The Waiting Game

As those who care one way or another anxiously await a decision from the Empire State Realty Trust legal representatives, people at WBAI—the good, the bad, and the downright ugly—are becoming increasingly frantic. There's halfwit Haskins (how else to describe that one?)—who broadcasts excruciating crap three mornings a week—tells his handful of listeners that he "ain't goin' nowhere", and ludicrously attempts to convince himself that WBAI will solve the problems of the world; Mimi Rosenberg in blackface, throwing up pledge numbers as she figuratively picks her reparations cotton; Sally O'Brien still hunting around for a key to killer "Mumia's" cell; Jeannie Hopper telling us to buy a boat ride ticket and keep her bland in-one-ear-and-out-the-other DJ chat show on the air; Tony "sledgehammer" Ryan grinding out slow-dance music on the air as well as on the station's disc duplicating machine; opportunists like Ron Daniels and the so-called Haitian "all-starz" promoting various entrepreneurial projects. Geoff Brady—crushed because Bill Crosier had his "zapper" scam commercials taken off the air—continues unabated to round up and glorify certifiable nut cases, etc. etc. The weekly schedule is bulging with insignificant amateur fare of which the ones I have mentioned are but a small sample. The tip of the iceberg that is sinking WBAI. 

Apropos Brady and reasons why today's WBAI is not to be taken seriously, he did a special Fourth of July program yesterday morning, re-airing an interview with a nutty old Brit whose "research" proves that this American holiday is really an ancient Egyptian cult ritual in clever disguise—in fact, says he, the American flag is Egyptian—but wait! There's more... even the Statue of Liberty comes into play, as do ferris wheels. I don't know if anyone woke Bob Fass up and warned him, but we should be worrying about the proposed Staten Island tourist attraction. Brady, of course, is in total agreement and obviously cannot come up with a single argument against it. You really have to hear this nonsense, so I have posted a sample at the bottom of this page. Hear some of the crap an ask yourself (again, I hope) why anyone should waste a penny on WBAI support until there has been a thorough decontamination.

Then there's Alan Bates, his lips undoubtedly worn from so much derriere kissing and lying to the WBAI listeners, real and imagined). A new fund drive will start in less than two weeks, so we will again hear his scams, ad nauseam.

Getting back to the present, perhaps no one is more frantic than Jim Dingeman. He means well and generally wants the right things for WBAI, but the energy he spends on calling meetings and digging up pertinent history and fact comes far too late. In fact, all these efforts are last-minute attempts to heal self-inflicted wounds.

I am not a fan of Randy Credico, the comedian, but I now see him as the most positive of the frantics. Like Bill Crosier, he goes beyond the whine and produces positive results. His WBAI show is good, sometimes excellent, and he is contacting people re the ESB mess who at least have some pull around here. I won't delve into the irony of WBAI seeking help from politicians, but what Credico has accomplished, so far, gives me a ray of hope. WBAI's alleged "management" does not deserve to be rescued, but I think it is wise to prioritize saving the station—Reimers and the rest of the dross can and should be kicked out as soon as possible.

Credico's recent trip to Albany (with Reimers tagging along) produced an endorsement from twelve politicians (posted here) and this direct plea to the ESB landlord from Comptroller DiNapoli. It is said that ESRT's attorney called the State Comptroller the following day, suggesting that they sit down and attempt to reach an amicable agreement.

So the wait continues.

In the meantime, here's the Brady babble. It's long, but you can spot-check and get an idea of what they want to save WBAI for. It's an outrageous insult to intelligence.