News/Updates

New Day Pacifica and the Pacifica Foundation Reach a Landmark Settlement on Bylaws

A New Beginning for Pacifica

After four long years of legal strife, Pacifica Foundation and New Day Pacifica have reached a settlement in the case that has dominated the organization’s attention and resources since 2021. This lawsuit, filed by Pacifica itself, aimed to halt the implementation of the New Day Proposed Bylaws Revision, a reform package definitively endorsed by 55% of Pacifica members. More than 6,800 listeners and staff members from across the nation voted for these changes, hoping to guide the network out of the financial and structural crisis that had threatened to unravel it.

In a court-ordered mediation, the two sides — New Day Pacifica, a group of current and former board members, staff, and listeners, and Pacifica itself — found common ground. This hard-won settlement, finalized in April 2025, will now update the Pacifica Bylaws, incorporating many of the provisions that had been passed by the membership in the 2021 referendum. A referendum that was, let’s not forget, the result of a year of debates, discussions, and contentious votes.

The settlement has been ratified by the Pacifica National Board (PNB) and approved by the court, which ordered that the new set of Updated, Consolidated 2025 Pacifica Bylaws take effect immediately.

The court order, signed by the judge, and which contains all of the revised Bylaws, is at newdaypacifica.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Pacifica-Bylaws-Final-Stipulated-Judgment-Signed-by-Judge-2025-04-10.pdf​ ​

Read the press release on the Bylaws settlement from the Pacifica Executive Director.

A Settlement That Matters — And Will Begin to Make a Difference Right Away

The promise of this settlement is not just in the legal documents or the bylines. Its real impact will be felt immediately.

With the adoption of the revised Bylaws, Pacifica will now have a clearer, more nimble management structure. The Executive Director will have the flexibility to hire permanent General Managers and staff at each station based on qualifications and experience, rather than being mired in the personal and often divisive politics that have plagued the network for years. This means that General Managers, with fewer distractions, can focus on what really matters — high-quality, mission-driven programming that attracts more listeners, increases community engagement, and, ultimately, raises much-needed donations.

For years, the network’s governance structure was seen as unwieldy and inefficient, a barrier to progress. Now, the number of members on the Pacifica National Board (PNB) will be reduced from 22 to 15, a move that has long been advocated by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Pacifica’s auditors, The large, governing board structure — which included 120 members (24 members on each of five Local Station Boards (20 of whom were elected to the PNB) was simply too cumbersome and, often, a source of dysfunction and internal strife.

By cutting down the size of the National Board and refocusing Local Station Boards on fundraising, outreach, and member engagement, Pacifica will be in a better position to rebuild its relevance and financial stability. It’s a start, not an end, but a start that many believe has been long overdue.

Financial Relief and Strategic Direction: A Vision for the Future

One of the most immediate effects of this settlement is financial. By avoiding a prolonged legal battle, which would have drained precious resources, Pacifica is saving tens of thousands of dollars that can now be redirected toward operations and programming — the lifeblood of any listener-sponsored network. These savings are not just a reprieve; they represent an opportunity to invest in Pacifica’s future, ensuring that it can continue to serve the communities that depend on it.

PNB Director Zack Kaldveer aptly put it, saying, “I support these long-overdue reforms that will bring efficiency, accountability, and real democracy to Pacifica’s governance. This settlement is a major step forward, ensuring key decisions are made by people who understand broadcasting, making the Board more effective, and finally delivering the changes members have demanded for years and conclusively voted to enact but were denied.”

This, after all, is what democracy at its best looks like. It is about responding to the will of the people — in this case, the members who voted decisively for change in 2021, but whose wishes had been delayed and obstructed. This settlement acknowledges that their voices have finally been heard.

A Renewed Pacifica: A Vital Force for Democracy and Justice

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this settlement is the potential it unleashes. Pacifica, with its five stations in major metropolitan areas and approximately 200 affiliates nationwide, has always had the potential to be a major force for truth and justice in American media. In an era where corporate consolidation and media monopolies dominate the landscape, Pacifica’s mission — to provide independent, truth-to-power journalism — has never been more essential.

