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WBAI Local Programming Ceases

I have seen a few comments that the staff and management were indeed told (verbally and in writing) that they needed to a) bring in more donations/sponsorships and b) prepare for sweeping changes and layoffs. The new director cannot just assume the position and let things continue to fall apart and also has a responsibilty to do what it takes to bring the organization into better financial shape. Sounds to me like these people in NY thought they could basically call their "boss's bluff." They ain't ever coming back on the air is my guess.
 
Trust me, BigA (a scary thought) I think "they" will get funding, etc., but I think that will only come with a well designed local rebuilding that will prove tough to execute and again will fail. The names and faces that turned on the plan to just get the station through until it could ramp back up will end up being all but forbidden by the court to get within a 1,000 ft of that station. The new CEO has no connection or responsibilty to the staff that basically told him to stick it.
 
WBAI's local board is meeting tonight (Wednesday.) The local staff just posted this on their twiiter site:

"Pacifica's IED is taking #WBAI to court to try and lift the restraint order. WBAI is fighting to regain local control. @WBAI
would like supporters at the Appellate Court-27 Madison Ave (ornate bldng) Appellate Division 1st Dept at 915am tomorrow. #SaveWBAI"

So expect a demonstration tomorrow. The IED is the Interim Executive Director. They've gone through a series of EDs because of this crisis. This is the first who took action. So far I haven't seen any local proposals to solve the $4 million debt to the foundation, or the $1.8 million debt to ESB. All they're talking about is free speech. No one understands it ain't free. It costs money.
 
In Utopia, nothing costs money. Everyone gladly works for ration cards.

TheBigA said:
WBAI's local board is meeting tonight (Wednesday.) The local staff just posted this on their twiiter site:

"Pacifica's IED is taking #WBAI to court to try and lift the restraint order. WBAI is fighting to regain local control. @WBAI












would like supporters at the Appellate Court-27 Madison Ave (ornate bldng) Appellate Division 1st Dept at 915am tomorrow. #SaveWBAI"

So expect a demonstration tomorrow. The IED is the Interim Executive Director. They've gone through a series of EDs because of this crisis. This is the first who took action. So far I haven't seen any local proposals to solve the $4 million debt to the foundation, or the $1.8 million debt to ESB. All they're talking about is free speech. No one understands it ain't free. It costs money.
Click to expand...
 
Ornate building, huh? That means power. Thankfully, times have changed since the last real demostrations back when people actually knew what the hell was happening vs. reading eight word posts to show up for who knows what. I would call tomorrow a bad hair photo op day and everyone will show up and the group of 100-150 will be long gone once their Starbucks is empty and they get an online appointment for a pedicure after going to Chipolte. Many of these same activists will however be able to produce online artistry of their near death experiences and call it a million listeners (who didn't contribute a dime) march.


I do have one real question. Does this temporary ED guy possibly not have the power to stand up and make any decisions because he is, uh, short term and not able to perform his duties in the boardroom? Maybe that is the key to the bigger issue being raised by the dozen or so employees that he let down. Is there some NY law that says only real ED's can make real decisions?
 
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Tibbs4 said:
Is there some NY law that says only real ED's can make real decisions?
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if so, how did a fired GM get a TRO? He's not real either.

This ED is doing what the foundation's board wants him to do. He is acting on behalf of the board. The board oversees the license. The former employees are unhappy about that. But there's still the little matter of the $4 million debt.
 
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Actually, the employees maintain that there was no vote by the Board for the ED to make any of the moves that he did. They are asserting that he violated the Pacifica bylaws by going "rogue" and acting on his own, The manner in which important decisions are made at Pacifica is so convoluted that it is not so simple to determine which side is correct.
There has been a history of various Pacifica stations' employees being locked out, only to ultimately be allowed back in.
I'm not favoring the WBAI employees, just stating the facts as I see them.
Personally I find much of the national programming currently being aired more engaging than the local stuff that had been broadcast by the station before the takeover.
 
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Barry said:
Actually, the employees maintain that there was no vote by the Board for the ED to make any of the moves that he did. They are asserting that he violated the Pacifica bylaws by going "rogue" and acting on his own,
Click to expand...

However, they also say he was joined in his actions by several Pacifica Foundation board members, who flew to NYC from Berkeley. So it was not on his own. The staff keeps bringing up "procedure." That's not why they were shut down. They were shut down because they're a drain on the entire foundation, and no one seems to be able to fix that. But you're right, this has happened before, both in NY and Berkeley. This is what happens when you have anarchy.
 
