Breaking developments at Pacifica

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

October 24, 2001
Pacifica Campaign Release

PACIFICA CHAIR FARRELL OUSTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WASH
KPFA SHUT DOWN DUE TO BOMB SCARE

Summary of the firing based on http://savepacifica.net report, then a
summary of KPFA news report on the firing of Bessie Wash submitted by Steve
Freedkin of the Progressive Portal web site. A short description of the
bomb scare ends this release.


NEW PACIFICA BOARD CHAIR FIRES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
AGREES TO COURT-SUPERVISED MEDIATION

Pacifica's board chair, former Los Angeles city councilman Robert Farrell,
tonight (Oct. 24) announced he has fired Executive Director Bessie Wash.

Wash, formerly station manager of Pacifica station WPFW, was named
executive director by a board then controlled by former chair Mary Frances
Berry. Wash has presided over a total deterioration of the network and its
finances, including the banning of Pacifica's only remaining nationwide
program, "Democracy Now," the "mainstreaming" of the once alternative daily
Pacifica Network News, now the target of a boycott and a strike, the
"Christmas Coup" at WBAI in New York, which resulted in dozens of staff
members being fired and banned, and the expenditure of an estimated two
million dollars on legal fees, public relations firms, and security services.

Farrell and the Pacifica Board majority have also agreed to a two and a
half year old demand from KPFA's staff and community for mediation of the
dispute which began in April, 1999 with the firings of popular KPFA station
manager Nicole Sawaya and long-time Pacifica national affairs correspondent
Larry Bensky.

The mediation, sparked by four pending lawsuits on behalf of listeners,
national, and local advisory board members, is scheduled to take place
November 1 in San Francisco.

A report published in today's San Francisco Chronicle says that Farrell,
fellow board member Wendell Johns, and newly appointed board member former
D.C. mayor Marion Barry will represent Pacifica.


KPFA Evening News, Wed., Oct. 24, 2001

Pacifica "dissident" board member Pete Bramson (KPFA, Berkeley) said on
KPFA this evening (approx. 7:25 p.m. PT) that Pacifica National Board Chair
Bob Farrell phoned him this evening to say that he (Farrell) has told
Bessie Wash to leave her post effective tomorrow morning.

According to Bramson, Farrell said Wash expressed some concerns about the
action, and indicated she may take legal action against Farrell or Pacifica.

When asked, Bramson said there has been no Board vote regarding Wash's
tenure, and that he does not know whether there would be enough votes to
oust Wash were it brought to a vote of the Board.

Bramson said he was surprised by the call from Farrell. While he and
Farrell had had previous conversations about Wash's performance, Bramson
was not aware Farrell was about to oust Wash.

Asked what impact the announced ouster of Wash might have on Pacifica,
Bramson said it was not yet clear. "Change comes slowly to Pacifica, as you
know," he said.

Farrell's reasons for firing Wash were not explained.


KPFA Evacuated After Bomb Threat

October 24, 2001: The KPFA studios were evacuated due to a bomb threat at
about 5:45 pm today. After police checked the building, the staff was back
on the air at 6:30 pm.


***********************
The Pacifica Campaign is a grass-roots organization representing listeners
and staff alike, fighting to preserve Pacifica's 50-year tradition of
progressive, community-based radio. For more info go to:
http://www.pacificacampaign.org

Pacifica Campaign
51 MacDougal St., #80
New York, NY 10012
(646) 230-9588


Louis Proyect
Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org


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