Now, with a smaller, more focused board and a renewed commitment to serving its listeners and communities, Pacifica is poised to reclaim its place as a beacon of democratic engagement and critical inquiry. In the midst of deepening political and social divides, Pacifica has the tools to be part of the solution: a diverse network of voices, united by a common purpose, speaking truth to power and bringing the news that matters to those who need it most.

This is the promise of the settlement, and this is the vision for Pacifica’s future.

The road ahead for Pacifica is still challenging, but this settlement represents a pivotal moment — a turning point in the life of the network. There is work yet to be done, but at least now the path is clearer, and the hope of a renewed Pacifica, ready to fulfill its mission in a time of crisis, is within reach.
In the end, this settlement isn’t just about legal compromises or procedural changes. It is about the future of independent media and its role in a democracy that desperately needs voices that are not beholden to the corporate elite, but instead to the people.

Commentary, News/Updates

Pacifica Finally Settles Its Long, Strange Legal Trip — And Big Changes Are Coming

Dear Friends of Pacifica,

We come to you now not merely with news, but with the unfolding of a new chapter in a long and turbulent story—a story of ideals, of struggle, and, at times, of painful self-examination.

On April 10, 2025, the Los Angeles Superior Court signed a Final Judgment that brings to a close years of legal contention surrounding the governance of Pacifica Radio. But this is not the end of the story—it is, we believe, the beginning of a wiser and more sustainable future.

This agreement is not a surrender by any side. It is not a victory lap. It is, in the best sense, a reconciliation—an effort to preserve what is worth keeping, and to improve what must change.

What Led Us Here

In 2021, a broad coalition of Pacifica listener-members and staffers—many of them volunteers, lifelong listeners, and committed supporters—voted for a series of reforms aimed at strengthening the foundation of the network. This movement, called New Day Pacifica, sought to modernize governance and improve transparency.

But as is often the case in democratic experiments, the road was far from smooth.

Legal questions were raised. Did the majority staff need to vote yes, separately from the Listeners?   Were all staff votes, particularly those from WBAI in New York, verified and valid? Pacifica’s existing leadership pushed back, challenging the vote’s legitimacy under the existing bylaws. And so, a long legal process began—slow, contentious, and often difficult.

As the case moved from argument to discovery, it was revealed that Pacifica’s requirement for verifying unpaid staff eligibility—specifically, the rule requiring 30 hours of supervised work over three months—was nonexistent at WBAI. There were no time records. No verifications. Just names.

Attorneys for New Day were preparing their arguments for trial:  that these unverified votes should be discounted. If that happened, the New Day bylaws would have passed decisively among both listeners and qualified staff.

A court hearing loomed. The stakes were high. And the risks were very real.

The court then ordered both sides to seek mediation.

Choosing a Better Way

The outcome was a settlement—agreed to by people who, despite deep differences, share a belief in Pacifica’s importance .

Rather than risk a sudden judicial restructuring, the Pacifica National Board chose reform over revolution. The result is a set of 2025 Pacifica Bylaws that blend the historic foundation of Pacifica with many of the core ideas from the New Day proposal. It is not perfect. But it is progress.  And the Final Judgment, instituting the 2025 Revised Bylaws has been signed by the Judge,

Key Changes to Pacifica’s Governance

Here’s what will change—and when:

A Smaller, Stronger National Board

  • The Pacifica National Board will shrink from 22 to 15 members, making it more nimble and focused.
  • Starting in 2026, Pacifica members will directly elect:
    • One listener representative per station area
    • Two national staff representatives
    • Four national officers elected by all members
    • Two At-Large directors appointed by the Board
    • Two Affiliate representatives

More Meaningful, Less Frequent Elections

  • National elections will now occur every three years, instead of the exhausting near-constant cycle we’ve known—saving time, money, and focus.

Refocused Local Station Boards (LSBs)

  • LSBs will shift away from internal governance toward community building, fundraising, and local outreach.
  • Vacant LSB seats will now be filled by the LSB itself, not automatically by prior election runners-up.

The above LSB changes have now gone into effect.  Current LSB members will serve until 2027, when smaller LSBs will be elected.

Most changes will begin rolling out with the 2026 election cycle, becoming fully operational by 2027.

