Nov. 29, 2022 update:
Pacifica’s general legal counsel, Arthur Schwartz, has continued making false and inaccurate statements, and these have not been limited to what he’s told Pacifica Board members, staff, and listeners. Earlier this month, as part of the lawsuit he filed against New Day Pacifica (NDP), he submitted papers to the Court which included many such false and inaccurate statements, some old and some new.
New Day Pacifica filed a response brief with the court addressing these misstatements of fact. It’s in an easy-to-read Fact vs Fiction format. You can read it (and save to your computer if you wish) from the file on our web site at NDP Reply Brief filed with court.pdf — Skip to page 3 of the brief – page number at the bottom of the page (page 8 of that file) for Part II, for the Fact vs Fiction section.
Fortunately, you don’t have to believe what either we or Mr. Schwartz say about what the New Day Bylaws will or won’t do. You can read and download the New Day Bylaws text here. The Provisos in the last few pages deal with the transition from the current governance system to the new one – something that Mr. Schwartz continues to misrepresent. And if the court rules in New Day’s favor, that transition to a brighter future for Pacifica will begin soon.
The Court may Decide Soon
We are anticipating a court ruling in December. Look for another email soon with more about why the court’s approval of the NDP Bylaws would be good for all Pacifica stations. We realize many Pacifica members have been deeply concerned by things told to them by those in control of Pacifica, in their attempts to delay or prevent governance reform, but we do believe the arc of the moral universe does bend towards justice, even if that happens much slower than we’d like.
Anti-Democratic Actions by those in control of Pacifica
New Day reprinted an article explaining recent anti-democratic actions by the powers that be in Pacifica, and originally published by DOWN WITH TYRANNY. These actions have included:
- not recognizing the majority vote of the members to update the Bylaws
- disqualifying winning KPFK Delegate/LSB candidates in the 2021 elections
- and now, threatening to cancel the Bylaw mandated 2022 Delegate/LSB elections, illegally extending the terms of Delegates whose terms have expired or worse yet, replacing the currently elected Delegates who were elected, but whose terms have expired, with those candidates who lost and were rejected by the membership.
Click to send a letter (that you can edit), to the Pacifica National Board (PNB) and the Pacifica Executive Director, in protest of the above plans and about your feelings concerning the PNB’s betrayal of democracy and failure to fulfill the Pacifica mission.
See the recent article in Down With Tyranny, signed by a number of Pacifica members: “Pacifica Radio Is In A War Over Democracy… Its Members Are Fighting For Her Survival“
J’Accuse…! New Day Pacifica is accusing Pacifica governance of:
- Financial mismanagement for the last 10–20 years,
- Deliberate or incompetent destruction of the excellence in broadcasting that is Pacifica’s heritage,
- Driving the Foundation to the brink of bankruptcy, and
- Stealing the Pacifica national election as well as the local election at KPFK.
Read the article with details on the above, plus news updates about recent NDP legal victories.
The Pacifica Majority Seeks Democracy and the Survival of Our Network (click to read and sign the Pacifica majority letter)
Watch the Pacifica Majority Zoom presentation about seeking democracy and Pacifica’s survival. Tentative plans are for there to be follow-up presentations in related topics every two weeks, so check back here for details.
Read New Day’s 10-Point Plan to Save Pacifica, and why it’s so critically needed.
Read the Jan. 2022 letter from Fred Blair, KPFK LSB member and 2021 Treasurer, stating how “dire” the financial situation has become. Readers should know that most of KPFK’s biggest fundraisers have left or been driven away in the last few months. This also demonstrates how Pacifica’s leadership has failed.
Read the first amended cross-complaint filed by New Day Pacifica (NDP) in court in response to Pacifica’s lawsuit against NDP, to find out why what Pacifica’s opposition to implementing the NDP Bylaws (which got a 55% YES vote by Pacifica members) is so strange. Go to the yellow highlighted parts in the document to see the key parts and skip over all the legalese.
Read the December 2021 update
Read more about Pacifica overriding the democratic vote of its members and another article about how Pacifica claimed a dubious victory.
Click for Update on New Day Pacifica Bylaws Referendum
Big Changes Needed – So Pacifica Can Survive for Future Generations
New Day Pacifica is a group of Pacifica listeners and staff who want to save Pacifica and keep it from crashing out of existence in the next year. We include current and former Board members, staff and lots of long-term listeners concerned about the existential crisis at Pacifica.
The need for Pacifica is as great as ever, but the current reality of Pacifica is a mix of good and very troubling bad.
Overall Pacifica’s governance and resulting finances are poor and getting worse. We need new bylaws and a new Board structure to be able to address these issues.
UPDATE – July 13 – 56% Vote Yes to Save Pacifica in Democratic Vote for Change, but Pacifica wrongly declares bylaws lost
Thanks to the 6820 members (both listeners and staff) who voted Yes to save Pacifica.
