As years of Berthold Reimers' lies and fabricated optimism continue to unravel, it may well be reaching a point where even the likeminded majority on the Pacifica Board no longer can look the other way. Hiding behind "executive sessions," they have kept much important information from the paying public and minions in the field. Accountability has long since gone the way of honesty and integrity at Pacifica, a severely disfigured, morally bankrupt foundation that neither founder Lewis Hill nor any early members of the governing body would recognize or, for that matter, wish to be a part of.
Here is a downloadable PDF file of R. Paul Martin's December financial report for WBAI. It is informative and, predictably devastating. Pay good attention to what he says about the ever secretive, ever shifting and mis-reported Empire State Building deal.
Also pay attention to Gary Null's complaint regarding the station's (i.e. Reimers') mishandling of a recent fundraising event. One has to wonder why Null, poised to fire a fatal shot at Pacifica and WBAI, is getting ready to produce another event in connection with the present two-week marathon.
“The National Finance Committee met in Executive Session to discuss litigation costs, and proprietary information related to contract negotiations over WBAI's tower rental lease.”
ReplyDeleteLitigation costs? Is there a lawsuit we don't know about? Chris, there are no negotiations going on. The ESB wants its money or WBAI out, plain and simple. I bet that the ESB has already initiated some form of litigation, or will do so very soon.
"credit card charge backs on premiums,"
In other words, people wanting refunds on unmailed premiums. I wonder how much that comes to. I wonder how much of it is over Null Stuff. Think some of those charge backs are eating into his profits? Maybe that causes his little outbursts?
Regarding the Null event. I guess it was a near null event, eh? Very interesting. Is this the one where Reimers and Null were supposed to have had "words"? Yet no one from WBAI management showed up? Huh? Reimers was there or he wasn't. What's the story?
"and he had to essentially compensate those who showed up for the event who had paid for it and had not gotten the promised premium at it."
Compensate financially or with other items? See above about cutting into Null's money.
Pacifica and WBAI, in particular, better hope more of their listeners die off and leave them something in their wills.
SDL
Could be the litigation Null threatens with, but I'm sure others are pending.
DeleteI imagine the unsent premiums account for a sizable chunk of debt—it has been going on for a very long time.
If Null gave bequeathers a box of the stuff that almost killed him, it would be a thank you and goodbye gift that will keep on giving. :)
What an incredible mess this is! Anybody who thinks there is the slightest hope for WBAI's survival needs serious therapy. This keeps dragging on, but the situation only gets worse, so the end (and it probably won't be a fizzle) has to be around the corner.
Read the litigation quote carefully. It seems to say specifically "related" to the ESB. Could it be just bad wording and mean litigation costs in general (other things)?
DeleteSDL
An important detail that somehow escaped me. Thanks.
DeleteBTW, Null is now talking about his upcoming event, thanking Andrea Katz for securing the New School, and. Indicating cooperation from Reimers. He also injected that "nobody is stealing from the station...everybody is working their buns off..."
This is so contrary to his tirades that I think there must be two Nulls. Nothing in this mess makes any sense.
Maybe Null is taking lessons from Mitch Cohen? Perhaps he is in early stages of Alzheimer's. I don't know. What I do know is that his story changes daily, which shows how full of crap he really is. My great grandmother used to say, "The Gods drive a man crazy before they destroy him." Null's mind sure seems totally confused. Considering how much work Null claims he does, there must be six Null clones running around.
DeleteYou know anyone could call from WBAI and get an ear from the New School. There's an old camaraderie there. Katz isn't so special. How much you want to bet that anyone can simply rent a room at the New School for an event?
What is anyone going to steal from the station? Pens? Toilet paper? paperclips?
Turned on the station to find another Bates & Davis comedy hour.
It's still amazing how for all the Afrocentrism on WBAI, they don't hawk DVDs and CDs of important black entertainers/artists. There's a whole history out there, but they don't care.
Just heard the Phil Oaks event promo. Twenty years ago that may have done well. Now? Well, that audience is limited to five or six listeners early err... Friday ummm... morning.
SDL
I should have been more specific re Katz's New School assist—she apparently arranged for a no-charge rental.
DeleteAs for Ochs, they have no sense of timing... well, no sense, PERIOD, it seems.
During an afternoon pitch today, Null seems to be backtracking a bit re Reimers and BAI. He told Reggie Johnson that Reimers is a good guy and laid the blame on the PNB rogues, adding that the change he is demanding—the one that will determine whether or not his legal team goes on the attack—ist he system of governance.
Dump Robert and his rules, go back to square one and Null will wag his tail.
Well, that idiotic "democratization" of Pacifica was an obvious misstep that opened wide the gates for all these ego trippers, opportunists, racists and downright crooks.
maybe they gave him a pass , because he devoted his last segment of the show to blackness .
ReplyDeleteOr he was just trying to meet bai's quota that they must say black and brown people 489 times a day.
Amongst the innumerable petty indications of the fucked-up mindset of Pacificans is the tendency, evident in this report, to refer to ‘formal accounting’ as if, somehow, it’s an artificiality, whereas their delusional-madness-with-numbers is somehow more ‘realistic’. It’s a nice little illustration of their solipsistic and narcisstic tendencies – then, again, so is everything else about them.
ReplyDelete~ ‘indigopirate’
ps: While credit is due RPM for his efforts, I fail to see why he ought not simply 'leak' actual contract information and other numbers. What will they do? Banish him from the playhouse? Probably. That playhouse, however, is crumbling, as his reports make clear. I doubt they have the power to break him on the Catherine Wheel, so why the hell not let the world see what they want so desperately to hide in the course of their death throes?
I think RPM has a need for attention and so he grabs any opportunity, like the blueboard, a show that airs in a throw-away time slot, and this monthly report. The latter is the only task he performs satisfactorily, i.m.o.
DeleteWBAI rests precariously on a foundation of secrets and I there are obviously insiders who would like to see them exposed, but that can easily prick the hot blather balloon and propel it on an unchartered shortcut to oblivion. So, they leak bits and pieces here and there, to satisfy that urge, but most of them know that this is the last door—when it shuts, another won't open. So they keep quiet to prolong the inevitable.
I think RPM will continue to straddle.
I suspect he will. Are there any of this lot one would want at one's side in a revolution?
Delete– That's a *very* rhetorical question.
~ 'indigo'
Well, I think it practical to have some of the more rotund people like Kaffy, Mimi, etc. around me during the revolution, as they are good protection against bullets.
DeleteNoise cancelling headphones would be mandatory...
SDL
The LSB met last night. They started 50 minutes late because one faction didn't want to
ReplyDeleteenter the room. After arguing over two separate agendas and when to hold their executive
session, they heard the Treasurer's report. Despite the multiple red flags in that report,
not one question was asked. They even voted against extending debate by one minute so
one member can ask a question. At last report, the sounds of raised voices could be heard
in the corridor as executive session got underway.
" They even voted against extending debate by one minute so one member can ask a question."
DeleteI must ask how long it took to complete this vote. More than a minute? More than five minutes?
SDL
Who said fascism is a bad form of government? Duce, you would be perfect for WBAI's LSB.
DeleteKGT
Well, I usually wear black shirts...
DeleteSDL
It took about a minute to vote on extending debate for one minute as the chair had to
ReplyDeleteactually count the votes.
Was that the babbling one's electrocardiograph machine at the opening of his babble? Or was it WBAI's?
ReplyDeleteSDL