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<pre>Dear Ms. Woelfle-Erskine,</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>I'm writing to urge you to _refuse_ Mr. McClean's appeal to get</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>his lame-ass radio show onto KZYX. Mr. McClean is prompt and</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>reliable. His radio show is funny and entertaining. It's also</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>diverse. i.e.; it's nothing that KZYX would be interested in.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>What KZYX needs is more programmers in kneepads. Like Tim</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Gregory, Bessie Mae Mucho and Jeff Blankfort. People without a</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>spine. Sycophants.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>I see that you're the 'Interim Music Director' at KZYX:</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre><a href="http://www.kzyx.org/index.php/about-us/contact-us" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk341383">http://www.kzyx.org/index.php/about-us/contact-us</a><br></pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>And that you can be reached by email at music (at) kzyx.org.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Let me direct your attention to a positively stellar music</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>show on KZYX. It's called 'Cardboard Prison Radio'. Where </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>music can be interrupted at any time by folks like 'Zebra'.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>For a core dump of whatever's on his mind. If you suffer</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>from insomnia, this is the show for you. It starts at 11pm</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>every Wednesday. The host is Tim Gregory. He stops by here</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>every now and again. Using language prohibited by KZYX</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>policy. Ranting and raving at anyone offering facts about</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>KZYX and his absolutely superior radio show. And your</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>absolutely superior management skills. Speaking of which.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>I see that you're a coordinator at Anderson Valley Junior</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>High School:</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>http://www.mcoe.us/District/Department/37-Child-Development-and-Youth-Integrated-Services/Portal/ASES-KUDOS<br></pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>At alice (at) avpanthers.org. Is that correct? If so, how</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>did you make the jump to 'music director' at KZYX? How were</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>you dressed at your interview? What color kneepads did you</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>wear? I didn't see your resume on Linkedin:</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre><a href="https://www.linkedin.com" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk274275">https://www.linkedin.com</a><br></pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Did I miss something? It's pretty easy to find people and</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>their work histories there. Especially those with hyphenated</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>last names. Like yours. That's okay. I'll be happy to start</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>a work history for you. As 'music director' at KZYX. With</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>programmers like Mr. Gregory. And topnotch radio programs</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>like 'Cardboard Prison Radio'. Featuring topnotch guests. </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Like 'Zebra'. With his riveting contributions.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>You don't want Mr. McClean's radio show. No way. He's got</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>actual underwriters. Ick! You want shows like Cardboard Prison</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Radio. With 'Zebra'. Yeah, baby. That's what _I'm_ talking' </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>about. Prison.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Speaking of which. Have you looked Marco McClean's name up?</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>At the local courthouse? Give it a whirl here:</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre><a href="http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/M.pdf" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk927749">http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/M.pdf</a><br></pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>See anything? I didn't. How boring! Now look up Mr. Gregory's</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>name:</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre><a href="http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/G.pdf" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk823642">http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/G.pdf</a><br></pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>You'll find thirteen cases under that name. All of them as a </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>defendant. All criminal. One of them as a 'person restrained'.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Here's the good news, Ms. Wolfle-Erskine. Look up 'Zebra' here:</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre><a href="http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/Z.pdf" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk467630">http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/Z.pdf</a><br></pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Or 'Mucho' here:</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre><a href="http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/M.pdf" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk355774">http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/M.pdf</a><br></pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Or 'Blankfort' here:</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre><a href="http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/B.pdf" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk893110">http://www.mendocino.courts.ca.gov/online_services/caseindex/data/B.pdf</a><br></pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Clean as a whistle. So you've got no problems, do you? Except</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>for Mr. Gregory. And thirteen criminal cases under his name.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>And that little old restraining order. That surely wasn't</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>him. But somebody using his name. In Willits. Where Mr. </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Gregory broadcasts his 'Cardboard Prison Radio' show. But</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>I'm sure you knew that. Because you're the music director,</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>aren't you? Like I said. His show is absolutely superior. </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>And you're the person in charge. With stylish kneepads.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>But it'd be better to actually _reject_ Mr. McClean, right?</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>With an actual email -- if you can write. Or a telephone</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>call -- if you can talk. You're a 'coordinator' aren't you.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Then why not coordinate a rejection? With Mr. Gregory? He</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>can post it right here. Along with blue language. No facts.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>And his buddy 'Zebra'.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Do you have a spine, Ms. Wolfle-Erskine? If so, then why</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>not pull the trigger? Throw Mr. McClean out on the street.