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| Our Recommended Listener Candidates (eighteen in all): Elliot Crown, M. Kay Williams, Gloria Guillo, Dr. Charles Ihejirika, Jeremy Kuzmarov, Adrienne Meisels, Mark Crispin Miller, Guy Vantresca, Tessa Lena, Dion Powell, Amy Smiley, Jack DePalma, Janet Harmon, David Saltman, Camilla Rees, Neale Vos, Thomas Murata,Carolyn Birden |
Free Speech Defenders Are Running To Join Library Defenders On The WBAI Local Station Board To Keep WBAI Independent, Accountable To The Listeners, A Free Speech Bulwark Against Censorship
Great news!: Our Library Defenders already on the WBAI (99.5 fm) Radio Local Station Board (i.e. Michael D. D. White, Katherine O'Sullivan and Priscilla Cancar)
are looking out at an assembled troop of really excellent Free Speech
candidates who we recommend to join them on that board
PLEASE VOTE FOR THEM! Listener
members of WBAI, please vote for them! Please vote for them in the
WBAI Local Station Board Election- Voting is between now and 11:59 PM September 30th.
The excellent, amazingly superb candidates we recommend are as follows . . . Also, while we will skip over a full explanation, the voting is "Instant Runoff Voting" ("IRV"), which means that if you vote for these candidates in the order below recommended it will help them get elected.
The Listener Candidates We Recommend Are:
1. Elliot Crown- You likely know him already- as “the man behind the mask.” A brilliant artist who has attended political demonstrations you’ve probably attended where you maybe had your picture taken with him in one of his satirical, attention-grabbing costumes. Crown has a long history as a political artist/activist street theater protester, whose visual storytelling successfully defies censorship to command the attention of millions of people around the world, slinging messages through the media noise and interference machine to address issues of racial and economic justice, the environment, militarism, housing et al. His exceptional communication skills will be an incomparable contribution towards WBAI's voice gaining a new notoriety.
2. M. Kay Williams-
Has already proven her industrious dedication to WBAI: Although not yet
elected to the LSB (she ran in the last election), serving as LSB Secretary and Secretary to the WBAI Finance Committee and Management
Evaluation Committee. She is an experienced Physicians Assistant with a
Masters of Public Health from Columbia. She aided refugees in Thailand
and health workers in Nicaragua. Former chair of the Free Speech Radio
Alliance. 
3. Gloria Guillo-
Is a dynamic activist leader, organizer, skilled researcher and
compelling writer turning out investigative journalism pieces for Covert Action Magazine focused on the negative impact of U.S. foreign policy
on developing countries. She is a retired NYC Urban Planner and Public
Administrator, with an MPA from NYU, and a founding member of Green
Renaissance-Sovereign Rights Movement. A high-energy performer, she is a
former lead singer/guitarist/songwriter with the political rock band
Ringmaster.
4. Dr. Charles Ihejirika-
Charles Ihejirika, with a doctorate in Law and Policy from Northeastern
University in Boston, living in The Bronx, is the Lead Director of
Daccade Law and Policy Inc., New York. Born in Nigeria, he pays close attention to the deleterious effects of the United States and Britain on his country of birth, Dr. Charles envisions WBAI as the "must-go-to"
radio station for standout reporting where a majority of New York
Metropolitan Area residents in its vast broadcast area, a
potentially very large listening public, will obtain authentic information on
critical local, national, and international issues that the mainstream
media bury. 
5. Jeremy Kuzmarov- Historian, professor, book author and the managing editor of CovertAction
Magazine Jeremy has contributed prolifically to that magazine writing
critically about U.S. foreign policy and covert operations and the
corruption of US intelligence agencies. He warns that the US Left today,
like the public at large, often falls into traps adopting false
narratives advanced by intelligence agencies that are also
psychologically designed to stoke partisan divisions, quashing truly
worthwhile public discourse. He advocates the abolition of the CIA.
6. Adrienne Meisels-
A WBAI listener since childhood who benefited from the health
advice it made available, Adrienne values WBAI’s being uniquely
positioned to offer true, uncensored discourse, news and content that is
not beholden to corporate sponsors’ agendas: in other words, saying: “The only way to fight misinformation is not with censorship but with more information.”
Adrienne backs her beliefs by being politically active. Retired from
the practice of law, Adrienne, a Wharton school graduate, is an
award-winning senior digital innovation and operations executive and entrepreneur
with a proven ability to create groundbreaking, human-centric digital
solutions. She is a dynamic leader known for building inspired teams
and creating a more conscious world through personalized, predictive
computing and connected data.
