Pacifica Radio Archives are being....diss'd ? sold ? neglected ?

summary: KPFK radio station in North Hollywood bldg housed the Pacifica Radio Archives that saved, transcribed, sold, saved and honored audio from all 5 stations for many many years. Then Director Brian Shazor departed   a few months ago and.....”               

This is an edited [ & removed names ] reposting info from : http://pacificainexile.org/archives/2154  =

                      
                                  
 
In Tuesday’s national finance committee, contention broke out when, instead of actual news about the 50-year-old , unique, archival, reel-to-reel Pacifica recordings being sold off on E-Bay – this was after a storage container was auctioned for nonpayment !!!
  
Then a ‘Save KPFA’  person proposed asking for a shut-down and wanting to instead transfer monies from the Archives budget - for the network’s archives department. 

After much yelling at the Pacifica Nat’l Board meeting , the proposal failed on a 4-4 tie vote with even a KPFK Local board member and  voting it Down.

After the fragile state of endangered  Pacifica’s Radio Archives –  became a national media story in the last month, 19 Pacifica reel-to-reel archival master tapes appeared for sale on Ebay.com in the last two weeks.

 An anonymous source told the NY-based blog “WBAI Now and Then”  that the materials came from a 20-year-old storage locker in Rosemead, CA – and that had been maintained by the national office but
….it was auctioned off in the last year - due to non-payment of the storage fee. 

Pacifica’s income statements indicate the national office stopped paying any off-site storage fees as of 2015.

This storage container was formerly located in Rosemead, California – and it was maintained by Pacifica’s national office for over 20 years.

This storage unit contained thousands of tapes [in many formats, platforms] and old folios as well. 

The eBay seller was listed as  “Scoldguy11” - who says he is located in Watsonville, CA. 

He confirmed that he/she had purchased “an entire storage locker in Southern California”, before cutting off communications with the Pacifica member who had inquired.  [real names were not revealed by our available sources] 

The anonymous reporting source stated that “the tapes on ebay are unique and these are not merely copies already available in the remaining Pacifica Radio Archives collection”.
             
“A look at Pacifica’s financial statements indicate that off-site storage costs had been accrued to Pacifica’s national office division every year until Fiscal Year 2015 (which began on 10-1-2014) when the accruals mysteriously stopped… 

The anonymous source  also said that  “Pacifica’s National Office  failed to pay the invoice and ignored the late notices and alerts to auction the contents”.” 




                         
                00000000000000000000000

 NOTE:

There are no confirmations nor corroborative information coming from PNB or any of the national board members to the actual ‘owners’ who are the stakeholder/ donors to Pacific – those who financially have always supported and kept the Pacifica stations alive, on air, and housed, etc. 

Silence and secrecy is the usual way of hiding misdeeds or neglects, as in national political platforms also. Not much difference except the national-drama-debate all over media nd the names involved. 

Otherwise, same suspicious actions and hiding poor business practices or malicious stealings ? or simple neglect by Pacifica’s officers.           

(c) 2016 bt

Pacifica Radio Archives are being sold from storage ? Why ?

these quotes below are reposted from a NY Pacifica station focused site:

http://wbai-nowthen.blogspot.com/      

Chris Anderson's  sept 28  2016 post  there says:   

re PACIFICA ARCHIVES tapes and storage:

“Here's a follow-up on the e-bay sale of Pacifica tapes. It does not solve the mystery, but it contains a few details. My source is an informed source who wishes to remain anonymous. This is what I was told:

“  The storage unit is an old one, located in Rosemead CA, not visited in years, and never inventoried. Pacifica's National office was paying the bill, not PRA [Pacifica Radio Archives] , because this was not part of the $1,900 monthly PRA budget for the 4 units it does pay for. This is not PRA's fault, it's the National office having ignored invoices, alerts, warnings, etc. Understandably, the seller wants to make a profit as this is his business.

“Let's hope that someone can negotiate with him to donate it to a secure place with trustworthy custodians. It is highly doubtful that Pacifica can afford to buy these tapes back or—if reacquired—what it will do with them. The inventory is "several thousand tapes" and thousands of folios. 

