BRING SCAB SIGNAL TO KPFA...HELP THEM RIGHT NOW!!!!
>Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1999 14:36:12 -0500
>
>If you are in the East Bay...we need your help NO LATER THAN NOON >TODAY FRIDAY 7/16 to help on our picket line at the KPFA transmitter... >we need to protest the installation of telephone lines that would bring >KPFK's signal to KPFA's transmitter!
>
>TO GET TO THE TRANSMITTER...go up Clarement (past the Claremont Hotel >on your right) to the top...Grizzly Peak Blvd. Turn right. The >transmitter entrance road is about half a mile on your left (you'll >see us there!)
>
>We have been reliably informed that Pacifica management, having >been unable to recruit any scab workers to replace KPFA staff >locked out or fired by management, may be planning to bring >Los Angeles Pacifica station KPFK's signal to Berkeley's >transmitter via telephone and electronic link. >
>We need to let KPFK's workers know that Pacifica management has plans >to use their voices to scab on the KPFA staff and community! >
>CALL...E-MAIL...OR FAX KPFK'S STAFF AND MANAGEMENT TODAY...TELL >THEM PACIFICA HAS NO RIGHT TO KILL COMMUNITY RADIO IN NORTHERN >CALIFORNIA BY USING A SCAB SIGNAL...
>
>(NOTE: Mark Schubb, KPFK's manager, has made it clear to his >staff that he will fire anyone who discusses any aspect of >the Pacifica crisis on the air! KPFK even banned the broadcast >of one of Pacifica's own programs..."Democracy Now"...on KPFK >earlier this week when the program examined the destruction of >KPFA by Pacifica!)
>
>
>Mark Schubb - manager (818) 763-1360
> FAX (818) 761-6739
> e-mail kpfkgm@aol.com
>
>The switchboard number is (818) 985-2711 >
>Following are extensions for key people to talk to: >
> Kathy Lo, program director ext. 202
> Frank Stoltze, news directorext. 225
> direct line: (323) 877-5735
> Marcos Fromer, morning show ext. 218
> Kathi Gori " " ext.219
> Betto Arcos, operations ext.223
> Roy Hurst, production ext.224
>
>
>FAX number: (818) 763-7526
>
>ALSO...
>
>KPFK National Pacifica Board members:
>
> Rabbi Aaron Kriegel (818) 345-1730
> e-mail: hara1@aol.com
> FAX: (818) 345-2483
>
> Robert Farrell (323) 299-3800 ext. 255
> FAX: (323) 299-3896
> e-mail rfarrell@kamber.com
========================
X-Sender: bterrall@pop2.igc.org
Date: Wed, 14 Jul 1999 15:51:44 -0700
From: bterrall@igc.org (Ben Terrall)
Subject: ETAN/S.F. condemns KPFA lock down
I whole-heartedly endorse the following statement from Paul George, who, like Dennis Bernstein, has long been a supporter of self-determination for the East Timorese people as well as the struggles for peace and justice of Indonesians opposing the military dominance of their society. ETAN activist Pam Sexton, who was recently in East Timor for a month, was slated to speak on KPFA's morning show earlier today, and was planning to call listener attention to the important East Timor legislation I sent out an alert about today. Instead we were given canned Clintonite pablum that said nothing of value I could detect.
I encourage you to act on Paul George's urgings; note leaked internal Pacifica memo at bottom.
Thanks,
Ben Terrall
East Timor Action Network/S.F.
A personal appeal from Peninsula Peace and Justice Center director Paul George...
Dear Friends,
Now is the time. There is nothing more important. Our community's voice has been stolen from us and we must take it back. There will be a demonstration at KPFA radio today at 5:00 PM. I urge you, I beg you to attend.
For the past 15 hours, KPFA radio has been gagged into silence by the corporate raiders of Pacifica Foundation. The last sounds broadcast live from this essential community resource were those of journalist Dennis Bernstein being physically dragged from the studio. His crime? Reporting news about progressive activism.
As things stand right now, free speech radio is gone from the Bay Area, ripped from our hands by ratings-driven egoists. We must take it back. We must. There simply is no question about that.