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Where he belongs. And stand behind your champion. Mr. Tim</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Gregory. Of 'Cardboard Prison Radio'. Publicly. You're in</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>the radio business, Ms. Wolfle-Erskine. Aren't you?</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>And while you're at it. Write a glowing testimonial for</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Mr. Gregory. About how cool his show is. And how many of</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>them he's done. Mr. McClean has done nearly 1,000. I'm</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>sure that Mr. Gregory has done more. So be sure not to</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>leave that part out. </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Also. Give Mr. Gregory a better time slot. I'm sure you</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>can do better than 11pm on Wednesdays. How about 10am</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>on Fridays? Or maybe not. That's Stuart Campbell's slot.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Your treasurer. And Bob Boshansky's slot. Your president's</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>boyfriend. Maybe not there either.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Bessie Mae Mucho is onboard. Maybe she'll give it up. Or</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Jeff Blankfort. He's down with whatever. Maybe he'll give</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>it up. If not, try ditching NPR. Or Democracy Now! They'll</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>certainly yield to icons like Mr. Gregory. And 'Zebra'.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Have you spoken with your predecessor, Ms. Wolfle-Erskine?</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>That's Raoul vanHall. A thirty-year radio veteran. Who</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>left over the 'cronyism' and 'nastiness' at KZYX. You </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>can reach him here: raoulradio (at) gmail.com. I'm sure</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>he can tell you more. Especially how bad Marco McClean's</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>radio show is. And how good Tim Gregory's radio show is.</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Sincerely,</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Scott M. Peterson</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>Mendocino</pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </pre>
<pre><br></pre>
<pre>> To: Alice Woelfle-Erskine, program director, KZYX
cc: to MCPB board <<a href="http://lists.mcn.org/mailman/listinfo/kzyxtalk">BOD at kzyx.org</a>>, <a href="http://lists.mcn.org/mailman/listinfo/kzyxtalk">kzyxtalk at lists.mcn.org</a>, <a href="http://lists.mcn.org/mailman/listinfo/kzyxtalk">editor at theava.com</a>
Dear Alice Woelfle-Erskine:
I have been working hard for real media (radio, teevee, print
publishing) in this county for over thirty years. In addition to my day
jobs --construction and theatrical work and maintenance and electronics,
and so on-- I put twenty-plus hours into getting my show together and
then do my show live every week on KNYO and KMEC, and before that I
worked at KMFB for almost fifteen years --maintenance and repair and
solving problems as well as doing my weekly all-night show there, which,
by the way, had no trouble paying its own way /and/ paying me. I have
never missed an airdate, nor caused a single legal problem for a station
manager or with the FCC. I'm that reliable at what I do, and that
experienced, and that proven. And I've been waiting for four-and-a-half
years for my show to be scheduled on KZYX, where it will be one of the
best shows there, and will fit KZYX' educational-band community
broadcasting mission like a glove.
Months ago Lorraine Dechter told me that things at KZYX are different
now from the bad old days, and she gave me to understand that all the
people frustrated by the tone-deaf insular paranoid management of the
past will finally get a fair shake. She told me to send a show proposal
to then-brand-new program director, Raoul van Hall. I did that, and I
wrote Raoul every week about it, providing explanations and links to
samples of my work, and he never wrote nor called back. Then he vanished
and somehow you became the program director, Alice. I wrote you. You
took weeks to write back and then told me that my show sounded cool and
that there's a new process for scheduling shows on KZYX. I wrote to ask
you to describe that process and tell me the names and contact info of
the people involved in it, so I can push it forward. That was a month
ago. I've heard nothing from you since.
So I'm telling you now: pretend that I'm a paying member and so part
owner of so-called Mendocino County Public Broadcasting Corporation,
which I actually am, and I'm a taxpayer, one of the many whose federal
tax money has been going to bail out KZYX to keep it from failing every
year of its existence including this year --and that's another fact:
without the tax-derived CPB grant, KZYX would have been six figures into
the red every single year since 1989; it started out that badly managed,
and nothing has changed in that regard; the budget for the current year
is as absurdly high as last year's and every year's (at least six times
what it should cost)-- but further, and imaginatively, Alice, pretend
that I'm one of the secret wealthy persons who step in to make up the
difference when the pledge drive is failing, so the station always has
/just enough/ money to pay just the manager $5,000 a month (!), where
the local airpeople on KZYX are paid nothing (!), while recorded and
syndicated NPR shows are all paid enough for every one of their show
people to eat steak and take summers off while they save for a year or
two to buy a big fine house with cash. (Speaking of which, the MCPB
budget has been hovering around $600,000. That's enough to pay cash for
another brand-new pretty nice house on its own acre of land every year,
when the total drain of running all three transmitters and all the
equipment in all the studios and all the tower fees and publishers' fees
and internet, phones and overhead and pencils and bottled water should
come to less than $10 an hour --around $80,000 a year-- at the absolute
outside, just to give you some perspective, and I'm including this
section because I'm copying this to the board, so they know everyone
knows all this when they trot out, with a row of straight faces, another
faked-up $600,000 budget to, you know, keep a couple of computers and
transmitters switched on and a microphone plugged in.)
In short, Alice, get moving on scheduling my show on KZYX. Because I and
my show are worth it, it will improve the station, and I waited
patiently in line for years, and lately I have been extremely patiently
waiting at the head of the line while other less worthy people are
ushered in past me with nary a glance in my direction. Think of the
matter in IT terms: consider this a simple repair ticket that's been
deliberately ignored by your service department for years. I know you've
only been program director for a few months, and of course you have
other things to think about, but given the history and the facts and the
ridiculous length of the delay anyone with any integrity would make this
a top priority. In the real world you would, and from what I've heard
about you I hope you will.
You can start by simply telling me (and my listeners and readers) what
steps you've taken so far to schedule my show on KZYX. If you've done
nothing, pick an entry point and start now. And describe the "new
process" you mentioned, and tell me the names and personal contact
information of all the people involved in that process. So I'm not
writing this same letter every week for the /next/ five years, to
whoever comes after you, and whoever comes after that, and after that.
Please.
--
Marco McClean
<a href="http://lists.mcn.org/mailman/listinfo/kzyxtalk">memo at mcn.org</a>
<a href="http://memooftheair.wordpress.com/">http://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com</a></pre>
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