May 7, 2015
For Immediate Release
Pacifica's CFO Resigns
Berkeley-Pacifica's chief financial officer Raul Salvador suddenly resigned on May 6, 2015 at 10:00am. The resignation is effective May 15th, four days after new Executive Director John Proffitt begins work on May 11th. Salvador's tenure at Pacifica was stormy, marked by the Board's decision not to move ahead with his permanent hire in January of 2014. The decision was reversed by the new incoming board a month later, leading to the departure of most of the national office accounting staff.
Since then, the fiscal 2013 audit took an astonishing 8+ months to complete, the fiscal 2014 audit has not begun, and Pacifica missed Corporation for Public Broadcasting filing deadlines in both 2014 and 2015 for public media funding. The California Attorney General launched a correspondence audit of Pacifica in December of 2014.
Pacifica's board has not announced Salvador's departure formally on their website or anywhere else, but are expected to mention it at this evening's Internet-streamed board meeting session.
Salvador's abrupt resignation comes a week after the board majority expelled former KPFK local board treasurer Kim Kaufman from their ranks, after Kaufman submitted documents independently to California's Attorney General and notified the board she had done so. Kaufmana was expelled for the alleged crime of supposedly releasing financial data Pacifica sent to California's Attorney General to former board members in response to the investigation. A petition objecting to her removal by a narrow 14-person vote on the 22-member board can be found here.
More inquiries into unauthorized purchases made on company credit cards have been launched.
Outgoing interim executive director and board chair Margy Wilkinson does not seem to be willing to let her successor, John Proffitt, a nonprofit radio manager for 28 years, make any decisons, making a last-minute crony hire of former Pacifica board member Leslie Radford as the new permanent general manager of LA station KPFK, less than 9 office hours before Proffitt begins work on Monday.
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Radford has no apparent credentials for the KPFK general manager position. She teaches introductory community college classes and has no mangerial or media experience. Her public Linked In profile can be seen here. Radford is a member of the dominant Siegel-Brazon faction to which Wilkinson belongs. The incoming permanently hired executive director expected to interview the candidates and make the hire on his arrival in Berkeley, but has been pre-empted by interim Wilkinson's nepotism hire.
The network's five stations have begun their Spring on-air fund drives, which will run for most of May. Early results out of California are disappointing, with both KPFA and KPFK posting receipts at 75% of their daily goals, even after substantially reducing those goals from previously budgeted amounts. (KPFK's budgeted goal of $750,000 for the Spring fund drive was reduced to $612,000 and KPFA's budgeted goal of $733,000 for the Spring fund drive was reduced to $580,000). Results from Texas station KPFT, Washington station WPFW and NY station WBAI are not available yet.
A controversy has broken out at Berkeley's KPFA, where popular show Guns and Butter was reported on Facebook to have had programming related to California's childhood vaccination debate censored. The email appeal, which appears to have gotten around widely, says:
"Today Gary Null was scheduled to appear on Bonnie Faulkner’s program Guns and Butter over the Pacifica Network’s flagship station KPFA in Berkeley CA. He was scheduled for the full hour to speak on vaccine efficacy and safety and address issues concerning the California vaccine bills. The station censored her from doing the broadcast. The first time G&B been censored in 11 years. The program is syndicated and airs on other land stations around the nation, and is particularly popular in California. KPFA and other Pacifica stations pride themselves in being the last bastion of free-speech, commercial free broadcasting in the nation. However, it has become increasingly controlled by ideologues with political agendas trumping the public interests it claims to champion. Anyone who wishes to file complaints to KPFA management and express the station’s disservice to California residents may do so by sending a brief email to either the general manager Quincy McCoy gm@kpfa.org or better yet the station manager Laura Prives who was responsible for banning the broadcast pd@kpfa.org."
Guns and Butter frequently covers heated topics and has consistently posted some of the most robust fundraising totals on the Berkeley station's 1-3pm afternoon strip. The replacement show G&B aired on Wednesday raised $2,814 in the 1-2pm hour, the highest total in the 11am to 10am period of the 2 1/2 day fund drive so far.
Pacifica in Exile readers may write to the board at pnb@pacifica.org.
Outrageous and ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: I value your comments; however, can you please give a full sentence? Please explain what exactly is "Outrageous and ridiculous"?
DeleteKGT
The fact that the program was censored is ridiculous. So is Gary Null.