I carry a small newspaper clipping in my wallet. It's a quote from Mario Savio, the eloquent voice of the free speech movement of the '60s. Listen to his words:
"There comes a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part, you can't even passively take part. And you've got to put your bodies on the gears, and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus. And you've got to make it stop."
"There comes a time..." Now is that time. See you in Berkeley at 5:00 PM.
- Paul George
Details, contact info, notes:
In the meantime, call, fax, email the following people with your protests:
Executive Director of Pacifica
Lynn Chadwick
1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
phone: (510) 848-6767 Extension 202
FAX: (510) 845-0289
e-mail: lynnchad@aol.com
Communications Director of Pacifica
Elan Fabbri
1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
phone: (510) 848-6767 Extension 341
FAX: (510) 845-0289
e-mail: Elan Fabbri has changed her e-mail address to avoid getting "cranky Pacifica letters." The Communication Director's new e-mail address is not published. Is progressive communication a one way process? Pacifica's well-paid communcations consulant seems to think so.
Chair of Pacifica's Governing Board
Dr. Mary Frances Berry - at-large member
624 Ninth Street NW #700
Washington DC 20425
phone: (202) 337-0382
FAX: (202) 376-7558
e-mail: mfberry@sas.upenn.edu
Pacifica National Board, Executive Committee
David Acosta, Vice Chair - KPFT
phone: (713) 926-4604
FAX: (713) 921-2780
e-mail: cpadga@aol.com
June Makela at-large member
phone: (212) 673-9225
FAX: same
e-mail: junemakela@aol.com
Roberta Brooks (resigned)
phone: (510) 763-0370 Ext. 18
FAX (510) 763-6538
e-mail: Roberta.Brooks@mail.house.gov
Ken Ford - WPFW
Phone: (202) 822-0228
FAX: (202) 822-0369
e-mail: kford@nahb.com
Frank Millspaugh - WBAI
phone: (212) 741-0839
FAX: (212) 924-7409
e-mail: fmillspa@aol.com
Bob Farrell - KPFK
phone: (323) 299-3800 X 255
FAX: (323) 299-3896
e-mail: rfarrell@kamber.com
Pacifica National Board Members
William Lucey
Nat. Secretary-Treasurer, AFSCME
Mbr., Exec. Board, NAACP
wlucy@igc.apc.org
Michael Palmer - KPFT
(Real Estate Broker, Houston, TX)
FAX: 713-960-8583
mpalmer@cbrichardellis.com
Pacifica Station Staff -- Dishonor Roll
Mark Schubb
General Manager, KPFK
email: kpfkgm@aol.com
Bessie M. Wash
General Manager, WPFW
2390 Champlain Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
phone: (toll free) 888-770-4944 x348
FALCON1591@aol.com
Lou Hankins
Program Director, WPFW
2390 Champlain Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20009
phone: (toll free) 888-770-4944 x 366
email: 71532.554@compuserve.com
Listener Comment Line - A voice mail number has been set up just to handle comments on the events at Pacifica and KPFA. (510) 287-8819
KPFA's Switchboard (510)848-6767
KPFA's Studio line - to call in during a program - (510) 848-4425 or (800) 958-9008
E-mail: savepacifica@peacenet.org
Postal
KPFA Staff
1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Berkeley, CA 94704
--
====================================================================== Peninsula Peace and Justice Center
(650) 326-8837 <> http://www.peacecenter.com "Peninsula Peace and Justice Center has been one of the most effective of the activist organizations" - Noam Chomsky =======================================================================
Media Alliance received a copy of a disturbing e-mail, copied below -------- TEXT OF E-MAIL RECEIVED TODAY BY MEDIA ALLIANCE IN SAN FRANCISCO... [S.F. Chroicle 7/14/99, p.A12: "Bernstein was removed for for using the airwaves to complain about KPFA's parent company, the Pacifica Foundation, said company spokeswoman Elan Fabbri [...] At a news conference, KPFA supporters circulated a confidential e-mail - somehow mis-routed - that discussed a possible sale of the pioneer outlet, the nation's oldest listener - sponsored station[...] Fabbri confirmed that Palmer wrote the e-mail."
