They have apparently unfired Linda Perry, and here she is with an on-the-scene report. This being on Center Street, we are too far away to hear the fat lady actually sing.
https://www.wbai.org/articles.php?article=3533
An unvarnished blog that dips into the past and comments on the present of WBAI-FM, a once significant, intelligent New York radio station that for years has suffered chronic abuse from within and now nears extinction. Your comments are welcomed and will not be censored.
I'm going to wait for confirmation to say anything.
ReplyDeleteSDL
A prudent decision on your part. I doubt if you will have to wait long. I wonder how it's going in the 388 snake pit.
DeleteIf it's true, they'll be yapping about how to increase listenership and donations, as usual.
DeleteThe next PNB meeting should be a real hoot to listen to.
SDL
If water pours down and soaks everything in sight, they will challenge any assertion that it's raining.
DeleteChris, may I repost your graphic for this thread on my twitter?
DeleteSDL
Of course.
DeleteThanks. Posted here https://twitter.com/SirDarklust
DeleteAnyway, if this is all true, you'd think Bates would be smart enough to break into programming and use it for a live begging emergency, rather than playing White Like Me...
SDL
Chris,
ReplyDeleteIt is on the website. $1.8 million must be paid.
Ed Manfredonia
Thanks, Ed.
DeleteI read on their website that "political pressure is what is needed now." Who are they going to pressure? DeBlasio? Cuomo? Even if they would be inclined to do anything, what could they do? It seems to me a million dollars is what is needed now.
ReplyDeleteChris in NJ
Closer to $2;000,000
DeleteI am not sure if today's judgment includes interest on the amounts owed, but if it doesn't, you can be sure that the ESB will follow up with a motion to add that pre-judgment interest. Whatever the final judgment amount, it will accrue interest at 9% per year until paid. 9% is high, and NYS made it high in order to discourage defendants from delaying in satisfying judgments. The longer BAI draws this out, the worse the situation will get, to the tune of $180,000 per year (assuming the judgment is for $2MM).
DeleteIt is very unusual for a judge to rule on a motion like this on the same day it is argued. That the judge in this case did so is a testament to the intellectual bankruptcy of WBAI/Pacifica's arguments. (The pun is intended, since bankruptcy is where they are headed).
ReplyDeleteThe fact that these perps at WBAI thought, even for a moment, that they could get away with it speaks volumes of their cluelessness.
DeleteI wonder what made them unfire Linda Perry.
I thought she quit, not fired.
DeleteSDL
Word was that Bates fired her, but the fact may be that he yanked a report she had worked hard on and told her that he had announced his intention in a letter (not so likely story) which she, in turn, claims not to have received and hence walked.
DeleteThese people make up so many stories that nothing can be believed, like Reimers' claim that the Apollo tribute to the slobs who called themselves "Africa" was a success last Saturday. The so-called Blacks, who did the music for that promo affair didn't even mention it on their show today.
I predict that the amount of geshrying during the current begathon will now assume cosmic proportions.
ReplyDeleteGeshrying? Please tell the old Icelander what that means. That asked, my fantasy of being a fly on Reimers' wall has become more vivid.
Delete"Geshry" is a Yiddish word. "To geshry" is to scream and cry and carry on in an exaggerated way.
DeleteAh, a hysteria of sorts. I appreciate the explanation—one is never too old to learn.
DeleteOK, Reimer's reasoning is that radio stations shouldn't have to pay rent and the air should always be free. Okaaayyyyy...
ReplyDeleteSDL
He probably just thought that one up.... makes him feel better, I guess.
DeleteI'm 'shocked' Chris shocked that the strategy of demonizing ESRT and demanding to just walk away hasn't worked. Perhaps now they will grow up and try to work out some kind of settlement. They have only themselves to blame. Even now, listening to the clip, they just don't seem to get it. Instead of acknowledging the situation, Berthold insists radio should be free while others call for political pressure. Meanwhile on the air, they continue hawking DVD sets about fake history or brain stuff or some such nonsense.
ReplyDeleteAstonishing, isn't it? Prescod is probably still attempting to sell those 15 Robeson sets and the dead are rising again—they played for the 563rd time that commercial with Gwen Scott on the phone.