Beyond Bylaws: What This Really Means

Let’s be honest: Pacifica has been through a difficult period. Governance gridlock. Financial strain. Declining listenership. And yet—through it all—something essential has endured.

What this settlement affirms is not just a new legal structure. It affirms the possibility of cooperation, and the necessity of reform. It acknowledges that Pacifica, like the country it serves, must keep evolving—without losing its soul.

This network was born in an era of deep cultural change. It gave voice to movements for peace, civil rights, workers’ justice, and democratic renewal. It is no less needed now than it was then.

Looking Ahead

In moments like this, we are reminded of something we’ve seen over and over in public life: that democracy doesn’t depend on perfect people—it depends on people willing to work together, despite their imperfections.

The reforms now underway are only the beginning. The real work will be in how we live out these changes—with integrity, with transparency, and always in service of the public interest.

Pacifica has never belonged to a single person, ideology, or board. It belongs to you—the listener, the staffer, the community volunteer, the donor who believes that truth still matters, and that media can be a public good.

Let’s honor that trust by rebuilding with care, listening generously, and remembering why we came together in the first place.

With gratitude and hope,
The New Day Team
On behalf of those working toward Pacifica’s renewal

Commentary

Fact vs. Fabrication – The Truth Behind the Pacifica Governance Settlement

Since New Day Pacifica was formed—its mission being nothing more complicated than reorganizing to stabilize Pacifica’s governance and finances—you’d think the world would’ve breathed a collective sigh of relief. Instead, a whole heap of myths, misinformation, and “alternate facts” from certain quarters began swirling around, all designed to confuse and mislead people about what New Day is up to and what its actually trying to accomplish.

It’s almost impressive, really, how this mess of disinformation has only intensified since the settlement was reached and the court order was signed. One would think that, with the legal dust settling and a clear path forward, folks might finally calm down and, oh, follow the new bylaws as intended. But no—here we are, with fresh fabrications floating around faster than you can say “fake news.”

Now, we’ve got people declaring, with great confidence and even greater lack of evidence, that the settlement and judgment aren’t final, so—get this—no one has to follow them. And, of course, there’s the usual pile of other whoppers to go along with it.

Well, folks, it’s time to put the rumors to bed. We’re serving up a big ol’ plate of Fact vs. Fabrication, because someone has to set the record straight. So buckle up. It’s time to call out the nonsense.

Fabrication: The settlement is illegal because a vote of the Pacifica National Board (PNB) can’t make the kind of bylaw changes in the settlement agreement—those kinds of changes need to be voted on by the membership after a proper notice period.
Fact: Well, here’s a newsflash, folks: the changes were already voted on by the membership in 2021. That’s right, 2021. After a long and heated referendum (which, let’s be honest, was more like a marathon than a sprint), 55% of Pacifica members voted for these changes. The PNB didn’t magically invent new bylaws out of thin air—no, they just finally recognized what the membership had already decided. After four years of litigation, mind you, but better late than never.

Fabrication: The judge dismissed the case years ago? New Day and the PNB just dredged up an old case that had already been thrown out.
Fact: Oh, if only it were that simple. The judge didn’t dismiss the case—he ruled that both the listeners and staff had to vote separately on the bylaws changes, because, and here’s the kicker, the staff class would have been at an advantage under the New Day bylaws. The case continued, and here we are. If the case had been dismissed, the court wouldn’t have kept holding hearings, would it?

Fabrication: There was nothing left for the judge to decide after his ruling in April 2023.
Fact: Ha! Really? The big issue left was whether the 131 “no” votes from WBAI staff were legitimate. Were they really qualified to vote? According to the bylaws, they had to work 30 hours in the three months prior to the record date (you know, right when the pandemic was raging and no one knew whether to wash their groceries or just eat them straight off the counter). Well, turns out there’s no evidence those WBAI staff members worked the required hours. So, guess what? Those votes don’t count. Now, without those invalid votes, the majority of the staff nationwide voted YES, which means the membership passed the New Day bylaws in 2021. Period. End of story.