(Note: Micheal Palmer is a real estate developer in Houston, and a member of the KPFT advisory board. He has been said to favor the sale of either KPFA or WBAI - both of which are "grandfathered" onto commercial frequencies and are worth about $60 million and $120 million respectively. The money would ostensibly be used to set up an endowment for Pacifica.
KPFB, referred to in paragraph 2, is a low power transmitter in Berkeley, which reaches only the immediate Berkeley area. It was originally set up to simulcast KPFA's coverage to areas in North Berkeley which cannot receive KPFA clearly because of hills between the transmitter and that area. It broadcasts some original programming, including live coverage of Berkeley city council and school board meetings)
>>From: Palmer, Micheal @ Houston Galleria, >>mpalmer@cbrichardellis.com
>>To: 'Mary Francis Berry', ma@igc.org
>>Hello Dr. Berry,
>>I salute your fortitude in scheduling a news conference opportunity in >>the beloved Bay Area regarding one of the most pressing issues of our >>time............
>>But seriously, I was under the impression there was support in the proper >>quarters, and a definite majority, for shutting down that unit and >>re-programming immediately. Has that changed? Is there consensus among >>the national staff that anything other than that is acceptable/bearable? >>I recall Cheryl saying that the national staff wanted to know with >>certitude that they supported 100% by the Board in whatever direction was >>taken; what direction is being taken?
>>As an update for you and Lynn I spoke with the only radio broker I know >>last week and his research shows $750,000-$1.25m for KPFB. There would be >>a very "shallow pool" of buyers for a repeater signal such as this and it >>would be difficult to do a marketing effort quietly due to the shortage >>of buyers. So there is no profound latent value to that asset. The >>primary signal would lend itself to a quiet marketing scenario of >>discreet presentation to logical and qualified buyers. This is the best >>radio market in history and while public companies may see a dilutive >>effect from a sale (due to the approximate 12 month repositioning effort >>needed), they would still be aggressive for such a signal. Private media >>companies would be the most aggressive in terms of price, which he thinks >>could be in the $65-75m range depending on various aspects of a deal. It >>would be possible to acquire other signals in the area, possibly more >>than one, to re-establish operations, but it could take a few years to >>complete if we want to maximize proceeds from the initial license >>transfer, or leave only $10-20m in arbitrage gain when purchase(s) is >>complete. None of this reflects tax consequences. This broker, just like >>any other that would undertake such an effort, would need certain >>agreements in place prior to starting.
>>Mary I think any such transfer we would ever consider requires >>significant analysis, not so much regarding a decision to go forward, but >>how to best undertake the effort and to deploy the resulting capital with >>the least amount of tax, legal and social disruption. I believe the >>Finance Committee will undertake a close review of the Audigraphics data >>provided recently to determine what it is costing us per listener, per >>subscriber, per market, per hour of programming...in order give the >>Executive Director and the General Managers benchmarks for improvement. >>Even with that data my feeling is that a more beneficial disposition >>would be of the New York signal as there is a smaller subscriber base >>without the long and emotional history as the Bay Area, far more >>associated value, a similarly dysfunctional staff though far less >>effective and an overall better opportunity to redefine Pacifica going >>forward. It is simply the more strategic asset.
>>With this in mind I would encourage frank description of the realities of >>the media enviornment we operate in and of Pacifica's available resources >>to participate and have impact in the evolving media world. The Executive >>Committee, at a minimum, should have access to experts (whether from Wall >>Street, NPR/CPB, Microsoft or otherwise) to get a strong reality check >>(me included) about radio and Pacifica's position in it so that informed >>decisions can be made. My feeling is that we are experiencing a slow >>financial death which is having the normal emotional outbursts >>commensurate with such a disease. We will continually experience similar >>events, in fact we have been experiencing similar events over the past >>several years, primarily because we are not self supporting through >>subscriber contributions and have a self imposed constraint on asset >>redeployment that leaves us cash starved at a time when our industry is >>being propelled in new directions, each requiring capital outlays of >>consequence. We're boxed in at our own will. This board needs to be >>educated, quickly, and to take action that will be far more controversial >>that the KPFA situation. How can we get there?
>>So, now I've exhaled more than I should, but you know where I'm at. Let's >>do something.
>>MDP