DeleteThe whole place is finally collapsing as people with a modicum of intelligence have long predicted.
It's tempting to gloat, but what these greedy imbeciles have done to WBAI is tragic.
What's so funny is how WBAI is running these extendomercials instead of going live and begging for money for this catastrophic emergency that will shut them down any day now if they don't raise $1.8 million. The Remnants may just fall for it.
ReplyDeleteSDL
There is no way that the remnants will come up with 1.8 million dollars. It is time for Pacifica to sell some assets.
DeleteThese remnants don't have the money to throw into Reimers' leaky pot.
DeleteI agree, they ought to be concentrating on tackling the situation they created, but all they do is revisit past failures.
Oh, come now. Imagine Bates live, with sirens and boots marching sound effects, saying, "THEY are coming to shut us down at this very moment! And after THEY shut us down, they will be coming for you!" He's such a ham that he may actually scare some of The Remnants.
DeleteSDL
Don't you think they themselves do a pretty good job of shutting the station down? Yes, they're slow, but they get it done.
DeleteIs Cerene happy now?
Yaay! Time for a raise for Butthole Reamer! Release all the other employees from the chains as wage slaves! Work for FREE! Blacks want to be FREE!!!
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteThere is a lesson to be learned from this. Don’t screw around with a whistle-blower. But WBAI will never learn.
I wrote to the Empire State Building about Reimers’ lie- specifically, that the Empire State Building was willing to negotiate the rent and that WBAI was paying $14,000 per month for the rent. I explained that Reimers was not entering the full amount of the rent to the Empire State Building into the financial records. Furthermore, I explained that if the Empire State did not demand that Reimers enter the full amount of the rent into the financial record, Empire State could be accused of permitting accounting fraud. Empire State sent me a letter and said that they would look into the situation. The entire time R Paul Martin, a sociopath, was taunting me on message boards to which I did not have access and, therefore, I could not reply to Martin's taunts.
Now WBAI can come up with the $1.8 million.
Ed Manfredonia
Perhaps the fact that ESRT had an absolutely clear case and WBAI/Pacifica had no case at all might have played almost as great a part as your ‘whistle-blowing'.
DeleteA credibility question as to your stated/claimed bona fides: At the time of your stated role with the NYSE what was Steve’s last name?
~ ‘indigo’
Bertie is on live taking calls.
ReplyDeleteSDL
Well, that was useless. Same old ideas.
DeleteSDL
It served well to demonstrate how useless Berthold Reimers is, and has been for about 9 years. He and that other con artist, Bates had no idea that WBAI was about to tip over and into that hole they've been digging.
DeleteI think they have to rethink their "Lies will fix it" philosophy.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteIndigo is wrong on two counts.
I do not know what the ESRT knew about WBAI. But the ESRT moved when I notified the ESRT of Berthold's accounting fraud.
As for my bona fide credentials, you should have read "Scandal On Wall Street" in BusinessWeek. More than one page is devoted to me. You can even find a photo of me in the article.
Furthermore, I do not have to prove my bona fide credentials to anyone connected to WBAI. Wall Street trading is a foreign realm to individuals affiliated with WBAI. As is being a whistle-blower. Which is why WBAI has financial problems.
Ed Mabfredonia
Even from your own account, which we have no independent means of verifying, the reply from ESRT is pro forma and there is no objective verifiable means to believe it had any effect whatsoever. ‘We’ll look into it’ doesn’t mean a hell of a lot, Ed. Presumably with your vast financial experience you’re aware of that.
DeleteTrading and financial matters may be alien to WBAI/Pacifica, but it might be an error to assume they are alien to everyone on this board.
That was a specific question for a specific reason, and you’ve only attempted bluster as a reply.
Ought one assume then that other than bluster you have none?
~ ‘indigopirate’
Chris,
ReplyDeleteOn another note: I have been informed that Berthold is working for World Financial Group. Is this true?
Thank you.
Ed Manfredonia
It could be so—Heard some time ago that his son is affiliated with them.
