[Kzyxtalk] letter to editor

[sako4 at comcast.net]

To the Editor: 

Regarding Justin Frederiksen's August 19 article in the Ukiah Daily Journal about former KZYX General Manager, Lorraine Dechter, leaving not just the station, but also leaving Mendocino County, and leaving pronto -- it would seem as if Ms. Dechter can't get far enough away fast enough. 

Can you blame Ms. Dechter? KZYX is a toxic work environment. I've been saying so for years. It's a rat hole for toxic personalities. A rat hole! 

One would have thought that the forced resignations of former General Manager, John Coate, and former Program Director, Mary Aigner, late last year would have helped reverse the station's long downward slide. One would have thought. 

Nope. Think again. 

There are so many entrenched, toxic personalities at KZYX, i.e. Stuart "Stewie" Campbell, who tried (unsuccessfully) to steal Ms. Dechter's job from her back in December when I was still of the KZYX Board of Directors. I strongly believe the station must fail, if it is ever to re-emerge as a healthy place. I wouldn't be surprised if someday the FCC reassigns KZYX's two licenses to another station in the area. KMUD would be a good choice. They're great. 

When KZYX lost Lorraine Dechter and Raoul van Hall this year -- two highly regarded public radio professionals, with great resumes and tons of credibility, who quit in disgust -- the people of Mendocino County lost all hope of a functional, financially solvent, public radio station that is committed to full disclosure and community participation...a public radio station we could truly call our own. 

The alternative? KMEC Radio 105.1 FM in Ukiah. 

Support KMEC Radio 105.1 FM by becoming a member or underwriter. We are all-volunteer. Our $20,000 budget is only 4 per cent of KZYX's bloated $550,000 budget. Moreover, KZYX's budget resists full disclosure on high staff salaries to a few lucky insiders and Korean War-era broadcast equipment that never gets replaced, resulting in lots of dead air, fuzz outs, and irritating signals. 

KMEC does public affairs shows every Monday at 1 pm with national guests speaking on today's most important issues. And KMEC has lots of other great programming, including kids doing hip-hop live on the air. 

KMEC Radio at the Mendocino Environmental Center. Your public radio station. Your community radio station. 

Thank you. 

John Sakowicz 
KZYX Board of Directors (2013-2016), Board Treasurer (2014) 

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