Expressing My Support For Steven Starr
by Don white Wednesday January 30, 2002 02:49 PM

As a veteran listener, a Local Advisory Board (LAB) member and as one who was closely connected to the process which ended with Steven's appointment, I want to express my support and great admiration for him and for what is now being called, "The right choice."

Two points: (1) There was a technical, legal reason why Mark Schubb was suspended/put on leave, rather than terminated. That was beyond Steven's control.

(2) Steven has made it clear that he does not want to go beyond the 60/90 days of interim service. He is committed to serving our community for that interim period and then turning over the job to someone who has been selected through an open, transparent, inclusive process which includes input from the entire signal area. That is important for listeners to know and it was important for the LAB to know prior to this appointment.

Each day we are more and more certain that Steven's service during this interim period is crucial for the progress we all want to make. His calm, decisive, good-natured, insightful, strong day-to-day work is really an encouragement. Even during some rather stormy moments, he remained the level head in the room and the man with his eye on the prize. We are on the right track. And many thanks to Steven.

re:Expressing My Support for Steven Starr
by RSegal Thursday January 31, 2002 03:24 PM

Thanks Don for explaining the 2 issues; I and I am sure many others, wondered how a new GM will be selected. Will KPFK broadcast when and how we can help choose/provide input?

Open, Transparent, Inclusive Process!
by Don White Friday February 01, 2002 01:28 PM

When the new interim Pacifica Executive Director Dan Coughlin and the new Pacifica National Board Chair Leslie Cagan arrived in Los Angeles, the focus was to remove Mr. Schubb and to begin the "new era" at KPFK. The process was "sticky" and faulty, compared to the process which now must be put in place for choosing a new permanent General Manager of our station.

The "faulty process" resulted in a wonderful choice, in my judgment, but now we are starting from scratch again. As a member of the Local Advisory Board (LAB) I will be committed to helping the Board and the movement develop a process, make that process public and then making that process work so that all listeners feel they have had a chance to give their input.

As far as I am concerned, there is no front-runner, no predetermined "favorite," no behind-the-scenes strategy to make sure a certain person is chosen. We don't know yet what excellent candidates for GM are out there that we haven't heard from yet.....that is why this must remain an open process.

Steven is willing to serve our community for up to 90 days...but 90 days go by very quickly. So the Board will play a major role in establishing a process, and that process must have built into it maximum listener input.

re: Open, Transparent, Inclusive Process!
by Nina Tuesday February 05, 2002 12:20 PM

Don,

I appreciate you keeping all of us abreast of the process. Will there be other venues available to the listeners to know where the LAB is within the process of choosing a new General Manager?

I hope so and I would be interested in knowing of them.

Thanks for your commitment and hard work.

Nina