DeleteYoan Reimers is definitely part of this Pyramid Scheme. Follow link to his website... https://yoanreimers.wfgopportunity.com/
DeleteIf you are brave, there is plenty more to read...
https://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/world-financial-group-a44998.html
http://www.jaimesoriano.net/mlm-reviews/world-financial-group-review-dont-join-until-you-read-this-article/
The good thing is that you can make some pretty nice commissions, to the tune of $500-$1,000 for one sale, as soon as your able to write business.
http://www.corporatenarc.com/world-financial-group-scam.php
The world financial group is a multi level marketing, or a pyramid scheme, which is believed to have held back illegally up to 900 complaints of misrepresentation from its customers.
http://financialuproar.com/2011/07/20/my-experience-with-world-financial-group/
In short, WFG reps come in all shades as ANYONE can get hired.
https://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/world-financial-group-san-jose-california-c80313.html#comments
Though you are associated with WFG, you are essentially in business for yourself.
I was associated with Wfg for about a year and spent around 1000 dollars to get licensed pay office rental fees, E&O insurance, etc. There business model is to pressure your family and friends and random strangers into products they dont need or cant afford.
http://www.zamansky.com/cases/world-group-annuities-fraud/
February 28, 2012
Zamansky LLC is investigating fraudulent and unsuitable sales of annuities and other insurance and investment products by representatives of World Group Securities, Inc. a/k/a World Financial Group (“World Group”).World Group is a network of independent sales representatives who sell annuities, insurance and other financial and investment products through direct and multi-level marketing to mostly middle class and elderly retirees. Many critics claim that World Group is really a fraudulent pyramid scheme, designed to pressure its representatives to sell its financial products through whatever means possible.
Agents of the World Group have been known to lie to prospective customers about their qualifications and experience in the industry in order to gain the trust and credibility of a customer. For example, there are reports that retirees were sold variable annuities which invested in risky and unsuitable stock funds causing losses, or that elderly investors were sold variable annuities with 5% or more of upfront fees that will never be recaptured. Many World Group agents have been charged by FINRA and state securities regulators for misleading sales practices. World Group is owned by the large Dutch insurer, Aegon N.V., which has the financial resources to properly train and supervise its employees.
http://www.wfgwagecase.com/faq
The lawsuit claims that WFG violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay Associates minimum wage and by failing to pay them overtime wages when they worked more than 40 hours in a week. The lawsuit claims that WFG labeled its Associates independent contractors, even though it actually treated them like employees, in order to avoid paying them minimum wage or overtime. The lawsuit seeks to recover all unpaid wages, all unpaid overtime, liquidated damages equal to the full amount of unpaid wages and overtime wages, as well as the Plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees and costs.
WFG denies the allegations in the lawsuit and maintains that Associates were properly classified as independent contractors. WFG further claims that it has complied with the FLSA at all times in good faith.
Remember the Enron documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room? I propose a WBAI documentary WBAI: The Dumbest Schmucks in the Sound Closet.
ReplyDeleteSDL
It took me far too long to realize that when WBAI announced there being a vacancy they were referring to the one in the wannabe GM's cranial cavity.
DeleteWhat we heard from him this evening were the scrapings. Damn, that man is dense.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteI believe that indigo is suffering from overestimating his own importance and especially his intelligence. I believe that indigo is the same weirdo, who wanted to know my source at D H Blair who told me that D H Blair, a crooked Wall Street firm, had dropped the IPO of Steve Brown's firm.
Indigo, you are truly stupid when you doubted my credentials as a whistle-blower. You remind me of the ignorance of R Paul Martin.
I don't have to prove my credentials to an acceptance phenomenon like you.
I apologize Chris, but it is obvious to me that indigo is neither as important nor as intelligent as he claims to be. He is a fool like Mitchel Cohen, who cast aspersions upon my credentials- even though I had provided him with copies of my Wall Street credentials and copies of two articles in which I was featured.
Sorry indigo. The ESRT was very upset with Reimers when I explained the accounting fraud.
Indigo, you can believe what you desire
By the way who is Steve?
And what about the NYSE?
Ed Manfredonia
I make no claim to authority other than being a simple ignorant fool, Ed.
DeleteIf in making such a statement I overestimate my importance and particularly perhaps my intelligence, then so be it – I plead guilty.
