If Dan Siegel is going to show himself to be a leader of the progressives of Oakland he will need to show it at KPFA. KPFA is our local community radio station in the Pacifica Network, in case you did not know.
And in case you did not know, as most don’t, there is a
civil war going on at our community radio station. The faction fight for control of the station
and the network has reached a new shrill peak this week. Unless he stands up and does something, Dan
Siegel will be counted as one of the un-civil warriors. He is very identified as a leader of one of
the two groups, “Save” KPFA, wanting to
run the show.
Both websites will give you each side of this recent dispute and then some.
This infighting disturbs me and makes me angry two
ways. First is because the station could
go under.
KPFA, our Pacifica Station, is one of the few media outlets
in the whole country that belongs to the people. It is precious, rare and needs a lot of
support to survive in the recession economy.
Right now the war drums are pounding out an Iraq invasion
kind of beat with a one sided, distorted view of what is happening in the
Ukraine. Pacifica is one of the very few
outlets in the US that is letting us know other parts of the news, not being
told to us by the corporate press. Where
else will the public get alternative reporting on our economy, the environment,
race relations, our legal system, and our foreign affairs in these days of
Clear Channel?
If KPFA went under, we would lose a lot. We have depended on this radio station for
generations now. With the corporate
giants controlling most of the airwaves and dissent so blacked out, it is time
for Pacifica and KPFA to grow larger, grow more heard and grow better at what
we do. It is also time for us to reach
more young people and listen to more young people.
The other part that disturbs me is the way this faction
fight gets so extreme. The tactics of
the fight have become more of an issue than whatever opposing views each group
has for the management of the station. I
am not sure I know what each side wants to do, mostly I hear about what the
other has done wrong. I do know people
on both sides of some value. One of them
is Dan Siegel, who I have known for years.
I have seen some of the economic arguments and tend to agree more with
the other group. I also think that the
other group has not been anywhere so cut throat about things.
The image we are giving of community radio to the public
with these kinds of antics is about as damaging as any the right wing would
wish upon us. Right now Fox news execs
can uncork the champagne and laugh as we do ourselves in. All sides have done
some of it, one side had done most of it. I think everyone who is so viciously
fighting for power inside of KPFA and Pacifica needs to be held accountable for
their viciousness. Late night
meetings, dubious votes, padlocking the offices, legal actions, calling the
police (and the fire department?), trying to take over the bank account in some
kind of lightning power grab all does not look good because it is not good. It is recklessly irresponsible.
Responsible would be to listen to all sides. Seems that some sides want some financial
audits, so let’s have all the audits people ask for, and let’s have them done
by a neutral, professional, third party.
Responsible would be to follow procedures and law. If a vote is to be held to remove the
executive director, then hold it with some time for everyone to hear the case
that is being made. Hold the vote where it can be counted normally. Follow protocol and law dealing with the
director’s contract.
Responsible would be to hold back. If one only has a thin majority, one should
not act like a G W Bush Republican and make deep changes that disrespect the
significant minority. The vote to remove
an executive director and change course for the network needs a super
majority. The vote to sell a station
license should require a consensus.
Responsible would be for everyone to act like adults and
work on what the station needs to grow because the station urgently needs to
grow adding more listeners and members.
Responsible would be to treat each other with respect.
If we want Unity, then we need to offer respect and some
sense of restraint. Dan, I do not think
you should back down on the views you express in support of “Save” KPFA. If that is the direction you advocate for the
station, then advocate it openly and honestly, as we all should advocate our
views.
But could you help us control this kind of behavior? As a leader of one of the two groups could you now offer some leadership to the whole community? If you stood up for some restraint and mutual
respect right now, we could back away from this abyss.
Right now this LA Weekly article is correct; we are falling
over the edge.
I consider it suggested reading.