Fabrication: The WBAI staff votes are legitimate because they were on the staff list sent to the NES.
Fact: Oh, bless their hearts. Being on a staff list doesn’t automatically qualify you to vote. It’s like saying that just because someone who donated 5 bucks is on a donor list, they automatically qualify to vote as a member. You can’t call yourself a member just because you’re listed—you’ve got to meet the $25 actual qualifications. The same goes for staff. And those Bylaw qualifications were not met. Turns out that keeping track of time to assure that “staff” actually put in any, let alone 30 hours so they qualified to vote was definitely not on the WBAI agenda. WBAI didn’t even pretend to keep track of time. Sorry, not sorry.

Fabrication: New Day “lost” the 2021 referendum?
Fact: Oh, I love a good myth, don’t you? Here’s the real story: the listener members voted overwhelmingly YES (6,640 to 5,216, that’s 56% to 45%, for you math majors). There was also majority support among staff at 3 out of 5 stations. But, and it’s a big but, the unsubstantiated and invalid votes from WBAI were counted anyway. Now, take away those votes, and guess what? The majority of staff nationwide voted YES—in 2021. So, this settlement is really just fixing a bad call. No “loss” here, just some overdue justice.

Fabrication: The PNB is jumping the gun by implementing reforms.
Fact: Nope. The PNB is following the court order. The settlement is legally binding, and there’s no injunction or stay in place stopping the reforms. A routine court date was set in July to make sure that the Settlement and Judgment were signed and recorded – that things were wrapped up, so if they weren’t, the case wouldn’t fall into the cracks. But trust me, no one’s been rushing this process. It’s been four years. In case you missed it, that’s a lot of waiting.

Fabrication: We’re losing democracy here.
Fact: Now, this one’s rich. In fact, these reforms will increase democracy. Remember when labor unions like the UAW and the Steelworkers started allowing members to directly vote for national officers instead of using delegates? That’s what we’re doing here. Direct elections for board reps, staff reps, national officers. Members are now directly involved in the decision-making process. The new bylaws make the National Board smaller, more focused, and easier to hold accountable. It’s a win for everyone except the folks who like to play political games and slow down progress.

Why The New Day Bylaws at All?

Because, quite frankly, Pacifica was on the verge of collapse. Years of mismanagement, infighting, and outdated governance had nearly destroyed the programming, trust, and financial stability that once made Pacifica a vital force for independent media. Reform was already demanded by the membership in 2021, and it was long, long overdue.

Pacifica doesn’t need more finger-pointing or endless legal battles. It needs a fresh start, and this settlement is the first step toward that. These bylaws will help turn things around, putting Pacifica back on track to do what it does best: serve the public with bold, unflinching journalism.

Commentary, News/Updates

August 2024 Update

Ballots Were Sent Out – It’s Time to Vote!

Vote Online image

Scroll down for information on why it’s so important to vote, how to get a ballot, and recent Pacifica news and updates.

Our recommendations for candidates at KPFA, KPFK, and KPFT:

Why Vote?

This election is critical to protect our station’s bank accounts, buildings, staff, and programming. We need to elect effective people to our Local Station Boards (LSB’s) to put effective Directors on the Pacifica National Board, who can address Pacifica’s severe financial and governance crises.

We also need LSB members who will keep management who understands that quality, well-produced programming is key to attracting listeners and donors. Please VOTE for candidates endorsed by New Day Pacifica and the groups with whom we work for effective governance, as listed below.

Ballots

Online voting credentials were sent to all members on Aug. 15 to the email address and by text to the mobile number in your station’s records, from the Pacifica elections system, and will be sent again each week until the close of elections at the end of September. So please watch for that and fill out your ballot online when you get that email and/or text. You may search your emails received on Aug. 15 (or any Monday after that) for one from “Pacifica Foundation Inc” from the email address “invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com”, with subject line “Reminder: Pacifica Foundation Inc – 2024 Local Station Elections”.

If you did not get online voting information, check your spam, junk, and trash folders, and if it’s not there, then watch for something via USPS mail, in case your station does not have your email address. If you still did not get voting information by Aug. 22, fill out this official Pacifica Elections ballot request form to request a replacement ballot via the Pacifica elections system, and be sure to read and follow the directions carefully.