Pacifica management and board majority, however, declared that the New Day bylaws referendum lost, contending that a staff veto trumps the will of the Pacifica Majority. New Day is contesting that decision and will use all available political and legal means to get the Vote Yes-NDP bylaws changes recognized and implemented.
We won this referendum by a solid and democratic majority of listeners and staff—despite Pacifica management’s announcement to the contrary.
Vote Yes-New Day Pacifica will work through the various legal and political channels available to us with your support to appeal and reverse this wrong-headed decision which allows those individuals responsible for Pacifica’s financial and organizational crisis to stay in charge at Pacifica. Pacifica needs to immediately recognize the membership’s decision to approve and implement the New Day Pacifica bylaws proposals so we can save Pacifica and all five radio stations, archives and affiliates.
NDP Bylaws Referendum Results
Pacifica is using a “staff veto” theory to justify declaring that Vote Yes lost. Pacifica posits that since the New Day proposals affect the staff, if the staff reject the proposals the vote of the overall membership is irrelevant and the proposals fail. The irony of Pacifica’s management professing concern for the opinion of Pacifica’s staff while overseeing the gutting of Pacifica staff’s benefits should not be lost on anyone. (Pacifica recently eliminated employer-paid family health insurance at KPFK and is planning to gut existing severance language protections to facilitate laying off long-term staff at KPFK.)
Question: so how will New Day appeal/overturn the bylaws decision? Answer: New Day yesterday requested arbitration as per our December 4 agreement with Pacifica to use arbitration to resolve election issues to “avoid litigation and expense to the Pacifica Foundation.” Even given this agreement, Pacifica has already hired another expensive law firm to prepare for a court fight, clearly hoping to bankrupt New Day Pacifica due to court costs.
Donations still essential
Please donate $5 to $500 (or more) for legal costs to ensure the membership’s Vote Yes decision to save Pacifica is respected. We have $10,000 remaining in donations from you, but estimate we need to raise another $40,000 to win in court. Thanks to the more than 800 members who have donated so far to support New Day Pacifica’s efforts to save Pacifica.
Read more about how the faction controlling Pacifica is ignoring the members’ vote to approve the New Day Bylaws, and how New Day Pacifica plans to fight for members’ rights.
Please check back here regularly for updates.
Click to ENDORSE THE NEW DAY PACIFICA BYLAWS
See the STAFF ENDORSEMENTS and urgent message from Staff
Here are some of the disasters resulting from the chronic dysfunction of Pacifica’s National Board.
- Pacifica has failed every audit since 2015.
- Pacifica was just kicked out of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Before that, Pacifica’s Board had forfeited nearly $7 million dollars in CPB grants since 2013.
- Pacifica has no money to pay a $3.2 million loan payment due September 2022; we could lose Pacifica’s last three buildings as a result.
- Pacifica has no financial reserves and is close to financial collapse.
We are proposing New Day Pacifica bylaws to ensure accountability by Pacifica’s leadership to the listeners and members so that Pacifica’s mission is always front and center. The New Day bylaws ensure a national rather than parochial perspective, encouraging solidarity between the five stations, affiliates, and archives, so we can learn from each other and move forward together.
We are proud to announce that Sharon Kyle, co-editor of social justice magazine LA Progressive will serve as Transition Chair (if Pacifica members vote in favor of the New Day Bylaws), along with Jan Goodman of KPFK as Vice-Chair, Lynden Foley of KPFT as Treasurer, and Akio Tanaka of KPFA as Secretary.
Some highlights of the New Day bylaws:
- The size of the New Day National Board is significantly smaller (15 rather than 22), allowing the Board to function in a well-organized and more democratic manner.
- For the first time ever, Pacifica listeners and staff will elect the most important policy-makers in Pacifica, the National Officers and National Board. This will ensure accountability to the membership.
- The Local Station Boards will refocus on fundraising, community outreach and local oversight of the station, not unproductive management duties.
- Most of the current bylaws are unchanged, such as $25/year dues, 3 hours volunteer time in lieu of dues, 10% quorum in a membership election, Pacifica’s diversity commitment. Pacifica staff and affiliates will continue to be represented on the Board.
New Day Pacifica National Officers and Board will hit the ground running.
Top priorities of a New Day Board (if Pacifica members vote in favor of the New Day bylaws): avoiding the financial disaster that would come with a missed loan payment, strengthening programming nationally and a vigorous fundraising and membership program.
See the updated and expanded list of Frequently Asked Questions
Please join us in working for a New Day for Pacifica.
Click to ENDORSE THE NEW DAY BYLAWS
Sincerely,
Sharon, Jan, Lynden, and Akio
(left to right): Sharon Kyle, Jan Goodman, Lynden Foley, and Akio Tanaka