"Most of the latter are digitized and available online for free at archive.org, but there are a number of sets PRA never found, so it would be valuable to review what is there and add any of the missing ones (mostly WBAI 1963-1967).  Sounds like a good thing for crowd funding or a rescue emergency grant.”

then a commentator wrote :
” The stupid thing is that these tapes could bring in money as materiel for writers and other researchers.”


and on Oct 1 2016 same the blog author posted this :

 “The Pacifica Archive tapes currently spotted on e-bay are still the subject of contention. Some are suggesting that the seller—who purchased them from a storage company—hasn't the right to put them up for sale, but Pacifica lost ownership when it failed to meet its contractual rental obligations. Thus the fault lies with the Pacifica National office. 

"Of real concern is the possibility of valuable as yet digitized aural documents becoming lost forever. There is no excuse for such neglect, but it reflects the lack of responsibility that continues to prevail within Pacifica.”





Comments can be made at WBAI commentator site or here, or both, or other.

KPFK struggles: Membership falls, Audits neglected, Archives plundered...more ?

The KPFK relevant information below has been edited and reposted quotes from  dated Sept 7 2016.  http://pacificainexile.org/archives/2164  

See that blog for other Pacifica updates. Information cannot be elsewhere confirmed or corroborated but the author there has dedicated revealing updates and has access to most of the information provided -- and no one website or blog apparently has any more specific or revealed updates of what is occurring WITHIN OUR RADIO STATION : KPFK -which is  paid & thus 'owned' by all KPFK donors/ stakeholders/   ~ shareholders / members.

This means it is Us, the donors that keep KPFK funded and viable = and it is Not : 
the paid staff -
nor  the paid management, 
nor the self-serving LSB,  
and certainly not  the dominating volunteer Programers 
[who  all refuse to admit or reveal their own rewards & benefits -- their  having on-air access, as media influence...and their promotions/ events/ guests  ... and all the PR they constantly do for the PROMOTIONAL benefits of others, too.]  

And :  the slants, biases, prejudices and opinions of these inside Our Station's are left-side-political-view-only Programmers who do Not present a balanced, nor fair, nor just views. Nor are they honest about their outside alliances either. Nor do they ever reveal what trades, payments, favors or exchanges are given and taken for their on-air programming either.




                   

the hollow hand that only seems to still hold all the On Air Radio power -- but now is just a broken part of what it was when KPFK was whole, vital, valuable, and  the station kept loyal members wanting to give more and stay tuned... but....now,it has become a broken piece of... 
 
                            Pacifica Archives:

 At the September 29 PNB Crosier asks to have iED Brazon  answer the following questions:

“1) What’s being done about the selling of Archives material on eBay due to non-payment of rent for storage units?...” [plus other concerns too]

“…Crosier’s information request was ruled “out of order” and no information was provided to the board of directors on any of the …inquiries by Brazon….


                                   Membership Slide: 

“National supervisor. Lynne Serpe, provided tentative membership numbers that indicated Pacifica’s nationwide membership had slid dramatically from 55,000 members nationwide in 2015 --  to 48,000 in 2016 -- a one-year decline of 15% “ !!!

After the Pacifica’s archives have become “ 19 Pacifica reel-to-reel archival master tapes appeared for sale on Ebay.com in the last 2 weeks. 

An anonymous source told the NY-based blog “WBAI Now and Then” the materials came from a 20-year-old storage locker in Rosemead, CA, that had been maintained by the national office and was auctioned off in the last year -2015-  due to non-payment of the storage fee.”   


                   PACIFICA'S CFO ? or what is he now ?

“…Friday September 30, former Pacifica CFO, Raul Salvador, showed up for work at KPFK in Los Angeles. “

KPFK’s Staff were not notified  in advance  nor were Pacifica’s board of directors.  No information has been provided about what the job Salvado hired to do, or is doing. Nor was it defined what his responsibilities are, to whom he reports  or what amount of money /salary  he is being paid... tho iED Brazon of Nat’l Board is said to have indicated …at a PNB meeting that Salvador is  now a “ consultant”.

Raul Salvador first worked for Pacifica in May of 2013 as the CFO, then was terminated in January of 2014. Again, he was rehired as the CFO after the 2014 political coup [ and then at behest of the …PNB]  -  he  had resigned in May of 2015. Salavador then worked for a few following months as an undefined or vague dutied  “consultant”.

