Mara Rivera Candidate Statement

The www.peoplesradio.net candidates are doing a collective statement to provide you with information you would not otherwise have to help you understand the crisis at KPFA/Pacifica. Our statements are best read in order starting with Richard Phelps, Gerald Sanders, Stan Woods, Bob English, Dave Heller, Attila Nagy and Mara Rivera.

Some of my qualifications: active in KPFA democracy movement since 1993, listener/subscriber for 40+ years, 28 year worker-owner at Rainbow Grocery Coop, attends LSB meetings, anti-war, anti-occupation activist. For a complete list see www.peoplesradio.net

Part 7, continued from Nagy. During 2007 the KPFA management, IGM and IPD, both “dismantlers”, arbitrarily and without collaboration, ended the Programs Council’s direct role in programming decisions. Please note that the Concerned Listeners (CL) didn’t mention the Program Council in their 2006 election material and neither did KPFAForward, the “dismantlers” slate in 2004. Also, neither slate mentioned the Democracy Now! prime time struggle. Why? They didn’t want to expose their top down, anti-democratic and unpopular positions.  Also this year Sasha Lilley warned staff that they couldn’t encourage listeners to attend First Amendment events (peace marches, labor pickets, Miguel Molina was written up for saying “be there”). When this edict came before Pacifica Counsel his comment on saying “be there” was, “Isn’t that what we are supposed to be doing?” Recently the IGM told the unpaid staff that they couldn’t have an organization to represent them (the unpaid staff are 200+ volunteers, without their work the station couldn’t run). The IGM and IPD chose another older white male to host the Sunday Morning 2 hour program, despite a suggestion from Richard Phelps and others, to split up the 8 hours per month with some hours going to women, people of color and political diversity.

All of these decisions were made without consultation with the LSB, Program Council or unpaid staff. Additionally, they have continued the practice of playing part of a speech or debate and selling the program and not playing the entire program on the air for months, if ever, despite numerous complaints. Listeners that can’t afford $100 to buy them don’t get to hear the entire speech or program. They have also continued basing our news primarily on the corporate AP Wire service, despite years of complaints. These last two issues contributed to us losing our best newsperson, Sandra Lupien, who recently resigned.  All of these attacks on democracy, free speech and equal access for all, regardless of wealth, were supported by the Concerned Listeners/“dismantlers” on the LSB and fought against by Peoplesradio. These are only a few of the examples we could cite if we had more space.  If you want a democratic, transparent, and accountable process, progressive news and more diversity that supports our Mission, vote 1-7 for www.peoplesradio.net candidates.