7. Mark Crispin Miller-
With a global reputation, Miller is a renowned media scholar/activist
and expert on the subject of propaganda and the way it manipulates an
unwitting public. Miller until recently was a professor at NYU. He’s been a frequent guest on such Pacifica programs as the “Project Censored Show.”
He’s written scores of articles, often lectured, and spoken out in
interviews on the urgent need for a more democratic media system—a
system not in thrall to corporate ownership or major advertisers. He
spoke out against the dangers of unbridled media concentration as it
accelerated in the Nineties and is a long-term champion of public radio
and did a weekly public radio show in the 80s. Countering censorship,
he is also responsible for the 27-book Forbidden Bookshelf series republishing works that might have been unfairly consigned to oblivion.
8. Guy Vantresca-
A native New Yorker, and Natural Health Consultant Guy is a student of
history, from ancient times through to today. He was a US Army Officer
living in Europe during the Cold War. He lived in Europe for 12 years. He believes
that independent investigative journalism, or, and Pacifica, can serve
to make power structures accountable in ways that corporate owned
mass-media chose not to do. He thinks that as a voice for truth WBAI
should not be an echo chamber for “cancel culture” and
emotionally based outrage. To restore democracy and address growing
wealth inequality, corporate personhood needs to be banished and
corporatism defanged. Putting a high degree of energy behind his
commitments, he advocates free market competition co-existing with
community based systems that support the "commons"; education, housing, health, ecology of nature, etc.
9. Tessa Lena- A musician, classically trained pianist and singer, writer and journalist,
born and raised in Moscow, a Soviet expat, who knows where things can
lead, she is concerned about the totalitarian tendencies in the media.
And she is rubbing her eyes thinking that every day that America is very
quickly becoming very much like the USSR. She is standing up to the
attack on freedom, advocating Joy as better than suffering, Love as
better than fear. In 2016, Tessa started Coalition for Artistic Dignity
and organized a conference in Brooklyn dedicated to artistic dignity,
social power and corporate responsibility.
10. Dion Powell-
His Bachelor’s Degree is in Media from CCNY. Sitting on many boards and
a member of many civic organizations, voter education with
engagement is a way of life for Mr. Powell. He loves developing "good
citizens" that are active participants in their local neighborhood
politics. Born and raised in the Bronx, Dion Powel is a community leader
and was a 2020 candidate for the NYS Assembly Bronx 79th District
following his work as Community Liaison. He helped start the Bronx
Young Democrats and became the Chair of the Caucus of Color for the New
York State Young Democrats.
11. Amy Smiley- A practicing NYC psychotherapist and author
of fiction and essays about the radio as a political medium during the
Occupation in Europe (WWII), contemporary art, and literature, Amy is
also an avid reader of fiction and history and a lover of art. She is
engaged in the world from a political perspective and very interested in
social issues. She lived in Europe for many years and understands the
importance of diverse political representation. She feels her therapy
work gives her a deep understanding of challenges people are facing in
these difficult times.
12. Jack DePalma-
Is a hands on Physics teacher who literally got on his hands and knees
to help clean up WBAI after Superstorm Sandy hit. He intends to reboot
the WBAI news Department back into its glory days. With years of
experience on the Local Station Board plus unceasing volunteer work at
the station, he’d probably like to take a break, but was convinced of
the importance of our being able to ask you to vote for him.
13. Janet Harmon- Someone else you have seen prominently participating at many activist demonstrations for things you believe in, Janet is a “Raging Grannie,”
a member of the group of performers that show up to sing creatively
crafted, laughter-encouraging song lyrics to support efforts like Women
in Black, Say their Names group (reading names of folks who've been
killed by police), and opposition to library sales and our perpetual
wars.
14. Camilla Rees-
A former financial industry executive who has more recently been a
researcher, author, and producer on technology risks, environmental
pollution, clean energy and regenerative agriculture, studying widely in
medical, scientific, complementary and alternative medicine, health
enhancement and self-empowerment fields. Camilla founded Manhattan Neighbors for Safer Telecommunications, ElectromagneticHealth.org,
Campaign for Radiation Free Schools and co-founded the International
EMF Alliance. She is Senior Policy Advisor to the National Institute for
Science, Law & Public Policy in Washington, D.C., where she
oversees policy papers on electromagnetic fields, the smart grid and
telecommunications. Camilla serves on the Advisory Board of the
Building Biology™ Institute. She was an Executive Producer of the
award-winning film on smart meter risks, Take Back Your Power, and has
co-produced several television programs for PBS. Camilla is a Voting
Member of the U.S. Health Freedom Congress; Member, American Sustainable
Business Network (ASBN); and a Board Member of Media in the Public
Interest. Along with many other award winning activities, Camilla also
briefly had a radio program, Growing Green, on KGNU in Boulder.
