State of the nation/station

On it's web site, WBAI is currently soliciting listeners' comments on Donald Trump, but I think they got more than they bargained for from Rachel Barr. I don't know Ms. Barr, but I think she expresses the feelings of a very large number of former listeners.

Of course, the station should have encouraged its listeners to voice their views on WBAI, but this is a group that does not take criticism constructively—truth is something they pretend to stand for, but, all too often, they find it intolerable. I have added ab audio example here, at the bottom, but first read Rachel Barr's thoroughly reasonable requests as she made them on the WBAI web site.

If we are going to get through this, we need to clear up things at BAI first. WE need transparency, we need better producers and we need people who know how to use microphones. We need people who know NOT to be sarcastic on the radio, We need the program that centered around Muslim issues BACK. We need the programming about disabilities back. We need to have producers who concentrate on local community issues. We need shows which concentrate on gentrification, not only in NYC but of the station as well. The GM needs to stop taking advice regarding programming from 4 white guys, As a former employee of BAI, as a woman and as a white person, I resent that the GM is doing it. One of the things Trump said he's going to do is to not let the press into press conferences—yes, I know this sounds stupid but it was he who said it. If this is indeed going to happen, then it seems to follow that there needs to be complete transparency about premiums, money, donations and what exactly our money goes to pay for. I have been requesting a meeting with the GM for months now. He doesn't even have the common courtesy to respond to my emails which contain this request nor does he have the common courtesy to speak to me about my request when I see him at the Norman Finkelstein class. Shame on him, If we don't like Trump why should we put up with this behavior from the GM? We need BAI more than ever now, I've been a listener to BAI since the 70's but I grew up with it in my ear as I was growing up...My mother took it out of her will because she was upset with what the station was turning in to when she knew she was going to pass away. This is serious folks...we need programming related to the very rights that Trump has talked about taking away from us Enough with the Gary Null crap, enough with the spirituality crap—we need to be in the streets and we need the Community Bulletin Board to not announce yoga stuff-I have emailed her several announcements which were of a political and activist subject matter and she refused to announce them. Is this what we want to turn in to as a radio station as Trump places his hand on some book and takes the oath????? Stand up listeners and rally against the powers that be-not only in the White House on Jan 20 but at 388 Atlantic Ave, 3rd floor....

—Rachel Barr 

Here's Haskins rattled and riled.