Listener members may vote for only Listener candidates. Staff members may vote for only staff candidates. Only candidates for whom you are eligible to vote are on your ballot.

Please support New Day Pacifica

Your support is essential for moving forward. People across the network are now grappling with Pacifica’s dauntingly high debt, defaulted loans, and loss of basic operational resources. To help NDP fund mailings to Pacifica members, and other expenses to help Pacifica, please DONATE

DONATE to New Day Pacifica

THANKS again from New Day Pacifica to you and the many members and allies across the country helping to insure Pacifica’s survival and self-sustainability for each of the five stations at this crucial time.

KPFK BUILDING BACK ON THE MARKET
NEW BUYERS ON THE HORIZON


We want to share some other important news with you. The escrow for the long-pending sale of the KPFK building fell apart this week when one of the principal buyers suffered a massive heart attack. There have been a couple of new offers on the building already, so it’s likely there will be a sale soon.

Meanwhile, most KPFK operations have been relocated to KPFK’s new home in Glendale. The membership department remains at Cahuenga until the end of the current fund drive.

PACIFICA RECEIVES $20 MILLION GRANT
DIGITIZATION OF ARCHIVES UNDER WAY

A long-awaited dream is finally being realized: Pacifica has received a $20 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to digitize our precious archives! Pacifica will retain its present intellectual property rights to the audio files.
The digitization of 20,000 tapes a year is beginning to take place. More details later.

Meanwhile, New Day Pacifica is continuing to strive to:

  1. Recommend and endorse candidates we feel will carry out the Pacifica mission and address the full reality of Pacifica’s severe cash insolvency with effective utilization of current limited resources.
  2. Promote fair, representational governance with bylaws that protect the assets of stations that are paying their bills and help all stations to be self-sustaining.
  3. Strengthen collaboration with Pacifica’s over 200 affiliate stations across the country.
  4. Embrace new media platforms reaching out to youth and diverse, multiracial communities.
  5. Conduct productive, respectful meetings across Pacifica that focus on responsible governance.
  6. The lawsuit filed by Pacifica vs. New Day Pacifica is still pending, if you can believe it. There were the beginnings of a settlement discussion but the Pacifica National Board did not seem interested in pursuing it, so stay tuned…

THANKS again from New Day Pacifica to you and the many members and allies across the country helping to insure Pacifica’s survival and self-sustainability for each of the five stations at this crucial time.

Commentary, News/Updates

June 2024 Update – Time again for Pacifica Elections

It’s time for Pacifica elections again – to choose Delegates/Local Station Board (LSB) members for your station.

But first, we need to get people to become members of their nearest Pacifica Radio Station: – that could be YOU!

Click on the link below for your station, and donate at least $25 (or at least $50 for a couple) BEFORE June 30 to make sure you are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections. If you are sure you have donated that much since July 1 of last year, then you are covered, but it never hurts to be sure, and your station could certainly use the donation!

KPFA – San Francisco Bay Area

https://kpfa.org/

KPFK – Los Angeles

https://www.kpfk.org/

KPFT – Houston

https://kpft.org

WPFW – Washington, DC

https://wpfwfm.org/radio/

WBAI – New York City area

https://wbai.org

Second – we need members who want to help their station and Pacifica to be candidates:

Here’s the link for members of any of the five Pacifica radio stations to become candidate for the station board: https://elections.pacifica.org/wordpress/candidate-nomination-package/

Commentary, News/Updates

Feb 2024 Update – New Solutions from Pacifica’s New National Board

VICTORY & HOPE

Thanks to all the Pacifica members who voted with us in Pacifica’s 2023 Local Board Elections. Thanks to you we and our allies won a majority of LSB seats at three stations, plus additional seats at other stations, which gets us much closer to bringing about real change! Your support is essential for moving forward. People across the network are now grappling with Pacifica’s dauntingly high debt, defaulted loans, and loss of basic operational resources.