15. David Saltman-
A prizewinning (Emmy, Ace and Peabody awards) broadcaster, author and
film-maker with fifty years experience, he's also an innovator in
meditative and martial arts. In 1972, he created the first radio
program, on Pacifica, to cover spiritual ideas. He "discovered" Gilda
Radner and was first to put her on the air. He’s written, produced and
directed some two hundred documentaries for CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC and
public television and radio networks and has written or collaborated on
three feature film scripts. He has his film work inducted into the
Smithsonian Institution. He is a novelist: “Houdini Unbound,”
also co-authored three other critically-acclaimed books: The Sports
Book, The Great Escape, and The Marrakech Express. He has done humor
pieces in TV Guide, science writing in Omni, and travel writings in
Rolling Stone and The New York Times. He has taught writing and
filmmaking.
16. Neale Vos- Neale, very involved with WBAI and currently on its Community Advisory Board
has been listening to WBAI for over 40 years. He has been regularly
supplying the CAB’s report at the LSB’s monthly meetings. The CAB has
focused on efforts to expand WBAI’s listener base, Neale says that since
the station has no money to advertise, listeners are the only way to promote the station to people who do not listen to WBAI. Neale and intends
help to organize listener advertisers.
17. Thomas Murata- is also a member of the WBAI Community Advisory Board,
another long time listener, and is running for the LSB to prevent
Pacifica from being overtaken by "New Day people," who seized WBAI
for one month in October of 2019 turning it into a repeater station. He
sees WBAI as addressing the ever growing threat of the Military
Industrial Media Medical complex. He suggest appeals to rich activist
donors such Jane Fonda, Yoko Ono, Susan Sarandon, Barbara Streisand,
Robert Redford, Michael Moore, and Oliver Stone before it’s too late.
18. Carolyn Birden-
A long-time member of WBAI and a veteran who has served on the LSB
before (between 2004 and 2014) during some intense and difficult times,
Ms. Birden is currently a member of WBAI’s Community Advisory Board
Ms. Birden was the organizer and first chair of the National Election
Committee. She has taught research and technical writing She feels
factional internal politics are unproductive for WBAI.
 |
| Our Recommended Staff Candidates: Jim Freund, Keziah Glow, Dr. Simon Fitzgerald, Doug Wood |
1. Jim Freund- Host of “Hour of the Wolf,”
a long-time weekly WBAI program (since 1971)concentrating on the
literature of science fiction, fantasy, and related fields. He’s a
lifelong unpaid staff member at WBAI since 1967.
2. Keziah Glow- A producer for Leonard Lopate on the Leonard Lopate Show.
She believes being on the LSB is monumental opportunity to protect
increasingly rare free speech radio. Many outlets are being silenced and
outlawed. Her number one goal is to find ways to create funding
projects for the station.
3. Simon Fitzgerald- The host of WBAI’s “Trauma Code,”
Dr. Fitzgerald is a Kings County trauma surgeon and an Ambassador for
the Baltimore Peace Movement. He has experience including positions on
the community advisory board of the Baltimore Mayor's Office on
Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, and the medical advisory board of
the Jordan McNair Foundation.
4. Doug Wood- Doug and his wife Patti are the hosts and producers of "Green Street News,"
a WBAI environmental health program. He has more than 30 years of
experience in both commercial business and non-profit organizations. He
creates and engineers music for film and television, and for many years
he and his wife and I ran a very successful music company, recently sold
to Sony. He founded and is National Director of the non-profit
AmericansForResponsibleTech.org, a national coalition of more than 140
organizations in 43 states. His wife is the founder and Executive
Director of the award-winning non-profit Grassroots Environmental
Education where he serves as Associate Director and Chief Strategy
Officer. He was a founding director of the advocacy group MusicAnswers,
which seeks to protect the rights of music creators around the world,
and has been elected twelve times to the Board of ASCAP, where he chairs
the Legal Strategy Committee.
Endorsements!!
The above collection of Candidates Is Endorsed by:
• Maxine Harrison-Gallmon- An Indy on the LSB intimately familiar with how the station works through her dedicated volunteer work there.
• Tracy Rosenberg- One of Pacifica’s best historians and analysts keeping facts straight.
• James Sagurton- Pacifica’s current Treasurer from the Indys’ who has done so much to put Pacifica’s financial house in order.
• Michael D. D. White, Carolyn McIntyre, and Martha Rowen- Three principal co-founders of Citizens Defending Libraries. Carolyn McIntyre, was Chair of the LSB for three years in a row. Michael D. D. White is current and former Vice-Chair of the LSB. Martha Rowen has moved on to run for New York State Assembly and New York City Council.
