What Majority?

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Originally posted May 18, 2014

Berkeley-As the first week after the TRO ruling passes, the extent of the shaky foundation of the 2014 rogue board continues to emerge. The lack of eligibility of not one, but two of the twelve directors claiming to constitute the majority of the board is unquestionable. Boards of directors of CA nonprofit organizations have only the powers and authorities vested in them by the organization’s bylaws, and in this case, that’s not looking like anything at all. Continue reading What Majority?

The Business of Collapse

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Originally posted May 16, 2014

Berkeley-While waiting for the next court appearance on June 3rd, disconnects between vacuous executive reports and the reality of the grim situation at Pacifica are vivid. A bizarre chair’s report (the document can be found here, professes ignorance about the financial state of the network. It also states the hijacked workplace investigation report about multiple complaints against the re-hired CFO that has been in Wilkinson’s sole possession since March 17th, will be released to the board after Pacifica’s HR firm returns a call. Wilkinson’s contention appears to be a phone call she placed in March has not been returned for two months, preventing her from releasing the report to the rest of the board. Continue reading The Business of Collapse

A Morning After

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Originally posted May 14, 2014

Berkeley-A day after issuance of a 3-week temporary restraining order, a fairly remarkable meeting happened at the Pacifica national headquarters on May 13, 2014.

With about seven “occupiers” in residence, and after the departure of executive director Reese in the morning in deference to the court order, the three staffers brave enough to come into work eventually met with purported chair Margy Wilkinson. The three women, who according to their own reports, have experienced severe harassment during the 7 week occupation, with community members present and bearing witness, laid into Wilkinson about their distress about the rehire of former chief financial officer Raul Salvador after 5 workplace complaints were filed.  They also talked in detail about KPFA’s obstruction of their work towards the completion of the audit, as well as their concerns about retaliation from the board majority. Continue reading A Morning After

Three Week Narrow Restraining Order Granted

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Originally posted May 13, 2014

Berkeley- Alameda Superior Court Judge Ioana Petrou issued a temporary restraining order today pending a new preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for June 3, 2014 at 9am in Department 15. The restraining order states: Continue reading Three Week Narrow Restraining Order Granted

Brian Edwards-Tiekert’s Famous E-mail

From:”Brian Edwards-Tiekert”
Yahoo! DomainKeys has confirmed that this message was sent by gmail.com. Learn more
To:”Lemlem Tekle” , “Bonnie Simmons” , LisaRothman [at] kpfa.org

CC:”Sasha Lilley” , “Lemlem Tekle” , mawu_mama37 [at] yahoo.com, “Amelia Gonzalez-Garcia” , Rain Geesler” , “Sherry Gendelman” , “Gary Niederhoff”

Subject:Re: budget
Date:Thu, 1 Sep 2005 20:58:28 -0700

I’m up for coffee Saturday—Lisa and I can still meet Tuesday afternoon. Also, we need a general strategy session. How about Tuesday night?

Issues include:
How should we be handling the expiration of the union contract—is a strike in order, or is it a really terrible idea?
What’s the best way to deal with these layoffs?
Coming up with, and presenting, an alternative budget.

“Strategic retreat on the LSB”—”how do we make our enemies own the problems that are to come?” Alternatively, should we be recalling LSB members/dismantling the LSB?

Getting the Roy issue to the national board.
“Propping up staff morale.”
“Strategic retreat on the LSB”—”how do we make our enemies own the problems that are to come?” Alternatively, should we be recalling LSB members/dismantling the LSB?
Dealing with the grievances underway.
Building community support—formation of a labor-community coalition.

Brian Edwards-Tiekert
Staff Representative, Local Station Board
KPFA 94.1FM
1929 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley CA 94704

Dan Siegel’s Not-So-Great Decade at Pacifica

compiled by Daniel Borgström

For several years Attorney Dan Siegel has been championing the rights of victims of police violence in Oakland, both before and during the Occupy movement. Nobody can deny that Siegel has done good work.  Nevertheless, his record at KPFA and other Pacifica stations including  WBAI has been consistently bad and seems difficult to write off as  “bad judgment.” Looking back at things Siegel did while General  Counsel and interim Executive Director for the Pacifica Foundation, I strongly suspect that Siegel deliberately intended to harm the foundation. Continue reading Dan Siegel’s Not-So-Great Decade at Pacifica

EX-CFO Chases Away Payroll Vendor

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Originally posted May 9, 2014

Berkeley-Former chief financial officer Raul Salvador has reportedly so upset payroll vendor Paychex Inc with daily harassing phone calls and emails, that the East Bay payroll processing firm has pulled the plug on Pacifica’s payroll account and is currently refusing to issue payroll checks for the upcoming payroll on May 15th. (For an update on this situation, click here) Continue reading EX-CFO Chases Away Payroll Vendor

Statement of Pacifica’s Local Station Board Members, Staff and Listeners

Pacifica National Board acted improperly in its attempted termination of Executive Director Summer Reese

To sign onto this statement use the form here.

We, the undersigned, members of the Pacifica’s Local Station Board, staff and listeners, strongly believe that members of the Pacifica National Board (PNB) acted improperly at their late-night telephone board meeting on March 13, 2014, when they voted to fire Pacifica Executive Director Summer Reese without due process. Continue reading Statement of Pacifica’s Local Station Board Members, Staff and Listeners

You’re Not Who You Say You Are

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Originally posted May 5, 2014

Berkeley-In an action that could be cause for disbarment, Oakland attorney Dan Siegel today issued a letter to Pacifica’s payroll vendor stating he is the counsel for the Pacifica Foundation. The position of general counsel for the foundation is one selected by the entire Pacifica National Board.  No such decision has been made by the board’s own declaration. Continue reading You’re Not Who You Say You Are

Perspectives on the Crisis at KPFA and Pacifica Radio Network

By Peter Phillips and Mickey Huff,

The Pacifica Foundation is a 65-year old national progressive treasure in need of continuing attention and support. Pacifica’s flagship station KPFA in Berkeley, and four other stations KPFK-Los Angeles, KPFT-Houston, WBAI-New York, WPFW-Washington, D.C., are all owned by and under legal control of Pacifica Foundation Radio. Over 160-affiliate radio stations in the US and Canada carry various programs from the Pacifica Radio network. Continue reading Perspectives on the Crisis at KPFA and Pacifica Radio Network