To meet this escalating challenge, in January 2024, Pacifica’s Local Station boards elected 20 new Pacifica National Board (PNB) Directors. Two Affiliate Directors were also elected to represent the over 200 affiliate stations that utilize Pacifica programming and share their programming with both Pacifica and other affiliate stations. The introductory speeches of the new Directors indicated that they have a wide range of experience with activism, nonprofit management, and broadcasting, and that the majority of Directors seek to provide Pacifica management the necessary support to address the current financial crisis by making all stations financially self-sustaining with program changes based on listener support in alignment with Pacifica’s mission.

This can include the need to:

  1. Address the full reality of Pacifica’s severe cash insolvency with effective utilization of current limited resources.
  2. Promote fair, representational governance with bylaws that protect the assets of stations that are paying their bills and help all stations to be self-sustaining.
  3. Strengthen collaboration with Pacifica’s over 200 affiliate stations across the country.
  4. Embrace new media platforms reaching out to youth and diverse, multiracial communities.
  5. Conduct productive, respectful meetings across Pacifica that focus on responsible governance.

CHANGES TO FIGHT FOR

At the January 25, 2024 seating of new Directors on the Pacifica National Board, Pacifica Executive Director Stephanie Wells stressed the importance of improving programming as a key to financial sustainability.

Susan Young, the newly elected Chair of the Pacifica National Board, will bring her valuable nonprofit experience to the PNB. As a former Texas ACLU board member, she helped lead efforts to turn that organization around from barely making payroll to having a staff of 60. In her PNB candidate speech she shared her deep concerns about the state of the world: “… the carnage in Gaza, the fact that the US is funding the endless aggression of a war criminal, the assault on women’s and LGBTQ rights, the immigration/criminal justice industrial complex that powers the New Jim Crow, the assault on voting rights and the rise of blatant fascism in the US with Texas as one of its testing grounds.”

Susan and other Pacifica National Board Members from Texas understand, in a concrete way, the threat of right-wing violence and the apologists who promote it. KPFT was bombed twice by the KKK and it is the only Pacifica station in a red state. KPFT has demonstrated how to put a station in deficit back into the black amidst strong opposition.

HARD DECISIONS

Many Pacifica new board members have set goals to bring Pacifica’s finances back into the black. Their plan is to empower Pacifica’s skilled ED and staff to help make all Pacifica stations financially self-sustaining in alignment with the Pacifica mission.

We know that there will be difficult decisions in the coming months. Your caring and support are the key to our future success. We appreciate the thousands of votes that have laid the foundation for viable solutions for the network.

Please tell your friends, family and colleagues about your favorite programs on the station that you love, so that we can continue to expand our membership and future voting base. Please be sure to keep your membership current, as another Delegates/LSB member election is this year.

We are planning to send out a survey (simple and quick to fill out) so that you can let us know what your favorite shows are (and were), what kinds of programs/topics you would like to hear, and what programs you can do without. So please start thinking about this and watch for an email announcing the survey.

THANKS again from New Day Pacifica to you and the many members and allies across the country helping to insure Pacifica’s survival and self-sustainability for each of the five stations at this crucial time!

See the Sep. 2023 update on MYTHS vs FACTS about New Day Pacifica.

Commentary, News/Updates

Myths vs Facts – 2023 Update

by Jan Goodman for New Day Pacifica

Jan Goodman and Bernie Sanders photo
Jan Goodman and Bernie Sanders

In this message, I want to address the myths and falsehoods that have been circulated about me and New Day Pacifica. I’ll provide detailed explanations, including references to the New Day Bylaws, to dispel the misinformation that has been perpetuated.

Myth: New Day and its supporters are Pro-War, Corporate Democrats.

Fact: All New Day-endorsed candidates for the KPFK LSB, were/are Bernie Sanders supporters. If supporting Bernie and his platform makes us pro-war, corporate Democrats, then so be it.

Myth: New Day and its endorsed candidates attempted to shut down WBAI in 2019 and still want to shut down WBAI and/or WPFW.

Fact: In 2018, WBAI and Pacifica were slapped with a judgment by the Empire State Building related to WBAI’s non-payment of transmitter rent. I, Jan Goodman, fought against Bankruptcy and helped create a bridge loan to save WBAI and Pacifica. At that time, I (& others) put our own retirement money up to save WBAI & Pacifica. If anyone wanted to shut down WBAI, that would have been the moment, but we fought for network solidarity. In 2019 New Day wasn’t even in existence. New Day Pacifica was formed in 2020, when/because the related $3 Million loan was coming due and there was no plan on how to pay it back.

