------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Fri, 1 Feb 2002 21:10:47 -0500
From: Pacifica Campaign <pacificacampaign@yahoo.com>
Subject: Pacifica Campaign Update Feb 1, 2002
Dear Supporters of the Pacifica Campaign:
**Juan Gonzalez resigns as Pacifica Campaign Chair, returns to Democracy
Now!**
Recently, we issued an email request to you, our supporters, for input into
future plans for the Pacifica Campaign. We would like to thank you for the
several hundred thoughtful emails we received in response.
Most responses called for the Pacifica Campaign to continue, mostly to fulfill
a watchdog function until the threat to the network has been more assuredly
overcome.
On January 23rd, the Pacifica Campaign also held a strategy meeting in New
York City with local activists concerning our future. This included a
discussion on the Pacifica Campaign's position on the listeners boycott,
which culminated in a vote to lift the boycott.
It was the opinion of Juan Gonzalez, local activists, and the staff of the
Pacifica Campaign that we must respond to the urgent financial needs of
Pacifica Radio by encouraging listener-sponsors to immediately begin
pledging funds and conducting outreach to new listener-sponsors. In order to
facilitate access to operating funds, local bank accounts are currently being
established for the radio stations, in cooperation with Pacifica National
Headquarters, so that the stations will have some local control of funds.
During this meeting, Juan resigned as Chair of the Pacifica Campaign.
Expressing full confidence in the remaining staff of the Campaign to carry on,
he cited new projects that are looming on his horizon. We at the Campaign
are speaking for many in the independent media movement when we express
our deep thanks and respect to Juan for creating the Campaign and fostering
its success by giving us a winning strategy, as well as lending his reputation
and credibility to the struggle. Only time and history will be able provide a
real measure of his contribution.
Since the "fired and banned" returned to WBAI, three other Pacifica
Campaign staff have moved on. Dan Coughlin, former coordinator, became
Executive Director of Pacifica Radio Network on January 14th. Bernard White
has returned to WBAI as Program Director and host of the morning show,
"Wake-Up Call." Valerie Van Isler has returned to her work as Station
Manager of WBAI. The dedication, loyalty, and spirit of service of Dan,
Valerie, and Bernard were phenomenal. The Free Pacifica movement is
indebted to them - particularly to Dan Coughlin for his tireless and vigilant
commitment to the Campaign.
Remaining staff members of the Pacifica Campaign include Bok-Keem
Nyerere, Denis Moynihan, and Ursula Ruedenberg. The three of us have
agreed to draft a new mission statement for the Pacifica Campaign and will
present our ideas to local activists and to supporters across the country by
email. Pacifica Campaign activists in Los Angeles are also working (without
pay currently) to build towards the March 8-10 Board meeting.
Unfortunately, real threats to the network appear to still exist. We agree with
people across the country that the Campaign should not disband at this time.
According to our sources, Pacifica's previous management cultivated a
culture of contempt for the institution, with patronage and no-show jobs and
sensational spending habits. The Campaign has learned that former
Executive Director Bessie Wash sponsored a bonanza of severance
packages for over 20 employees with pledges of up to 9 months pay, 6
months vacation pay and continued health insurance. For some, it appears
that laptop computers and even car repairs and car leases were promised.
We understand that Pacifica's new management has stopped payment and
will challenge most of these agreements.
There are virtually no remaining funds due to past policies and
mismanagement. Currently the network is struggling to meet payroll and
operating costs. Meanwhile, Pacifica has financial liabilities totaling
approximately $4,000,000.
Half of those liabilities are comprised of debts to law firms, public relations
firms, and security firms. The other half of the debts were incurred through
operating expenses. Debts to Legal firms contracted by Pacifica include:
$460,000 to Williams & Connolly and $410,000 to Epstein, Becker & Green
(EB&G) after at least $700,000 already paid to EB&G. Another union-busting
firm in Pacifica's employ, Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, is seeking about
$300,000 in addition to the quarter million paid out already. Their attorney
Larry Drapkin was the principal recipient of the business, for his work
attacking the Democracy Now staff. Attorneys at yet another firm, Fulbright
and Jaworski, are lining up for around $200,000. Seeking $250,000, Westhill
Partners, the latest and highest-powered public relations firm hired by the
former Pacifica National Board, may be planning to go to a judge to force
Pacifica into involuntary bankruptcy.
In an extraordinary development, we have learned that a firm called Decision
Strategies has a bill due for $230,000. Decision Strategies is a high-end
corporate security and "intelligence" firm, which touts its use of
"multijurisdictional online and onsite searches with the involvement of overt
and covert field operatives." According to a USA Today article, the firm hires
"ex-FBI, CIA, IRS, DEA, and Secret Service agents; former police,
prosecutors, customs agents, federal marshals and military intelligence
experts; veterans of Britain's MI6, Europe's Interpol or the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police; and lawyers, forensic accountants, database specialists
and journalists." Pacifica's use of this firm points to even deeper corruption
and total abandonment of the network's mission than heretofore understood.
See the firm's site at http://decision-strategies.com
Furthermore, John Murdock, EB&G lawyer and former Pacifica National
Board member, told New York Newsday on January 30th that if there are too
many changes to some of the stations, "I think that there will be challenges
to their licenses." Clearly, Pacifica will soon be facing more attacks while we
work to restore the network to its progressive mission.
In conclusion, some news of Pacifica National Headquarters include:
- Verna Avery Brown has been employed as Deputy Executive Director of
Pacifica Network. Ms. Brown was the former Pacifica National News Anchor
until she resigned in protest over Pacifica policy.
- Station Managers at WBAI, WPFW, and KPFT have been terminated and
at KPFT the Station Manager resigned prior to the January 12th meeting of
the Interim National Board. They are currently being replaced by Station
Managers hired on interim bases.
- In Los Angeles, local Indy Media activist Stephen Starr replaced KPFK
Station Manager Mark Schubb.
- In Washington DC, Tony Regusters, former press secretary for
congresswoman Maxine Waters replaced WPFW Station Manager Lou
Hankins.
- In New York, former WBAI Station Manager Valerie Van Isler of WBAI has
returned to replace interim manager Robert Daughtry.
- In Houston, a KPFT General Manager will be named Monday. Garland
Ganter has been replaced by the station operations engineer in the interim.
- The next national board meeting will be held in Los Angeles on March 8 -10.
We encourage everyone to join us there to support the free-Pacifica struggle
in Los Angeles. As in New York, the venue will be a school or union hall
instead of a corporate hotel.
- Finally, New Yorkers were delighted to hear Free Speech Radio News
during WBAI's time slot for national news recently. The Pacifica Campaign
heartily endorses a commitment at all Pacifica stations to airing FSRN
regularly.
Thank you for your support in the past and we look forward to the next phase.
Sincerely,
Pacifica Campaign Staff
Bok-Keem Nyerere
Denis Moynihan
Ursula Ruedenberg