You guys are great. Seriously. Well said. From where I stand (well mostly sit or even crawl, these days) I have to believe that NO ONE with a brain in the NY studios would or could say out loud or online that there had TRUTHFULLY not been repeated conversations over the years, months, days or even hours about the disaster that was allowed to fester and that something drastic would eventually happen and that job loss was not ever discussed. What else could they shave from expenses? Get a giant NYC judge, I mean rat, on the roof to run a wheel to pay for the electricity? When times get tough, the tough have to go into action mode and standing on the sidelines in not an option. No one, including this or any ED wants to fire people. Hopefully, they prefer to inspire people. Sometimes, the people are just to whatever to "see it or get it." The management (term used loosely) sure managed to get their stick together and get a legal action in the courthouse in about the time it takes a stack of Domino's pizzas to be delivered to their lazy executive desks. That makes me thunk they full well knew what was coming and they thought they were above being reprimanded or fired. That is pure delusion. As for the ED just making this call on his own accord. After just coming in on a temporary basis? Nada chance. Those who approved his job and agreed to his compensation had to have spent hours discussing the financial situation before them ALL, it's long history and their short term ability to keep ALL the doors open. He knew full well what he had to do, without an ounce of doubt and they all agreed to support his decisions. What should be the real kicker would be that a certain ex-GM better watch his own butt, because I just bet there is a signed legal document of employment that states not only the terms of his existence, but what he can and cannot say about the entity paying his paycheck and/or those on the board or in management. I bet he doesn't show his face.
 
This was posted today on the WBAI Twitter feed:

"#WBAI’s Local Station Board unanimously approved a resolution last night which “denounces this locking out of WBAI's staff and the taking over of its programming.” The resolution is shared below since we don’t have access to our own website."

It's very long, and basically says the Pacifica IED is to blame for everything, and the foundation should get the money to pay off WBAI's debt from him. The local station shouldn't be responsible for anything.

Here's a link to the resolution:

http://citizensdefendinglibraries.b...olution-of-wbais-local-station-board.html?m=1

Meanwhile, this very lengthy article was posted today, claiming the real goal of Pacifica (without any evidence) is to sell the station to help KPFA in Berkeley. That makes absolutely no sense, but here it is:

https://mailchi.mp/stevebrownonboar...inst-illegal-shutdown-of-station?e=3d993f42ec

The fact is that if Pacifica wanted to sell WBAI, they could just sell it. No need to explain why.
 
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TheBigA said:
I have no idea who REC is, but from what I can see, everything they say in this post appears to be factually correct.
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REC is the name of the company and website that have terrific web listings of station facilities and filings. In addition, the owner is a proponent of LPFM and community broadcasting, providing services in those areas.

https://home.recnet.com/

Try plugging in some familiar call letters and see coverage, filings, past filings, call letter history and more. A very useful site, better for most purposes than the FCC site or radio-locator.
 
That's interesting...it goes back to an agreement they made with the union about firing employees.

According to one of the lawyers: "The portion of the TRO that remains means that Pacifica cannot terminate #WBAI employees, like the General Manager. If the General Manager's duties are to direct programming, how can the GM do that if Pacifica controls the property and the transmitter?"

The answer goes to the crazy by-laws themselves. If the local board wants the independence to hire local staff, they have to be responsible for paying them, and can't be able to draw on money from Pacifica Foundation. The debt that the local station has created with the national is what caused this situation. Someone has to deal with the money.

Pacifica Foundation is on the hook for the money WBAI owes the Empire State Building. That has to be addressed.
 
Well well. Any updates on the massive protests? Did five people even show? Here's a question for you. Does the foundation have to pay full wages or can they reduce the wages to say $1 and honor the by-laws? How long must they keep paying? So, they cannot terminate or fire anyone! Ever?

Now they can sell this and all the national companies looking to buy in will be willing to overpay. Or do the by-laws prevent that based upon the labor that can't generate any profit getting to lounge around the offices and collect paychecks while hating on national?
 
Tibbs4 said:
Well well. Any updates on the massive protests? Did five people even show? Here's a question for you. Does the foundation have to pay full wages or can they reduce the wages to say $1 and honor the by-laws? How long must they keep paying? So, they cannot terminate or fire anyone! Ever?
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The paychecks apparently come from the local, but the local has been borrowing from the foundation. The staff doesn't work for Pacifica, but for the local station. One thing I was thinking was if the local station went bankrupt (which is likely since they're running a deficit) would that change things, and that would eliminate previous contracts.
 
TheBigA said:
This was posted today on the WBAI Twitter feed:

"#WBAI’s Local Station Board unanimously approved a resolution last night which “denounces this locking out of WBAI's staff and the taking over of its programming.” The resolution is shared below since we don’t have access to our own website."

It's very long, and basically says the Pacifica IED is to blame for everything, and the foundation should get the money to pay off WBAI's debt from him. The local station shouldn't be responsible for anything.

Here's a link to the resolution:

http://citizensdefendinglibraries.b...olution-of-wbais-local-station-board.html?m=1

Meanwhile, this very lengthy article was posted today, claiming the real goal of Pacifica (without any evidence) is to sell the station to help KPFA in Berkeley. That makes absolutely no sense, but here it is:

https://mailchi.mp/stevebrownonboar...inst-illegal-shutdown-of-station?e=3d993f42ec

The fact is that if Pacifica wanted to sell WBAI, they could just sell it. No need to explain why.
Click to expand...


Dang it's crazy how apparently now WBAI's people has an ax to grind on KPFA in this drama and make an allegation that KPFA is in bigger debt than WBAI in this rant though.
 
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