Kicking Pacifica when it's down.

Whenever somebody says "it's not the money, it's the principle", it is usually the money.

In a responsibly governed organization, managers who (for whatever reason) fail to keep expenses lower than revenues are routinely replaced with others. Managers who personally increase expenses by misusing revenues for their own personal purposes or allow others to do so are replaced VERY quickly. This did not happen at Pacifica station WBAI-FM until a few weeks ago.

The record includes documented "mis-allocation" of funds from a WBAI fund-raiser by Program Director Bernard White. It includes an in-house on-air fundraiser by someone he supervised that had expenses (for what remains unclear) that actually EXCEEDED revenues. In a station cramped for space, it includes rent-free use of an office by one person, for an enterprise unrelated to WBAI (for five years, ending just this month: http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/whohasarentfreewbai.html )

Why did none of the Program Director's nominal supervisors (the General Managers) take disciplinary action?

In one case, the GM was in a poor position to criticize because he had approximately $65,000 worth of equipment purchased for WBAI shipped to his father's address in NJ.

In EVERY case, the GM knew that Mr. White had powerful protectors at the national level, based on mutually-protective alliances with managers and board members at other Pacifica stations, and penalizing him in any way was likely to be their last acts as Pacifica employees.

There have been many losses of money and equipment over the past several years, not easily traced to particular individuals; but clearly, these former managers set an example that showed how easily one could escape the normal consequences of such acts. There have also been numerous “consultants” whose names, services, and fees were kept secret from the Finance Committee.

During a many-year decline in listeners, members (losing c. 1000 station members per year), and listener financial support, protection at a local level was provided by a majority on the Local Station Board known as "Justice & Unity", collaborating with outside groups such as CEMOTAP and Worker's World Party. However, when independent candidates gained a majority, they and other reformers at other Pacifica stations changed national management, inheriting a network near fiscal bankruptcy. after years of mismanagement and unrealistic budget projections
[Some of this decline can be seen at http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/downwardtrend.html ]


Their efforts to reverse the decline before Pacifica was forced into receivership have been represented by a J&U front-group (the "take back" movement) as a "coup" by "outsiders". when they know full well that the recovery efforts were sought by LOCAL representatives of listeners and staff, elected in a democratic process thousands fought to achieve just a few years ago, and that the “outside” group is the Pacifica Foundation, which OWNS the station that JUC says is “their station” and is legally responsible for its debts.

Worse, because this will impair Pacifica's credibility and effectiveness for a decade to come (if it survives at all), normal management changes are being widely described as "racist".

To identify managers fired or transferred (it is a lie to say Tony Riddle was fired) as “people of color” is as disingenuous as saying that it is remarkable that so many Canadians were injured when a building collapsed in Montreal. It is insulting to the intelligence and integrity of the black men and women who replaced them to allege that they are merely tools of wealthy white men.

To serve their own selfish interests, the JUC have managed to recruit nationally-known activists who know nothing about Pacifica governance and management except what the "takeback" gang has told them. This puts a wedge between these respected activists and vast numbers of Pacifica members who have long supported them in their international political efforts and their legal difficulties with the US government; a betrayal of trust which will be hard to repair.

At a time when WBAI has been fighting for its life, Bernard White's protectors have organized fundraisers that invoke WBAI's name but directly compete with WBAI for funds.

In callous disregard for staff facing lay-offs, people earning less than 1/3 what he earned, this Program Director allowed a large number of WBAI producers to participate in at least one event to raise money for his personal benefit.

As recently as this July, the "takeback" crew (using the name of USOC, an "organizing committee" posing as a union) tried to sabotage a WBAI fund-raising concert with a letter clearly designed to discourage musicians from participating. On the night of the event (July 17), Bernard White and several supporters sat in a limousine at the curb, watching his former "Outreach Coordinator" (Bok-Keem Nyere), on the sidewalk harassing people trying to attend the concert.

If these people manage to gain a majority in the current LSB election and their allies at other stations do as well, it seems likely they will resume mismanagement that has brought Pacifica to a point where complete meltdown and court-ordered receivership is a realistic possibility (see the national Finance Committee report at http://www.takeforwardwbai.org/scarynationalfinace.html ).

Even iIf they lose, and if Pacifica survives, what will be Pacifica's credibility if its electorate, its local and national governance, and its management have been so widely described as "racist", "against free speech", "silencing the voice of the voiceless", and ending a tradition of progressive radio?