Notes of importance during Salvador’s employment: 
“The severely past due audits that have cost $2.5 million in CPB public media funding began during Salvador’s period as CFO, as well as misappropriation of parts of the Material World Foundation grant  (in 2014), an Indiegogo campaign (in 2014), a bequest to the Pacifica Foundation (in 2015) and a credit card fraud incident where a Pacifica company credit card account Salvador replaced was not closed, and then used for $4,000 in purchases at Ralph Lauren and Walmart in Southern California…”

And  when Sam Agarwal resigned as Pacifica’s chief financial officer - in September after 9 months on the job.  Meanwhile, KPFK’s business manager position has been officially vacant since January 2016 and has not been occupied by any permanent employee for over 3 years.


                                Audits:             

“ Pacifica has lost $2.5 million in public media community service grants (CSG) since 2014 - due to 3 consecutive missed deadlines for the submission of audited financial statements : (in June of 2014, 2015 and 2016).

"In addition to the financial audits, the CPB requires a quarterly open meetings compliance report. Pacifica has been on open meetings probation for several years. A blatant flouting of the open meeting regulations,”  as happened just recently, would likely elicit yet another year of probation . 

"This would further delay any restoration of funding - even if the backlogged audits could be produced, as required."

It seems unlikely that the audit backlog is getting caught up, even now. Audit chair, William Heerwagon, reports that the FY 2014 audit is not finished or even “close to finished” and there are still several open items  - more than 2 years after the end of the fiscal year.

Prior “Auditor Armanino is still owed money” - fees that must to be paid prior to any audit  reports or data release….Pacifica’s FY 2014 audit, which iED Brazon has been claiming repeatedly for months that this was “finished” – but it was due to the State of California Registry of Charitable Trusts and to the CPB on June 30, 2015 – 16 months ago.  It is the latest audit in Pacifica’s history. …”


                         ARBITRATION RESULTS:
                              

Pacifica’s  own income statements corroborate this stop payment.  KPFK owes Arbitration results: 

  ….”KPFK recently lost a large multi-grievance union arbitration with the station’s SAG-AFTRA bargaining unit-“  because of the newly-appointed Gen’l manager, Leslie Radford, imposing sudden unilateral work hour reductions … & this GM fired two employees… and she then denied  their contracted severance benefits. 

“The settlement amount is at least $200,000  -which will include back pay to approximately 20 employees whose hours were cut,  plus the re-hire of 2 fired employees - and the payment of at least 4 previously denied severance packages.  Surprisingly, iED Brazon has not shown the final settlement agreement to the PNB [board of directors].

The  KPFK GM has accused her KPFK staff of “deliberately jamming the toilets with paper towels. She gave employees a “snow day” while the bathrooms were repaired and then locked.”  Her memo can be seen at Pacificainexile’s original post/ site.

Such antics, if true, reveal some juvenile pranks or anger acted out by either/both sides to their ongoing conflicts – GM and KPFK staff that has been diminished and eliminated, after years of dedicated work there.

(C) 2016  MJ

No Help Wanted. at KPFK. at Wikipedia. where else ?

Someone suggested a good idea that has Not worked for the many years of trying  :: 

of going to local LSB and voicing anything, suggestions, corrections — has resulted in NO responses (to any Public Paying Member) ..   and not even any acknowledgements of what is even said there….   and certainly nothing was used nor appreciated… this is at KPFK. 

 

and this is called a "Forrest with Trees" but it is bare and hollowed out, 

like KPFK has become as well.    (c) photosbyalexandria.com

Years later, 2016 with new LSB members is still exactly the same .  So futility and bewilderment is all we come away with from Our board non-leaders, who do not want to hear, learn, admit nor allow anyone 'else' to even offer ...more. 
Yep, An Unfriendly crowd  still in there.

The radio station management and staff  have not & do NOT ever reply to emails, voice mails.   They are hiding inside building behind  very secured walls. For years it has been this way. Today it is the same too, maybe more so. 

Those "in" folks, who want the Sole Power, now  apparently are letting the whole mess die away, and they may win. The infighting is hidden, tho a dribble leaks out to reveal what else may be conflictual and thus ineffectual at any/all levels. 

While the rest of the donating-subscriber-sustainer-listenership Public are left out wondering if the debts & financial emergencies mean this is The End. Could be. 

By continually asking for  more and more and more Money, $$$$ only, while providing lack of transparency as to why there is such indebtedness at KPFK, leaves those who want Survival to Continue in doubt. Yet Again.