DeleteThis is something only the ACLU could love.
I'm just curious if Radford has even fewer credentials than Reimers did for the job.
ReplyDeleteSDL - Currently making silent appearences on Radio Unnameable
This whole Pacifica affair so disgusting, it is not worth the coverage. Both sides are hopelessly factional. Only a lunatic fringe can come up with the term "Rogue Majority", unless Pacifica is a dictatorship. The move to go to the AG appears factional as well, which may mean that nothing is likely to be done by the authorities. Personally, I don't like the Listener Boards, or whatever they are called, because in an environment, where broadcasting time is at such a high premium that the Pacifica producers make of it, the so-called Listener representatives represent anyone, but the listener. Kim Kaufman got what she deserved. What do you think happens to a corporate exec, who whistle blows? They may not get fired in compliance with the Whistleblower Act, but their path to Lee Iacocca stardom is over. That studio is a sham and a shame, given the amount of time and cash flow, that the community commissars over at BAI had to make the move. The alleged theft of apple laptops or whatever by Don Rojas and Bernard White behavior are typical of the self-helping shenanigans of the corporate board members with corporate property, but on a much more vulgar and petty scale. Why does anyone wonder about how Reimers and Radford got where they are, they were appointed based on loyalty to their faction, as is wont in most politically corrupt and extremist organizations.
ReplyDeleteDoes Pacifica even want to continue to exist? It seems it does not.
ReplyDeleteWhy is the press not covering the move to 388 Atlantic? Hmmmmmmmmmmm!
ReplyDeleteKGT
I don't know, KGT. Why is the press not covering the move to 388 Atlantic?
Delete(I assume this is a joke and you'll come back with a punch line.)
SDL
The punch line is------- they don't give a shit. BAI is not worth the ink.
DeleteKGT
I thought WBAI *was* the punch line.
Delete~ 'indigo'
Pacifica/BAI is the sacred cow of journalists who fancy themselves progressives. The more mainstream they are, the more severe this self-delusion of theirs. That's why nobody worth any salt criticizes the left wing media establishment.
ReplyDeleteI heard Gary Null say to Michael Gee today (prerecorded) that he had over 150 inventions to his name by the time he was 16.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Thomas Edison had that many by the time he was 16. Edison had 1,093 patents in his lifetime.
They should call the power company ConNull.
KGT
The other day, I heard him tell Michael that a recent film of his has won more awards that any other documentary film. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment is to be so successful and yet relatively unknown. It isn't easy, especially when one brags about it.
DeleteNikola "Gary Null" Tesla. LMAO
DeleteKGT
So, Gary Null is the reincarnation of Nikola Tesla now..? OK... Maybe Null was also hit by lightning...
DeleteWant your documentary to get lots of awards? Simple. See, the small film festival route gives out awards like Hitler gave medals near the end of WWII. All you have to do is book your film, and you'll get some award or other. These small festivals can't get enough films to show because few people want to be bothered. Hence, they use the award as a carrot on a stick. Then filmmakers can make claims about all the awards they garnered, and maybe get a small distro or video label to give it a small release. One hand washes the other and both are happy. Anyway, there are hundreds of these small film festivals around the world. If you make the effort, you can get 100 awards with ease.
SDL
My thoughts, exactly. People are amazingly impressed by awards. It's a wonder that WBAI hasn't come up with one, or two, or three...
DeleteJust turned WBAI on long enough to hear that Gwen and Natalie are doing their perpetual act. Has anybody kept count on that infomercial? They have surely earned the station's Infinity trophy.
WBAI should indeed hold a film festival. WBAI could have the Debt Award on offer for the best, or is that only, film entered into the running, which gives the highest under the table donation. Yes, the trophy will eventually be mailed...
DeleteGwen & Natalie must sell a lot of units. If only people knew how much they could save buying it elsewhere. I really wonder how many times that same extendomercial has run. Hundreds of times, at least.
SDL
Chris: I am recording the Bessie movie on DVR right now. I will watch it tomorrow. Do you have a copy or have you seen it?
ReplyDeleteKGT
If you know anything about Bessie Smith, the 1920s, human beings, screenwriting, etc. etc. etc., you might agree with me that this is among the worst biographical films ever made. It even, sorta, kinda made me feel a tad better about "Lady Sings the Blues".... get my drift?
DeleteLook forward to your impressions....