Myth: The New Day Bylaws are undemocratic with un-elected top-down leadership.

Fact: Under the New Day Bylaws, Pacifica members, for the first time, will democratically elect their Station’s National Board Member, directly, and every member, democratically and directly, will vote for and elect the National Officers. As opposed to the present, electoral college type system in which members only get to vote for Local Board Members, and then the Local Board Members vote for the National Board Members, and then the National Board members vote for the Officers.

This change aligns with the trend in progressive organizations and unions to move towards direct elections of leaders. (1)

Myth: LSBs are eliminated under the New Day Bylaws.

Fact: Local Station Boards continue to play a vital role under the New Day Bylaws. Reinvigorated Local Station Boards will actively support their stations with fundraising, community feedback on the station’s programming, and help doubling the station’s membership. They will no longer elect the PNB because listeners will do that directly. This allows LSBs to qualify as “Community Advisory Councils.” Plus, helping Pacifica obtain grants. The New Day Pacifica Bylaws have an entire section (Article 6) dedicated to Local Station Boards – see the New Day Bylaws.

Myth: Non-Profit Community Radio means non-professional sounding radio.

Fact: Pacifica has a history of professional, high-quality radio. Program quality has declined, but New Day aims to restore Pacifica’s quality, content and professionalism.

Myth: New Day has tried to destroy Pacifica by lawsuits.

Fact: It was Pacifica which initiated litigation against New Day Pacifica to block the implementation of the New Day Bylaws, which 55% of Pacifica members voted in favor of.

Our beloved Pacifica is facing serious challenges, including financial instability and declining program quality. It’s time for a change to save our network from further decline. Please support New Day-endorsed candidates in the Delegate/LSB elections and cast your ballots before the voting deadline (see newdaypacifica.org).

Myth: Under New Day, four officers would be running Pacifica without a board and would probably shut down WBAI.

Fact: The four officers would never serve alone. The first board meeting, would take place within 2 weeks of the New Day Bylaws being implemented and in attendance would be both 5 elected Directors from each station and the four officers. (See New Day Bylaws Proviso 2B P. 54 and Proviso 3 p. 58)

FOR A DEEPER DIVE, READ ON

[1] Guide to New Day Bylaws: Under the New Day Bylaws, the listener members at each station directly elect their Directors to the Pacifica National Board (PNB) – See NDP Bylaws, Art. 4 Sec. 3D, and nationally, the staff elects two Directors directly to the National board Art. 4, Sec. 3C.

In addition, all members directly elect the National Leadership (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) – Art. 4 Sec. 3B. But under the present bylaws, the election of the National Board Members is “2 generations” removed from the members, and the election National Officers is “3 generations” removed from the members.

It should be noted that there is a trend among progressive organizations labor unions (e.g. UAW & Steel Workers) to go from the “delegate” model to the Direct Election vs. Delegate Model, with the thinking that the directly elected Directors and officers will be more responsive to the membership who elects them. In fact, the election of the current very independent and reform oriented President and leader of the current UAW strike is credited to the fact that he was the first directly elected President of UAW, as opposed to previously elected Presidents, who were elected by delegates—typically entrenched “leadership”.

The New Day Bylaws in which the President, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer follows this democratic/direct election trend. Representatives of the Affiliates also directly elect their own Director to the PNB, Art .4 Sec. 3E. All 12 of these Directors then elect 3 “At Large” Directors, Art. 4 Sec 15, to bring in expertise and other perspectives the Directors feel are missing (For example – labor, community organizing, social media, fundraising expertise, racial or gender balance or etc.) creating a Pacifica National Board of 15 members. NDP Bylaws, Art. 4, Sec. 3. Pacifica members voted for officers during the same election that the New Day Bylaws were voted upon.