Strangely, there is no open community for unity or collaboration. Nor input allowed. Nor transparency or admission or audits revealed.  Nor open communications that can be even just heard, outside of LSB meetings or inside the Dome of on-air-only words.  Ever  

Regardless of donation size or free-volunteer work done over many years, KPFK people have kept their secrets and decision-making only to themselves, leaving the 'rest of us' loyal listeners Outside questioning and wondering...
"is it really going down now ?"
 
The lack of actual, factual, financial, programming choices and how programmers are selected or allowed on-air is shown when trying to Search : "KPFK".  Pages of sites lists only the programmers, guests, long-ago events and just the main KPFK webpage shows up.  To even try to 'understand' or 'comprehend' or agree or question anything that may help donors TO WANT TO CONTINUE ....TO CONTRIBUTE [except more and more cash] doesn't exist. 

One main website that does offer updated information on all 5 Pacifica stations and provides what is then re-posted on maybe 2 other websites is: Pacificainexile.org.  

Others then copy from there because where ACCESS to all the contortions or agreements and the collusions or decisions can not to be found by "us, the KPFK stakeholders". 

                               ^^^^^^^^^^^

So, not-knowing prevents reporting, and  thus not-wanting to pay for more at Our Radio Station.  

What has happened and shifted at the Pacifica Archives ? No sound has been heard nor written as who, how the Director LeShazor has left these treasures. Who is in charge ?

Who knows ?  We don't.  some have said  they
"consider Pacifica Radio’s archives an “endangered” collection". 

Meanwhile the interim director who wants to up his job and only said the 25% pay reduction and cut hours has not endangered them. Who is to know the realities there ?  Don't ask those who want to move up to directorship and now also have to find funding for this project - separately from all other radio station costs. They may have a slanted view and a big stake in giving real information away. 


for some info see: http://www.radioworld.com/article/pacifica-radio-archives-endangered/279559 

http://current.org/2016/06/pacifica-radio-archives-director-resigns-after-pay-cut/ 

                                 ^^^^^^^^^^

What has ever been revealed or even allowed to be known by those who are not Already intricately IN-volved?

Those already locked ‘ in’ are locked away tightly inside -- and totally taking  as much full control to themselves, regardless of the many 'others' = with differently-thought & voiced & repeated ideas. 

This is not "open" communications nor an Open organization nor Open minded actual station either.  

This way is called Hypocrisy. Instead of even following their hallowed Mission, opaque hidden operations and problems are closed off. Denial rules. 

Yes, it may be time to admit it…. There is plenty of competition in radio and even more via internet, for all those views, voices, opinions and growing data too. 

Others also are not shouting at listeners, as continually angry voices and so loudly outraged as Pacica’s voices tend to be. 

Try it.  Search out "KPFK" or "Pacifica" to find any current info besides those already "in" programs or their promoted events.  Because there ain't none. 

                                     *********

Surprisingly, even Wikipedia edits us Out offered updated- information  when honestly contributed there…so even there it’s a Lock-out. See their "2002 - 2009" old slanted info re some then-changes  that are still  listed on Wikipedia -- and no one is allowed to correct or update those. 

Try it !    Sign in to contribute and add what you have found perhaps published in venerable citable sources - to see if it is allowed. 

Some others [unknown -most go by pseudo-names too with their HTML know-how] do a 1-up - by not allowing actual current events, actions taken, problems exposed, etc.  to be added. These unknowns  then Edit Out ["revert"] what is updated, giving vague fake reasons to take out what is honestly offered there. 

So Wikipedia is old. And controlled by who-knows-who that want to decide by only themselves, repeatedly.    No other reporters allowed to be published. Someone comes and deletes out chunks - without actual reality-checking the information either. Just edits work out w/o true justifications.

Though it was recently heard that the founder of Wikipedia claimed that the site was maintained by "kind and compassionate" people who work "in unity " together. Not so ! 

This was surprising to find - that what is allowed or written on Wikipedia may not be as valid, reliable, allowed or un-slanted as is promoted or presumed. 
                                **********

so You are it ! 

We try to share. We want to point out what needs FIXING finally.  We want to keep KPFK and it's overseer Pacifica Nat'l Board honest and competent and sane.  We want to be part of a thriving radio organization, still. Now.

But this is a "wish". And this may be not possible. 
Who knows ?
We sure don't and can't predict anything. 
But still, keep on trying to ask, even via this blogsite, for Change, for Improvements in sharing, for Honest exposures, as KPFK repeatedly demands from all others, but doesn't offer itself as one who 'walks the talk'.

(c) 2016  btt

“KPFK has a $500,000 deficit “ ! huh ? How come?