There are 2 Bessie Smith recordings on Lady Sings the Blues: Taint Nobody's Business If I Do and Gimme a Pigs Foot and a Bottle of Beer.
DeleteKGT
Yes, sung by Ross. Billie recorded a handful of Bessie-associated songs for Decca in 1949.
DeleteI gave it 20 minutes.
DeleteKGT
Are you talking about "Lady" or "Bessie"?
DeleteBessie. I liked Lady, if just for the music. I dislike Diana Ross' whiny nasal singing. I play trumpet and I bought the soundtrack to hear the Michel LeGrande arrangements which were excellent.
ReplyDeleteKGT
In that case, you were generous with your time. Did that 20minutes include the flashbac showing Bessie as a little girl, banging on a padlocked ice box?
DeleteJudging by Bessie,s age, that would have taken place around 1905. Isno't it's amazing that a family living in abject poverty, in the poorest area of Chattanooga, owned any ice box, much less a large multi-door model! The clueless Dee Rees ought to have shown use an ice man making delivery!
Even some of the allegedly astute critics failed to catch the many avoidable errors. I am astounded that HBO didn't see what a disaster they had on their hands.
Did I miss it or did they not credit your bio?
Delete~ 'indigopirate'
You did not miss it, Indigo. Somewhere between the early press releases and the disastrous end product, my "based on the book..." credit was dropped and Horton Foote's film treatment of my book was highlighted. While this reflects shameless manipulation on HBO's part, it actually works in my favor (because the film is so B-) and against Horton, whose script, like my book, was ignored. I am surprised that Halle, Horton's daughter, allowed her father's good name to be associated with Dee Rees, who is utterly without talent and obsessed with her own lesbianism.
DeleteBessie deserved better, Horton deserved better.
They did credit me as "consultant," along with an old scam artist who says she is Bessie's greatgranddaughter! The advice I gave them was systematically ignored, except for one minor thing. You'll see my credit down there at the end.... where the "Animal Handler" is listed. :) I have been asked to only say good things about this mess... will they now sue me?
If you haven't already, you need to speak with the Writers Guild, East.
Delete~ 'indigo'
Thanks, Indigo, but I haven't been a member of the WGE (or any Union) since 1959.
DeleteOn another topic: Can anyone tell me whether I'm missing the point of Richard Wolff's program?
ReplyDeleteI listened on Friday and everything he said was self-evident, with none of the explanation or analysis I would have liked. For example, when he talked about the Yale alumnus who gave $150 billion to the university for a new performing arts center, all he could do was cry "unfair!". He also lectures as if his audience consisted of mentally challenged five-year-olds. Right...he's on WBAI. So maybe he is striking the right tone after all!
Wolff is one of those people I like to say asks the right questions but offers the wrong answers. He impresses a lot of people because most people don't know a thing about economics. Hence, he comes off as intellectual. He's essentially a communist, deluded by the immature idea that the workers are nicely going to play democracy and make what is needed with no profits for anyone, etc. Well, Pathetica and WBAI are good examples of a communist industry with lots of democracy.
DeleteEven the Scandinavian welfare states have the brains to realize private ownership is necessary. Ever notice the number one excuse why Cuba is an economic basket case is because the USA won't deal with them? In other words, Cuba needs big bad capitalist USA as a trading partner. So much for workers of the world having an orgy and all that.
What's needed are good anti-trust laws, tax incentives to make it too costly for corporations to hog money and not put a good chunk of it back into production and job creation, tariffs on foreign made goods that could be produced here, a partridge in a pair tree, a sizable tax cut for the middle class, etc.
We could fix the economy in a month if we doled out $100 fines for those oblivious people walking down streets while paying more attention to their smart phones than other pedestrians. Billions to be made there. I won't even start about prostitution, marijuana, etc.
By the way, Chris. I generally avoid biopics for good reasons. :)
SDL
Well, one good reason I can think of is that you like fiction to be labeled as such. :)
Delete"He asks the right questions but offers the wrong answers." One out of two ain't bad. Hey, it's good enough for WBAI.
DeleteThird week with no sign of Forlano. I wonder if her show was dropped. Everyone gets to do at least one show during beg-a-thon time, no matter how little they earn.
ReplyDeleteSDL
I may be wrong, but I believe I heard someone say that Forlano would not be on during the drive. I don't know the details, but her show apparently comes from an outside source and is carried elsewhere. Participating in the drive might be complicated.
