Oakland Tribune June 19, 1997
KPFA's Pacifica under attack
by William Brand
Staff Writer
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BERKELEY-An advisory panel of Bay Area residents named by Berkeley listener-sponsored radio station KPFA has joined a revolt against the Pacifica Foundation, the station's national management.

The advisory board-all volunteers appointed by the station-has sent a strongly worded letter to Pacifica, accusing the nonprofit group of ignoring the advisory board and deliberately misinterpreting federal communications law regulating non-commercial broadcasters.

The advisory board said it attempts to gather public opinion about station programming and future plans, but Pacifica doesn't think it has to listen despite clear statements in federal law about the role of advisory panels.

Panel chairman Hank Levy, an Oakland accountant, said the board doesn't agree with much of the criticism leveled by Take Back KPFA, a dissident listener group formed two years ago after station management made sweeping changes and dismissed many longtime programmers.

"We support the changes that have been made in recent years-moves toward better quality sound, more predictable programming that is accessible to more people," Levy said. "But speaking personally, I think Pacifica needs to clean up its act and begin listening to us."

Pacifica general manager Pat Scott was not reached for comment. But Pacifica spokesman Bert Glass said the letter was not unusual.

"This goes on all the time. It's part of an ongoing dialogue. They have some legitimate concerns. There is some confusion about the role of local boards. Our chairman Jack O'Dell is preparing a reply."

However, Levy said the letter was sent by unanimous board vote. He said it was an important decision on the part of the advisory panel.

Jeff Blankforth [sic] of Take Back KPFA called the advisory panel letter a declaration of independence. He said advisory panels at the other Pacifica stations-WBAI, NY, WPFW, Washington, DC, KPFT, Houston and KPFK, Los Angeles-are also upset.

"Unfortunately, there's a lack of caring on the part of the national board," Blankforth said. "They have a certain goal in mind and damn the law."

After the Corporation for Public Broadcasting audited Pacifica, following a Take Back KPFA complaint about closed meetings, much of the Pacifica board meeting in Oakland last weekend was open to the public.

But Blankforth noted the board cut off poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who charged that Pacifica is becoming increasingly corporate and has cut off intellectual programming after 7 p.m.

In its letter, panel vice-chairwoman Margot Dashiell of Berkeley said the group has found some public commentary unfair. "Nevertheless, sincere, dedicated listeners have continued to raise important themes," she said. "A thriving station has to find a channel for picking up these issues and responding to them."

[Note: It was Blankfort who was cut off, not Ferlinghetti, who chose to finish the statement from WBAI's Save Our Station which Blankfort was reading, in addition to his own remarks which were posted yesterday.

[Also KPFT's board has not been contacted, but its reps reported that the KPFT Board suported the controversial by-law changes reported yesterday which will disempower the local boards. It is no coincidence that KPFT has no local news show despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that its General Manager, Garland Gantner, is the station's former news director. Jeff B.]