   "“KPFK has a $500,000 deficit “ !!  Can this be true?


Alan Watts said in 1950’s :   “the future of KPFA [and KPFK] is in danger ..”     So then and still now.  So KPFK is in financial danger and turmoil, and it has been said barely able to survive and avoid banktrupcy.

It has been revealed that : “KPFK has a $500,000 deficit “ !!  what ? How can this be ? Who is going to rescue Our Radio Station ?

Who or How has this  organization been run into the ground – to be killed off and then maybe stolen by others waiting in the shadows – wanting to take over any or all of Pacifica’s valuable stations and FCC licenses ???? 

Why have audits not been completed since 2014 and the actual numbers revealed ?

A non-profit organization does not mean no one involved does not profit. There are valuable advantages and benefits therein, everywhere else an NGO or do-gooder organization plays their cards.

But they pay staff, buy properties, manage monies and then set a false image of being ‘poorer than any other corporations’ and ‘only helping their benefactors’ and not themselves or their owners. False images, at KPFK and Pacifica and also at other such organizations, hiding their accesses to Power, politicians, wealthy donors and government fundings too.
                                    
                          
Alan Watts said in 1950’s :   “the future of KPFA [and KPFK] is in danger ..”     So then and still now.  So KPFK is in financial danger and turmoil, and it has been said barely able to survive and avoid banktrupcy.

It has been revealed that : “KPFK has a $500,000 deficit “ !!  what ? How can this be ? Who is going to rescue Our Radio Station ?

Who or How has this  organization been run into the ground – to be killed off and then maybe stolen by others waiting in the shadows – wanting to take over any or all of Pacifica’s valuable stations and FCC licenses ???? 

Why have audits not been completed since 2014 and the actual numbers revealed ?

A non-profit organization does not mean no one involved does not profit. There are valuable advantages and benefits therein, everywhere else an NGO or do-gooder organization plays their cards.

But they pay staff, buy properties, manage monies and then set a false image of being ‘poorer than any other corporations’ and ‘only helping their benefactors’ and not themselves or their owners. False images, at KPFK and Pacifica and also at other such organizations, hiding their accesses to Power, politicians, wealthy donors and government fundings too.
                                  

                               Alan Watts
     
But then it was more Asian ‘eastern’ spiritual translations for the ‘western mind’ which Watts did so well when America was curious but not  yet understanding Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and other mind opening understandings.

Opening minds to more than western religious views thus emerged.                                     

Alan Watts in 1973 shortly before he died had 2 good
spiritual lectures – called “changes” and “hidden belief systems” that sound now like he was describing KPFK !

But then it was more Asian ‘eastern’ spiritual translations for the ‘western mind’ which Watts did so well when America was curious but not  yet understanding Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and other mind opening understandings.

Opening minds to more than western religious views thus emerged.

[Alan Watts’ words = excerptions of a talk = is here below,  and with a bit of editing, & expanding are also included here]:

“…the wind is blowing, trees are waving…the curious thing is very few people are aware of it…. we recluse ourselves in our personalities – not something that is inside our skin but it is also everything around us too...

 

(C) 2014 photosbyalexandria.com

When you look “outside” your eyes you are looking at the “real you” , as nature happening out there, the you that is the [context you exist within].

Nature is wiggling all ways and all the time. Everything in nature depends on everything being in nature.

When you see nature “out” there it is YOU, in your fullness and all that is necessary instead of the ‘acting’, ‘doing’ and even ‘accepting’ …”  

What I really want    the kinship between I and thou…so what do I want ? I don’t know ?  or “who are you “ and Bodidharma said “I know not”…. there is a beginning stage of not-knowing and an ending stage of not-knowing…   but there is also a middle-stage. It changes, what satisfies for a little while…. then it changes to not being satisfied.

Note: Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China….

The basic story here is this:

1. You have it –  [satisfaction is here  =you already have all you need and are ]

2.  You don’t know yourself, you never can  [there is so much inside, deeper called ‘unconscious’ that is You of which you get glimpses but do not ‘know’ consciously, nor can you … so try meditating and notice what ‘happens’ ….]