Fact: Under the present regime, there are 120 people involved in elected governance – a number which our own auditors (and common sense) state is too large and too dysfunctional. This 120 people, each of 5 Local Station Boards (LSB) consists of 24 members. Listener members at each station elect 18 LSB Member/delegates, and Staff Elects 6 Staff LSB members. (Note: Virtually no one knows even 9 candidates running for the LSB at any one time. Voters report that they feel lucky if they know someone who knows someone who can make recommendations about who to vote for in LSB elections).

Those 24 LSB member/delegates from each station elect, from among themselves, 3 Listener Directors and 1 Staff Director from each station to the Pacifica National Board (PNB) (Note: It might be noted that since Listeners comprise 75% of each LSB, the Staff Directors are essentially elected to the Pacifica National Board (PNB) by the 75% Listener/Delegates, not by the staff, thus making the PNB even more non-democratic.

To recap: The LSBs at 5 stations each elect 4 Directors. For a total of 20 PNB members.

These 20 PNB members elect 2 Affiliate representatives.

These 22 PNB Directors then elect the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secy & Treasurer of the National Board.

To Recap: Members elect the 120 LSB members, who elect the 22 PNB members who elect the 4 Officers. Thus the leadership of Pacifica is currently “3 generations” away from the members – as opposed to the New Day proposal whereby the members directly elect the leadership. QUERY: WHICH IS MORE DEMOCRATIC?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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Uncategorized

Support Candidates for Your LSB Who Will Strengthen Your Station and Pacifica

The 2023 Pacifica elections – for Delegates/Local Station Board (LSB) members – are underway. Ballots were sent out to all current members on August 15 with weekly email reminders each Tuesday.

DEADLINE: Your vote must be cast before 9pm Pacific Time/ 11 pm Central Time/ 12 midnight Eastern Time, Saturday, September 30.

Why Vote?

Pacifica and its stations are under grave economic stress due to:

  • decreasing listenership and donations at some stations due to poor quality programming
  • unwillingness by some to make necessary changes so we can pay off debt and pay regular ongoing expenses
  • increasing debt for Pacifica and an inability of the Pacifica National Board (who are chosen by people on our Local Station Boards or LSBs) to agree on any repayment plan other than by selling our stations’ buildings and possibly other assets

More of why it’s so important to get good people on our LSBs and the Pacifica National Board (PNB, whose members are chosen by those we elect to our LSBs):

  • Pacifica has over $2 million in unpaid bills.
  • In addition, Pacifica failed to make payments on a $2,080,000 government loan now referred to the US Treasury Dept for collections, and the original $3.2 Million loan from 5 years ago (that was supposed to have been paid off by now) that uses all of Pacifica’s buildings as collateral. . 
  • We need board members who will push for more responsible actions on the Pacifica national level, to help save our stations.

The programming we love – independent public affairs, news, and music – could all be gone without people on our boards who insist that we need to keep and add top-notch programming and retain professional management so the Pacifica mission can survive!

See an update on MYTHS vs FACTS about New Day Pacifica.

New Day Pacifica Voting Recommendations

Our voting suggestions for Delegates/LSB candidates who will help strengthen our stations, increase listeners and support, and help fulfill the Pacifica misison:

If you are a KPFA member, we suggest you follow the recommendations of KPFA Protectors

If you are a KPFK member, see our KPFK endorsements.

If you are a KPFT member, we suggest you follow the recommendations of Move KPFT Forward.

BALLOTS:

  • Ballots were sent out from Pacifica Foundation <invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com>, on Aug. 15, by email if your station has your email address. You may get reminder emails each Tuesday if you have not voted, from that same email address or from nes@pacifica.org.
  • E-Voting information was also distributed on Aug. 15 by text message if your station has your current mobile number.
  • Or if your station has neither your email address nor mobile number, you may have received a hard copy ballot in the mail.
  • Look for each of those and check your spam folder if you can’t find them. Each has your unique link for voting online in your LSB election.

NO BALLOT ?

If you don’t get your ballot as noted above, then:

  • Fill out the official Pacifica ballot request form here
    If you don’t have a gmail address, you may skip the part where the ballot request form asks which gmail account to use.
  • Also let us know by emailing info@newdaypacifica.org
    Please indicate if you are a listener or staff member, and which is your station.

So Pacifica can survive for future generations