R Paul Martin Candidate Statement

This is a crucial election for WBAI. The station has been in a financial crisis for several years and if it doesn’t recover soon then it may cease to exist in the near future.

Last year the Program Director said in an interview that he thought that selling WBAI was “... not really a bad idea,” and he speculated on creating “a smaller radio station” and having lots of money left over after selling WBAI. I am completely opposed to selling WBAI or “swapping” its 99.5 FM frequency! I believe that such a move would destroy WBAI.

The crux of our problems is that for some years WBAI hasn't been run as a radio station, it’s been run as a fiefdom in support of a clique. As a result there has been little transparency, and none where that clique would find it inconvenient. There has also been a tendency to subsume the good of the radio station to the interests of the individuals and groups involved in that clique.

We need representatives on the LSB who will consider the good of the radio station first and work to keep it alive. I think that I’ve proven in my time on the LSB that I can do exactly that.

I’ve been an Unpaid Staff producer at WBAI for more than 25 years. In that time I’ve seen what works at WBAI and what doesn’t work. One of the things that hasn’t been working is the WBAI LSB. For the past 3 years a majority of the LSB has prevented the LSB from fulfilling its duties under the bylaws. Instead of doing its job the majority of the LSB has spent its time attempting to coerce an interim General Manager into hiring a member of the majority clique. Instead of insisting on a coherent, balanced budget based on proven income they’ve passed budgets that have eroded WBAI’s fiscal integrity. Instead of evaluating Management they’ve engaged in cronyism. Instead of fulfilling its fiduciary duty the LSB has spent hours of meeting time on character assassination of independent LSB members.

In short, the WBAI LSB has abdicated its governance role, neglected its duties and has not been helpful to WBAI. I have opposed this abandonment of the LSB’s fiduciary responsibilities.

I believe that all Staff must be treated fairly and equally. I believe that the atmosphere of intimidation that so often prevails at WBAI is wrong and must be brought to an end. I am against the current budget proposal. The Treasurer says he sees layoffs coming. I think that Management should bear the brunt of any salary cuts.

I have attended every LSB meeting. I have fought for the Staff and to keep WBAI solvent. I hope that you will reelect me so I can continue working for WBAI on the LSB.