3.  The godhead [also called God, by various names and labels, that changes descriptions in different religions and traditions ]  is never an object of it’s own knowledge  - just as the knife edge doesn’t cut itself – nor does the light illuminate itself -

4.  It is same as “I love “ and “I let go”… so don’t try to force or control…

Upanishads say if you think you understand Dharma, you don’t understand and need to be instructed further…. and if you don’t understand Dharma, then you do understand …

The  principle is:  any time you voluntarily let go of Control, then you have ACCESS to power….because you are wasting energy all the time in self defense…

[and we know – that all humans are constantly seeking and desiring Control and Power in any form and everywhere, because humans are also ‘insecure’ and feel unsafe of their bodies, minds and possessions they ‘own’ …we too are vulnerable and surprised by how little we actually do control

…we cannot ‘hold on’ for long because change is continual and constant any how….]

When you stop defending, then you find that the energy is available –it is  then you are One with the divine energy [ also defined as Life Forces, God’s will, etc.]

When you act as if you were God or some ‘superior’ being, then you lose the divine energy …as you are merely trying to defend yourself, once again.

“The more you give it away the more it comes back “
[cuz it is you- the energy, the power, the constant being in motion, et al ]

There is no way of holding on to it = the control / energy – that we always seek and want and attempt to capture for ourselves.

Why ?  because we are all falling apart

This earth is constantly dying …[it is called entropy] …and reviving –regrowing [notice what nature is growing even in Chernobyl radiation  areas in Ukraine right now !]

So that everything is in decay means you don’t have to “let go” because THERE IS NO-THING TO HOLD ON TO....

When you see you don’t have a ‘prayer’ and you are already washed up, then…..you suddenly find you have Power – the enormous access to energy "

[and energy elicits what we call ‘happiness’ and ‘joy’ and all the feel-good emotions of being Alive !]

And….there is much more in his talks not transcribed here   

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


                            
                              SECRETIVE KPFK 
 
KPFK is slowly falling apart ?   The "somethings happening" show that previously began at 12am to 6 am = and was heard nationally [on line too] by those who could access their learnings not available in their locale = has been reduced to 1/2 of the time to EDUCATIONAL programming, and the 3 hours have not been regained nor returned, to all the dedicated KPFK paid-up Members and listeners.

Another begging-drive for $$$$ has been now scheduled.. Yet again and again and apparently never-ending scheduled every other month for a month or longer !  

But ...there are no volunteer or phone-pledge answering people - who dedicate their work for FREE and no other benefits - available from 12am to 5 am !   So from 3am to 6am Tuesdays-Fridays  there is only the broadcaster staff and his girlfriend there to 'answer phones' and take care of all the other work required to broadcast on-air.

How can it be that management at KPFK has been unable to provide assistance while demanding the program elicit monies and loyalties with no 'help' ? 

How can there be no security/staff/volunteers allowed during night hours when the program-originator is expected to raise his share of MONEY while alone in broadcast studio ?

Another bit of 'what happens inside KPFK' that is seldom or hardly ever known in the NON-Transparency that hides difficulties behind Iron Walls of Silence and gag orders and fake-images of what is 'only heard on-air].

Notice that there are only 2-3 websites, blogs that even discuss and reveal any of the dangers/ the machinations/ the inner conflicts & factions / the financial concerns / the lapses and neglected requirements, as are audits, complying with CBC for getting funding, and much more !  huh ?

Pam Burton was head of the Archives in 1973 = when Alan  Watts made his last recordings sharing his knowledge, the deep learnings and associations with eastern teachers that most people did not know nor meet …then. But he was a scholar, a spiritual seeker and an “entertainer” with an excellent sense of humor too. 

One enlightening easy-to-read-book was “The Book, the taboo against knowing who you are” that we recommend.   You don’t have to read every page but find gems of awakening lightness in Watts easy words and deep thoughts.

 [If you, reader, have not heard his talks before, or read his few books, even today the ‘reminders’ are awakeners and needed to slip out of the mesmerizing political/corrupting propaganda of so much of our media/ news stories.]




(c) 2016   mj

KPFK pgrm is criticized in LA Indymedia. Of course.

It is part of Pacifica's attitude to always be oppositional, to be Righter-than-thou and  wanting to be "oh so Righteous" too. Almost religiously.... or at least fervently.

So other than contentious exhortations on-air.... and very slanted, limited view points....any 'other' opinions or knowledge is quickly dismissed, demeaned and denied.

Just noticed now that on a local Indy media site, a person who at every possible occasion tries to remove and get rid of a program she doesnt like has written an article about Ian Masters.

here:    http://la.indymedia.org/news/2008/11/222641  
with other comments therein included too.