If you had any meaningful interaction with the NYSE – I emphasize the word ‘meaningful’ – during the time period to which you’ve referred, then you’d know who the Steve I’ve referred to was at that time, and his position.
Then again, as an ignorant fool, what would I know?
~ ‘indigo’
Would you know the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?
DeleteSDL
IAS or TAS?
Delete;)
~ 'indigo'
I... I don't know... BOING
DeleteSDL
Speaking of carrying cocoanuts, we have this classic suggestion for WBAI's financial needs...
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPTqrFas9Bo
~ 'indigopirate'
Obviously, the all african , all the time strategy never really caught on .
DeleteTalk about the understatement of the year . haha
It got so ridiculous, so fabricated, the even listeners of lesser intellect were chased away.
DeleteI know it's redundant, but Mario Murillo needs to take a huge blame for the big drop off in listeners. His short stint as iPD was a disaster.
DeleteSDL
It was, indeed, but the exodus was already well underway when he sneaked in.
DeleteAnd they will be back at it tomorrow pretending it was the premiums, superstorm sandy , no phones
ReplyDeleteetc... Never mentioning the open secret that nobody wants to come out and say .
That the station was taken over by black nationalists , racist a holes , that can't see beyond their
little race based noses . IMO , the number reason this station is where it is today.
From a programming perspective anyhow. And at every turn Reimers was there giving his nod of approval .
ReplyDeleteChris,
This is a reply to "indigo."
As I have written before indigo, you have serious psychological problems. I do not pore through the DSM-5, but you suffer from autism spectrum disorder. You google some topic and pick a name. And no, I did not have any dealings with Steve, whom I assume to be Crutchfeld.
I only know members and partners in specialist units; they provided me with the information about the negotiations. I did know senior executives at NYSE Options and NYSE-AMEX.
I remember when you read the published pronouncements of R Paul Martin and you boasted that you were familiar with the meetings of the WBAI Finance Committee by reading what R Paul Martin published. You used the published pronouncements of R Paul Martin in an attempt to discredit me.
There is truly something wrong with you. You are not as bright as you believe. And I do believe that you suffer from autism spectrum disorder. I remember when you expressed disbelief that a VP of the CPB was outraged because WBAI had lied to him about the number of phone contracts.
And tell me: Why would I have any contact with Steve? I had no contact with Grasso; yet, I was provided with much information about him. I did not know Mike LaBranche, but I did have contact with some of his drug-addicted partners.
I remember taking the subway with the senior partner of an NYSE specialist firm. There were approximately 5 fellows in suits, some of whom had shaven heads, staring at me. I asked the partner if I knew these fellows. He replied: No, but they know who you are. I laughed.
Indigo, you truly display your ignorance- and perhaps Aspergers.
I believe that you are my age. Law school cost approximately $2,000 to $3,000 per year when you were 21. You could have taken a federal loan and attended law school at night.
With your vast legal knowledge, you should have known that appointing Steve Brown's friend, Andrea Katz, as interim Development Director violated IRC 501 (c). Yet, I have never heard any pronouncements from you. Nor, have I read you write about the illegality of Steve Brown's alleged loan to WBAI.
And for the record, I was a member of the American Stock Exchange for 7 years and not the NYSE.
And as I have said you are not as intelligent as you believe. You lack the ability to synthesize.
Furthermore, I do not state deus ex machina that I accomplished something. I was told by the individuals, who knew of the negotiations.
You should devote your time to discrediting R Paul Martin and Steve Brown.
I apologize, Chris. But at Pacifica, individuals dislike me because I am not like them.
Thank you.
Ed Manfredonia
I'll repeat. I'm a simple fool, no more no less, making no claim to authority.
DeleteI'll also repeat, one final time, with clarification.
The man I'm referring to was not part of a specialist unit of the sort you describe. Nonetheless if your broad claims are accurate you’d know who I’m referring to. Your defensiveness is telling. I have reason to doubt your claims.
So be it.
I won't respond to any further defense on your part, I simply wanted to see how you'd respond, for my own information.
You've now done that.
Thank you :)
~ ‘indigo’