More CL/SK (for themselves) will be forced to seek another body of work to siphon life from. More hypocrites exposed and then forced out as fresh leadership and new blood w/actual consciousness moves in.

ICR and Voices of Justice bring gifts of new leadership. Leaders like Anthony Fest, Richard Phelps, Steve English, Tracey Rosenberg, J. R. and many, many others who see Lewis Hills' vision, the miracle of a poet/ pacifist martyr, support the KPFA Vision by donating time, money and considerable brain power. They live the courage of their convictions and with their support , slowly we move the KPFA CL/Save KPFA (for themselves) party out and move KPFA for the community forward…

Time reveals true motives. Meanwhile, KPFA-the listener supported community oriented station of empowerment for the poor and the radical, liberal progressive agenda, FINDS ITS VOICE ONCE AGAIN.

Maggie Kaigler-Armstead

Aimee is a snob really, she has a particular agenda she covers and ignores anything outside of that no matter what her listeners want of her and her show. The people you read here that defend her share this mindset of me, me me – you see their clique a mile away. When they attack someone that attacks their clique, they take your rejection of their clique personally and attack personally to that. What a clique mindset.

Aimee is quite exemplary of Standford where she comes from education wise centrist with a progressive exterior, well to do, and right wing if you go beneath the surface. Aimee and KPFA in general represents the dead weight of the political left, all talk no action, wanting to pose for certain things and then just slide on the delivery. Like the people who wrote here to support her, when these egotists get out of the way then a real people’s radio station can take it’s place. As usual though, these self-absorbed people are focused on their agenda and won’t get out of the way to let that happen. If you really need evidence of how narcissistic KPFA is listen to their pledge pitches when they Fund Drive, they practically tell you how worthy they are of your money then expect you to pick up the phone to hand it over on their beck and call – it’s enough to turn off even a casual listener. I hate when people call in and donate, because it feeds in to that narcissism. I can’t wait for the day that no one calls in repeatedly after their arrogant sounding declarations of how worthy they are of people supporting them, and the sound in their voice when finally confronted with “Oh maybe we aren’t as great and needed as we think we are.”

The one thing that is the real deal breaker is how they are mostly supported by other people’s donations, probably a lot of struggling working class people, and how they run as a snobby insider club of hippie types or ivory tower academics that feel it’s their own tree house to do with as they please.

Saying KPFA has no shows for the Black community is ludicrous, and extremely disrespectful to the crucial “Hard Knocks Radio” show, which is to me and many friends essential listening, and revolutionary.

Hurling stupid phrases like “apartheid radio” will rightfully earn a commentator the much smaller audience he deserves.

Her statement that KPFA is “pushing a racist agenda” is frankly ludicrous.

by Maggie Kaigler

Lemlem Rijio, General Manager-KPFA, is comfortable with Aimee Allison-Morning Show Host, with former Interim Program Director Sasha Lilley, and with News Co- Editor Aileen Alfandary. After all they have certain things in common: a general lack of broadcast management and professional broadcasting experience. Other than KPFA, none have been on the air in any broadcast market anywhere, nor have they any previous experience in the effective administration of any professional organization or business group other than KPFA.

Lemlem like the others, relies heavily on KPFA ‘promotion from within’ policies. Pacifica and KPFA recognize the value of its staff and loyal staff deserve promotion. However, the present management group is not by any definition, loyal, not to KPFA. They take advantage of KPFA policy to hire friends (Like the lawyer in Human Resources who can only be so effective, after all how can he correct the college chum and general manager who referred and hired him?). This management group does not hire or promote based on merit, rather they use their power to insure their own position and reinforce their personal goals of self promotion. Void of ethics and lacking genuine authority, they are loyal to those who serve their god of self interest. They eliminate a real Program Council that would assist future staff in developing and maintaining a strong forum for discussion and new solutions. Never mind the legacy of a true democratic experience in America, community radio. They lack the moral fiber, creative talent, wisdom, leadership skills and the depth it takes to run a multi million dollar broadcasting enterprise, particularly KPFA, an experiment of morality in community interaction, which comes with a code of ethics and empowerment meant to bring relief to the poor, the suffering and the disenfranchised masses, not to punish and look down on them. This management group is an insult to KPFA and its’ mission statement. The good thing however, about broadcasting is that radio, like the camera, eventually will reveal what you really think and who you really are. This confused, complacent little clique of self important insiders and phony, petty, small minded managers reveal just how much of a miracle Lewis Hills’ genius is. Not was. Aileen’s much touted 30 years at KPFA is one years’ experience repeated 30 times over, she has shown herself to be a no holds barred racist, confused, power hungry, insecure, unyielding and mean spirited.

KPFA unlike its self satisfied managers is not in a comfortable space. It is threatened by the ineptness of its handlers, in news and programming. These managers can not support a vision they fail to see. KPFA deserves better, as does “Music of the World”, like the “Womens’ Magazine”, both shows have felt the sting of confused management and programming decisions. It is time for a change.

Maggie
KPFA News Department Volunteer Reporter (2005-08)

Ann Garrison says: “My first reaction to this was, “Wait a minute. Aimee Allison already has a forum, two hours of prime drive time every day.” With so many voices clamoring to be heard on community radio, how is this justifiable?”
However, it just occurred to me that since this show seems to be scheduled for a slot that used to belong to Music of the World, it means at least that the station is making room for more public affairs programming where there’s been too much music for way too long.” In other words, it’s OK for Aimee Allison to be over-represented on KPFA if she is managing to rip off some schedule time from Music of the World.

Garrison continues: “I listened to Music of the World for years, but the college stations do as well or better than KPFA at music.” Sounds like she spent more time listening to music on KPFA, KALX, KUSF, whatever, than she did public affairs. Why did she waste that much time with Music of the World (for years) if it wasn’t that good.

More Garrison: “…and, for all its endless problems, KPFA still does public affairs best.” Wow, I don’t remember any endless problems with music programming but public affairs, now that subject flashes me back to the days of Save KPFA and Take Back KPFA.

Between 6am and 8pm weekdays (a 14 hour stretch), the only music programming was Music of the World. It was inspirational and a welcome relief from all the polemics it was surrounded by. Peace and understanding through the most effective common human language. One discovers so much about so many other cultures, many of whom have ethnic enclaves in Oakland even!

Life is much more than politics and politics is much more than talk. As Fela said: “Music is the weapon.”

I recently rejoined KPFA thinking that things might be getting more coherent, but primarily because of Music of the World. Had I known that this travesty was going to take place, I would not have bothered. Is it too late to get my money back?

Aimee has helped lead the Bay Area movement to eject military recruiters from our public schools and is by no stretch of the imagination some token lightweight.

JR, you will be more effective in changing KPFA by directing your ire at the correct target; the KPFA administration itself.

However, it just occurred to me that since this show seems to be scheduled for a slot that used to belong to Music of the World, it means at least that the station is making room for more public affairs programming where there’s been too much music for way too long.

I listened to Music of the World for years, but the college stations do as well or better than KPFA at music, and, for all its endless problems, KPFA still does public affairs best.

Ten hours should be freed up by the Music of the World slot, so I hope we’ll hear more public affairs, hopefully including a Black American public affairs program.

Re local programming, great idea, but, only if it’s always connecting the dots between local and global as well.