What is interesting is this sheer conviction that each person's views and wants are indisputably RIGHT -- and thus all others are wrong, mistaken, stoopid or at least, to be eliminated anywhere else as fast as possible.

(c) photosbyalexandria.com

an image of the view of KPFK & it's occupants from outside, listeners

This strict & exclusive attitude also denies being elitist and non-inclusive of any 'others'. 

In fact, the usual repeated motto and pledges, [which is written in the station's mission too] the same words repeat instead that being all-inclusive is what is intended. 

But those are just words, even if  heard 'over this radio' station, repeatedly.

But no. It is merely an ideal,  tho repeated dogmatically.  But then not put into practice. Not even by those most-well-meaning & loyal to KPFK and Pacifica. Ideals are Ideas, not deeds, not actions, but thoughts and words. Often to sound erudite, elite and uttered by those claiming to be 'oh so good !'

Fault-finding, even on petty issues, and viscious criticisms prevail at all Pacifica's doings.

Conflicts surge within the station and it's boards - 
different wants are the main form of communication - 
all keep trying to be "Most Best Right!" -- 
and thus each person tries to be more powerful than any others -- any people of any other view.

Pouncing on any misspoken words,  are mis-interpreted immediately ... so as to prove the oppositionist's being more-Right = "see ! after all ! I said so ! I knew it ! "

Tho They may also be Wrong. And in that article, Ian Masters should leave the station ! - This is also demanded of any other non-agreed-with program at any Pacifica ltd. station.  To then have "only OUR ways/ people/ views remain".  

No hidden agendas. Just obviously claiming to know "what is best" , to know-it-all,  to know the holiest truths -- and wanting the powers to prove it all, too.

sure... not as open-minded as each KPFK person claimed they are - that is the actual story there.

sure... not is at all transparent -- in  managerial / operations, 
in KPFK programming, in financial conditions and decisions made --  not at all as is continually claimed and pretended.    

Secretly there are friends & cronies... who ally or oppose vehemently those 'others'...who also want to participate in KPFK programming and other affairs, even the LSB....

Also in-denial are the 'volunteer' programmers [the majority] who ALSO have rewards and benefits - tho never admitted - like 'Payola' - while they constantly are promoting their own guests,  chosen products, special events and themselves too.

With almost no visible sources of actual information, except at 1  = pacificainexile.org that covers all 5 stations, Pacifica's Board and all the shenanigans that occur every-anywhere. No one has to agree with those revelations, but no where else is there any such detailed & current reporting either.

Search out KPFK and programmers proliferate and hardly any other comment blogs, sources of revealed news and changes, reports on financial conditions or mismanagement, etc. etc. are not visible. Try it !   See for yourself. 


While the KPFK listener only 'hears' a limited & ultra-leftist-versions of this unweildy world we all live in together anyhow, there is so much more and interesting stories. 

Why be limited to hearing the same opinions and slanted views instead of broadening and expanding our visions/ hearings ? 

No one must agree to anyone else, but to hear another version or lifestyle may reveal interesting differences, needing to be admitted, at least. 

Commercials are not allowed on KPFK, but people there promoting their own agendas, friends, guests and slanted sides are constant, anyhow.   'Promoting' is the same as in products-selling "promotions" and in "public relations/ advertising"  -- even if without $$$ cash changing hands. Exchange of favors will do.

These are the same political games that are everywhere else also used -- to gain audiences, to expand access to create images and public visibility.... and elsewhere also to get official government positions, jobs, contracts, etc. 

Like any ofo those disliked 'politicians'  -these at Our Radio Station even at these comparatively & lower/inexpensive levels are doing the very same moves and unethical trades. Gains are not admitted, competitive cuts are denied, infighting is hidden, and gotten benefits slipped secretly into... whatever....

To pretend is to lie and decieve. 

To claim honesty and still do the same acts of mainly-self-service must be revealed. Even with  KPFK folk's claims they "only want to help others"  is cliched & repeated. That  is mere HYPOCRISY.  and Denied, of course.

To hear diversity means including the mainstream people and views too.  Not just focusing on  minorities and those perceived wanting. 

Literally, all people who do not have:  programs...or power within the KPFK radio world ...or access to be heard on-air... are "wanting... to have those benefits too" !

