WBAI’s Radio restores local programming
Almost one month to the
day, and almost as unexpectedly
as local New York broadcast
programming ended on Oct.
7 listener supported WBAI-FM
reclaimed control of the 99.5
frequency that was hijacked by
an alleged “rogue” group representing
Pacifica Network with
unfamiliar features originating
from the west coast presented
to listeners as “Pacifica Across
America.”
The return to normalcy was
enabled by Supreme Judge
Melissa Crane who ruled in
favor of the local programmers
and radio station that professes
to represent 99 percent of America,
a progressive-leaning listening
audience and alternative,
diverse programming. The decision
reversed the abrupt takeover
that silenced local producers
who regularly addressed issues
pertinent to tri-state residents.
With resumption of regular
programming, program
director, Linda Perry opened
the phone lines and attempted
to explain the ordeal staffers
endured throughout the
30-day absence. Loyal listeners
welcomed the restored format,
opined on the absence
of familiar programming and
questioned the hows and wherefores
of proceeding forward with
fund-raising efforts.
To the music of a song titled
“Back In The saddle Again”
Perry invited Berthold Reimers,
the general manager, to
talk about deficit caused by the
loss of revenue and plans to be
implemented in order to rebuild
trust with subscribers who supplement
Caribbean Life, N 12 ovember 15-21, 2019
income and operation
of the unique and revered media
outlet.
“A rogue group from Pacifica,
interim executive director (now
suspended) John Vernile, two
Pacifica national board members
from our Houston station
KPFT – Bill Crossier and Adrienne
LaViolette and Moe Thomas,
an engineer from WPFW,
our sister station in DC came
into our facility on Oct. 7 with
two security guards and two
locksmiths and shut down the
station and ordered staff out,”
Perry explained.
“The rogue group carried
out a well orchestrated coup
on day seven of our successful
October fund drive,” she added.
“They took over our 99.5 FM NY
frequency, piped in light programming
from California, took
our stream, website domain,
archives, bank accounts, mail,
files and a key piece of equipment.
They barred us from 4
Times Square where our transmitter
is housed, changed our
locks and closed down our email
addresses to try and stop us
from communicating with each
other.”
“But we fought back. WBAI
staff is resilient.”
Perry’s recount sounded
more like one of the drama
stories regularly read on Saturday
mornings during Simon
Loekle’s “As I Please” engaging,
literary broadcast rather than
the reality that unfolded at 388
Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn.
David Rothenberg. Gay City News
Callers responded with assurances
they would readily contribute
to sustain local programming.
Some admonished
the “rogue” perpetrators and
others demanded full disclosure
from the parent Pacifica Network.
The following morning “Any
Saturday” program host David
Rothenberg tunefully signed
on with his familiar anthem by
Jimmy Durante singing “You’ve
Got To Start Every Day With A
song.”
Cued at 8 am for a two-hour
presentation of potpourri of
opinionated politics, theater,
sports, television, film, prison
reform updates and music, the
cheerful interlude returned one
of the most popular programs
and one that has aired for three
and a half decades at the middle
of the radio dial.
As usual he chose a telling
song to score the broadcast. The
appropriate selection from his
playlist featured a Dinah Washington
classic entitled “What A
Difference A Day Makes.
”Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce