by Free Speech Radio & Fair Elections Coalition
https://www.mightycause.com/story/FSFE
DISCLAIMER: This is not an official Pacifica Foundation, Inc. communication nor an official communication of any of the five Pacifica Foundation, Inc. Radio Stations (KPFA, KPFK, KPFT, WBAI, WPFW). Opinions and facts alleged belong to the author(s) only and should NOT be assumed to be true or to reflect the editorial stance or policy of the Pacifica Foundation, Inc., or any of the five Pacifica Foundation, Inc. Radio Stations, or the opinions of its management, Pacifica National Board, station staff or other listener members.
Elections are underway at Pacifica’s five radio stations for officers and representatives on the Pacifica National Board and the Local Station Boards at each of the stations. The process is based upon the improperly imposed replacement Bylaws, adopted as a “legal settlement” without the required member approval, even though court recognition of that settlement is still being appealed. The process has been marred by additional errors, voter suppression, irregularities and confusion from the beginning.
Based on figures provided by one of the mailing houses authorized to send communications to members, it appears that about two-thirds of the staff members have been disenfranchised, not recognized as staff voting members for the purposes of running as, or nominating candidates for, the already-reduced number of so-called “staff and volunteer team” representatives on the local boards or the national board. The date of membership for staff was set arbitrarily at May 31, even though the “date of record” for membership in the elections was June 30.
Based on figures provided by the National Election Supervisor, about 5600 emails sent to listener members with a link to the nomination form BOUNCED, — about 25% of the membership — but nothing was done by management or the NES to correct this, except that about 2000 members who wrote to get access were belatedly allowed to make nominations.
Information about the elections and the nominations process was inadequate or non-existent either over the airwaves or on the station websites. The nomination process itself was confusing and frustrating to many members, and was set up so that you could only use it once, and only nominate a single person for each position, causing many to waste their nominations entirely. Also, it required having computer access and/or a mobile phone that could accept text messages to get notified or access the nominations.
On the other hand, people were “nominated,” with their names appearing on the nomination form, who were not running or could not run, such as members of station management or syndicated programmers who are not members of Pacifica’s staff. Other actual candidates were prevented from getting their candidate statements posted timely. As a result, a significant number of candidates were unable to amass the required number of nominations and were denied a place on the upcoming Aug. 15 ballot.
On top of that, a number of national and local candidates who did receive the requisite nominations have been unjustly disqualified by the national election supervisor for minor and easily corrected problems with disclaimers or even more egregiously for statements made by others, either at public protests not connected to Pacifica, or on radio programs billed as community talk-back. All the disqualified candidates are from the ranks of a slate defending democracy, diversity and equity in Pacifica and opposing the New Day takeover and centralization of the management, governance and programming.
At the two stations where the opposition to the Bylaws change is strongest, and perhaps not coincidentally the two East Coast stations with the largest percentage of Black membership, WBAI in NY and WPFW in DC, there are NO authorized candidates for listener representative on the Pacifica National Board. That means the other members of the board will pick “representatives” for those two stations, disenfranchising the listeners. There is a contest for listener rep on the PNB only at KPFK, thus denying members a choice at two other stations as well.
As a result, disenfranchised members and candidates who have already been harmed by the irregularities, injustices and illegalities of the Pacifica election process are seeking to retain legal counsel, an attorney who can file for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and other remedies prior to ballots in the election being distributed on August 15, which would cement the improprieties. $15,000 is needed immediately to take this action in court, with $10,000 more needed later.
It is unfortunate that Pacifica’s inability to maintain proper contact information for its members and to keep members informed has necessitated this expense to defend members’ rights and democratic media. The voter suppression and silencing of dissent that is so evident in authoritarian efforts in the larger society are being reflected within Pacifica itself at exactly the moment it should be in the forefront of efforts to defend free speech and secure voting rights.
If you share those values and want to see Pacifica live up to its mission and commitments to justice and peace, please donate generously now here: https://www.mightycause.com/story/FSFE
If you can make a loan, or if you know someone else who could, or who could make a larger donation, please get in touch with us ASAP at free.speech_radio@outlook.com. Thanks!
DISCLAIMER: This is not an official Pacifica Foundation, Inc. website nor an official website of any of the five Pacifica Foundation, Inc. Radio Stations (KPFA, KPFK, KPFT, WBAI, WPFW). Opinions and facts alleged belong to the author(s) only and should NOT be assumed to be true or to reflect the editorial stance or policy of the Pacifica Foundation, Inc., or any of the five Pacifica Foundation, Inc. Radio Stations, or the opinions of its management, Pacifica National Board, station staff or other listener members.