To be Dissident seems to be the main focus at Pacifica radio stations and programming...with only a limited definiton. To dissent to what is governmental, elsewhere financial, official, or established or corporate == to Oppose...to Disagree... plus, to pretend to be superior in 'holier than thou[s] are'  -- 

...all the while still clinging to images of popularity and populism. Not real.  A presentation & poor imitation of equality for all, while also holding on to their own whatevers. For themselves and theirs only. Of course. Doesn't everyone ?

Critics of a program still listen to different KPFK programs they chose. Listeners, sponsors ignore the rest and many won't pay up for the whole shebang either. 

Then the contiual begging for more and more $$$$ pledges/ money has become so constant and repetitious that those who were loyal and paying in prior times no longer do so, or barely.

One commenter to this Indy article added "

"...covering real issues is sacrificed on the altar of popularity."  

while another one wrote "
...but then, the KPFK crowd is a bit strange and odd and dissident and will never agree to much -- because that is also it's motto - "YOU gotta be wrong because 
ONLY I am RIGHT !"

and another Indy media article was similar in story : 
http://la.indymedia.org/news/2016/04/293346.php

why is there a dearth of stories and revealed information about what runs or runs-down KPFK ?  

How anyone can get a foot into the station's programs and why some programmers remain there clinging to their air-time for decades [10's and 20's of years] ?    

Why is KPFK always broke and needy ?  Why are audiences departing en masse or dribbling away to better 'fields of dreams' ? 

How dysfunctional or bankrupt is KPFK or Pacifica right now ?

Who would ever tell the loyal sponsors/stakeholders the Truth?
as they know it now ? 

Ever ? 

(c) 2016   bt

 

KPFK info- audits, program pledges, SAG arbitration...more

This is a Re-Post w/o  barely any edits or changes, just to provide more KPFK related information from the website here below:
 
http://pacificainexile.org/archives/2084    writes:

"The 2014 audit, almost two years after the end of that fiscal year, threatens to make an appearance after $35,000  was removed from KPFK’s bank account to pay for it following the station’s last month-long fund drive.

Preliminary financial statements last seen over a year ago, had Pacifica losing a million dollars in 2014, even after jettisoning 70% of WBAI’s payroll and the $650,000/year Democracy Now contract from the previous year.

A statement of the audit charges can be seen here, including close to $12,000 in finance charges. In order to soften the blow, the national board told KPFK the payment would waive future shared services payments, despite KPFK’s unpaid $250,000 default on national office loans in 2015. [snip]

KPFK faces an unknown amount of financial restitution to employees after arbitration with the SAG-AFTRA union did not go well. The union was upheld on all grievances brought to arbitration including inadequate notification prior to layoffs, contract violations and illegal withholding of severance pay.

KPFK's General Manager Radford and unofficial corporate counsel Dan Siegel have not been able to settle with the bargaining unit, so the arbitrator will likely determine the amount of restitution to be paid. Both Radford and Siegel as well as [iExecutive of Pacifica Nat'l Bd] Brazon were warned multiple times Radford’s actions were in violation of the union contract, but did not heed the warnings and Pacifica members will now have to pay for their mistakes.

[http://www.mediafire.com/download/v1utb912ttbh9fh/Details+of+Audit+Charges+-+Armanino+as+of+July+29+2016.xlsx]

GM Radford continues to ignore a recommendation from the station’s local board to reverse two prominent program changes that have been big money-losers: cutting three overnight hours from Something’s Happening [pgm] and using host Sonali Kolhatkar only two days a week at 8:00am.

The ...Something’s Happening [show], formerly one of the  most listened-to overnight radio programs in the country and one of the few Pacifica programs to ever put up numbers competitive with commercial radio, brought in over  $100,000 a year in the almost completely non-monetized overnight hours.

4 years of numbers from 2012-2015 are  available here, 
 [http://www.mediafire.com/download/kuz68d0wiroon4f/4+Years+of+Somethings+Happening.pdf]  with a nostalgic comparison with the salad  days of 2006, where the program raised the same numbers  in a mere 3 fund drives a year, rather than the recent 5-6 per year.

In its debut 8 months, replacement program Safe Harbor has yet to raise $20,000 in on-air pledges over three and a half fund drives and some 144 hours of pitching.

KPFK recently announced they would “close their fund drive room” from midnight to 5am as they start yet another drive. In the June/July fund drive, Something’s Happening raised $21,789 to Safe Harbor’s $2,530."

please view other website for more info on Pacifica and other stations and their plights. 

re-posting : august 13, 2016