• Gary Null - On August 24, 2023 Gary Null endorsed all of the above candidates (plus one other). Mr Null is the host and producer of the Gary Null Show on WBAI (and PRN, the Progressive Radio Network of which he is the founder). Mr. Null, Ph.D, is renowned for his expertise in the field of health and nutrition, and the author of over 70 best-selling books on healthy living and the director of over 100 critically acclaimed full-feature documentary films on natural health, self-empowerment and the environment.
• Alex Steinberg- Recent Pacifica National Board Chair, expert at tactically navigating Pacifica through crises.
• Grace Aaron- Former Chair of the Pacifica National Board who had much to do with obtaining the loans that allowed WBAI and Pacifica to extricate from the financial drain of the exorbitant Empire State Building antenna lease.
• Lucy Koteen- Prominent member of Human-Scale New York, fought Atlantic Yards, fighting destruction of Fort Green Park, and fighting various other city environmental and community protection battles.
• Alicia Boyd- Activist who founded MTOPP to fight the aggressive real estate interests in Brooklyn, intent among other things, on over-shadowing the Brooklyn Botanical Garden with towers.
• Lynn Ellsworth- Founding board member on the steering committee of Human-Scale NYC a leading member of New Yorkers for a Human-Scale City Coalition.
• DeeDee Halleck- Current Chair of the WBAI’s LSB and famed independent film and documentary maker and another Indy on the LSB elected last election.
• Cindy Sheehan- Anti-war activist.
SO MANY GREAT CANDIDATES! It's really a challenge providing you with a suggested voting order, but for various reasons, about which candidates have also conferred with us on, the order we suggest should work best. We also suggest you vote only for these suggested candidates to help them all have the best chance of getting elected.
Our highly qualified, amazingly superb candidates are all free speech supporters and they oppose authoritarianism.
WHO can vote in this election? -- and HOW to vote in this election.
You are qualified as a listener member and able to vote in this WBAI election if you contributed $25 or more to the WBAI during the year that ended June 30, 2023.*
(* And remember that if you donated the qualifying amount-- $25 or more for each member voter-- your WBAI donating household is entitled to cast more than one vote and should. If you're having any problems, see below about who to contact including us.)How to vote?
You can vote online and that is the very best way to vote, because voting electronically online saves a huge amount of money for the network and station as opposed to voting by mail (which is also possible).
Ideally, as a contributor to WBAI you should have already received two emails, one telling you that you are an eligible voter in this election (Subject line should be: Balloting Period Opens Aug 15 / Candidate Forums Schedule, probably on August 10, 2023-- It would come from nes@pacifica.org) and another sending you your ballot (Subject line: Vote now: Pacifica Foundation Inc - 2023 Local Station Elections, which probably arrived August 15, 2023-- It would come from invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com)
If
you donated to WBAI and did not yet receive such emails, or all the
members of your household didn't, it is time to follow up and let the
station know that you need to be sent the ballot email (maybe you didn't
submit your email or used an old out of date one?)-- Contact WBAI's
Membership Department: +1-212-209-2950 and/or
https://wbai.org/contact.php
Once again here is a handy list of all the spectacular listener candidates we recommend. And we recommend that you vote for all of them and only them as follows:
1. Elliot Crown
2. M. Kay Williams
3. Gloria Guillo
4. Dr. Charles Ihejirika
5. Jeremy Kuzmarov
6. Adrienne Meisels
7. Mark Crispin Miller
8. Guy Vantresca
9. Tessa Lena
10. Dion Powell
11. Amy Smiley
12. Jack DePalma
13. Janet Harmon
14. Camilla Rees
15. David Saltman
16. Neale Vos
17. Thomas Murata
18. Carolyn Birden
The purpose of this post is to promote the election of the candidates we are recommending and the content here may be freely and fairly used and reproduced by those similarly seeking to promote the election of these candidates.
Disclaimer: This is not an official communication of WBAI or Pacifica.
Disclaimer (further elaborated): Because there are specified requirements issued with respect to WBAI Pacifica Elections, we further provide this specified language:
DISCLAIMER: This is not an official Pacifica Foundation mailing nor an official mailing of any of the five Pacifica Radio Stations (KPFA Radio, KPFK Radio, KPFT Radio, WBAI Radio, WPFW Radio). Opinions and facts alleged on this site belong to the author(s) only and should NOT be assumed to be true or to reflect the editorial stance or policy of the Pacifica Foundation, or any of the five Pacifica Radio Stations (KPFA Radio, KPFK Radio, KPFT Radio, WBAI Radio, WPFW Radio), or the opinions of its management, Pacifica National Board, station staff or other listener members.