DeleteApropos the drive. Why do you suppose we have not heard a single tally as it goes into its third week? I think we can readily assume that the goal, whatever it might be, will not be met, so the usual extension may be a longer one.
Hell, what does it matter when WBAI can boast a new studio of its very own! I hear that they have made some changes: there is now a clock and a turntable, and some of the soundproofing had to be removed because they posed a fire hazard.
Yesterday, I heard sirens and the Mr. Softee chimes in the background. They say the walls do not meet the ceiling and that there is neither ventilation nor a cooling system. It is said to become unbearable now, what will they do when the weather becomes real hot and humid?
Isn't it true that if the temperature gets too high, that the broadcast equipment shuts off or else gets damaged?
DeleteKGT
I know Forlano has done her show during previous beg-a-thons, with little success. If she is temporarily off, she is being protected from making a pitching fool out of herself, yet again. Reimers and Murillo know she doesn't make any money. If she comes back, she'll have to rebuild her ten listener audience, as being gone a month will cause it to drift away.
DeleteWhat tally? You mean sales of junk? I've said it before and will say it again. The reason for the extendomercials is because WBAI management knows that their programs aren't good enough to bring in the needed money.
If the studio gets too hot during summer, they will have to have air conditioning or fans, regardless of the sound. If not, they risk peoples' health, besides machinery shutting down and/or being damaged.
If I were WBAI, I wouldn't worry about background sounds, since they only add some community life to the air. Since I only listen for one minute or less here and there to see what's on, sounds won't bother me.
SDL
Listeners might beg them to shut up so that they can enjoy the street sounds :)
DeleteWell, it would be interesting. See, I really think at low levels it could add atmosphere.
DeleteOn a old 1980s episode of World of Radio, Glenn Hauser played an interesting piece of tape. Evidently, while traveling around in the Midwest, Hauser picked up a radio station on an Indian reservation, where, he discovered, the night DJ would leave the window open. This created for some interesting natural background sounds of wind and animals while on mic, doing a sort of layed back Alison Steele gimmick. It was actually really good.
Anyway, you mentioned Mr Softee. Ever since Sloppy Seconds did the song Ice Cream Man, I can't see or hear an ice cream truck without thinking of it.
I'm your ice cream man
Look out for my ice cream van
I'm your ice cream man
So you better look out for me
I just got parol
I'm 25 years old
I'm your ice cream man
So you better look out for me
I know the speed limit
But I can't ride within it
I may scare your children
But just be glad I haven't killed them
I'm your ice cream man
Look out for my ice cream van
I'm your ice cream man
And I look out for you
I hate ice cream chimes(?)
They sound like fucking nursery rhymes
I'm your ice cream man
And I play Motley Crue
As another radio fact. One of the former NYC top pirate radio operators from the 1970s/80s, "Hank Hayes" has spent his life as a career ice cream truck man. Not sure how to read that...
SDL (who knows too many worthless facts)
Welcome to the Marcus Garvey Memorial Studio at WBAI. You'll enjoy authentic Congo like humidity and heat. You'll hear the playful street drums and the traditional inter-tribal warfare outside of the 83 Gangster Crips and the Gangster Killer Bloods as you channel powerful spirits of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and dine with Bernard White on Mumia "Wesley Cook" Abu-Malcom Jamal's amazing Gary Null Black Stuff Miracle Diabetes powder. And rehydrate yourself with Double Helix Water. And be sure to check out the Don Rojas station computer and equipment lending library. You'll be mentally transported to a new realm of authentic Melanin Magic Black, possessing powers of intelligence, physical strength and spiritual mental forces that will channel reparations to your departed angels who will rain them down on you in a heavenly sweat of ethereal angelic Cake beings. WBAI- We're Black And Insolvent.
ReplyDeleteYou left out Sista Assata Shakur.
ReplyDeleteKGT
Sista Ass Shakur is out due to a twerking injury she sustained when she got all excited over her reparation check showing up. Turned out to be a false alarm - one of those non-negotiable checks that offers to loan you money to pay off your credit card at 39.9% interest. In the meantime Gary Null is threatening to sue KPFA's PD for not airing his show/premium during Guns and butter, claiming libel for her saying he wasn't valid. KPFA is falling behind in their Spring marathon goal, maybe 100K. KPFK behind and extending drive another week, with staff about to riot over new GM.
ReplyDelete