[Kzyxtalk] The Public Trial of John Sakowicz

[Dr Richard Louis Miller]

Dear KZYX Friends and Neighbors:

Some of you have been asking me for an explanation of my effusive
expression of gratitude to KZYX Board President  Meg Courtney during the
recent Board meeting at the Senior Center, on March 6, 2017.

Some year ago I was one of the 15 people* terminated from KZYX.  This
number of persons terminated, at KZYX,  is greater than the total  number
of people I have witnessed terminated during my entire 66 year working
career.

 To put this in perspective:  I have scrapped dishes, washed  toilets,
cleaned rat cages, cleaned sewers, waited on tables, taught at the
University of Michigan and Stanford University,  made testimony to the
California State Assembly and the  President's Commission on Mental Health,
served as  Senior Vice President,  and President of my division,  of a
chemical dependance  treatment program employing 2000 people, and much
more.  Again, the total number of people  terminated, in my entire  66
 career,  for all reasons, was not close to the 15 terminated at KZYX.

KZYX General Manager, John Coate, and KZYX Program Director, Mary Aigner,
refused to meet with me to discuss any of  their actions.  Instead,  Coate
sent me a letter saying  that I would not be allowed to return to my job
 until I sent a  letter to all 100 KZYX  programmers admitting "my
mistake".  My lawyer said Coate's demand of a public mea culpa  was
illegal.   When I called Coate he refused to take my calls.  This was the
most egregious example,  amongst many,  during a 10 year work  period,
 which were, by far,  the the most painful in my entire work history.

 During their tenure, I was regularly met, by GM  Coate and PD Aigner, with
derision, contempt,  sarcasm and a  level of disrespect which was palpable.
  It was painful to call the station for any reason,  whatsoever,  for at
bare  minimum I was met with a sarcastic  "why are you calling and
bothering us?"

 Coate/Aigner  made me grovel for 2 solid years in order to provide me with
a key to the Mendo studio.  Finally after they terminated Norm du Vall, he
gave me his key.
Another time they refused to give me an answer, for 6 months,  to my
request that I be allowed, at my own expense, to buy a head set with mic
built in.

My dedicated studio engineer, Mike Dell'Ara,  was  witness to both of these
incidents as well as to the tones with which I was chronically treated for
many years.

In addition, during my entire 10 years, there was no building of spirit du
corp or  ever a  real working Program Advisory Committee (which, to this
day, despite the promises of  Board member, Stuart Campbell, 8 months ago,
 still  does not exist.)  Thus, in a community radio station there is no
channel for community input to programming.

It was only because of my love of our community and  my program,   and my
belief that my program adds to our community,  which I cherish, that I
continued to work under such unusually painful  adverse circumstances.
Instead  of quitting I chose to out wait them.   Staying the course,  and
staying alive, are winning tactics.

>From the moment Coate and Aigner  departed,  the atmosphere at KZYX
 changed  and my work life improved markedly...in fact,  it became normal.
Now I both enjoy my job and the people I work with.

 Acting PD  Angela de Witt was a pleasure to work with and so is PD Alice
Woefle-Erskine.  We work cooperatively,  as a team, for the station and for
the community. We treat one another with respect and good cheer.

So why did I express so much  gratitude to Meg Courtney?  Because  8 months
after my "suspension"  she  persuaded John Coate to meet with me at her
home for dinner.
If was only  because of Meg's  intervention  that Coate  actually deigned
to speak with me.   It's almost impossible to dine with someone without
talking to them.
Subsequent to the dinner Coate  invited me to resume my program which I did
after a full year off the air.    Because Meg did caused Coate to do his
job  I am eternally grateful.

Presently  the list of those KZYX programmers  terminated is at least  14*.
  Perhaps some of these programmers  deserved to be terminated. Perhaps
some of these programmers deserve to be reinstated.  Perhaps apologies  to
some are proper.  For certain,  until there is a review of these 14
 terminations they will fester in our community. We heard expressions of
the festering at the Board meeting on March 6.

With our new, and very experienced, GM, Jeff Parker, it is a new day at
KZYX and I hopefully  KZYX will finally  take its place as a model
station.  Unfortunately Jeff has inherited some old baggage which needs
attending to.  Such is life.  Most of us have old baggage that benefits
from healing.

Lets get with Jeff and support his  leading  us  to the greater  community
contribution  hundreds of us have been working for, voluntarily,  without
pay, these past many years.  If the Trump government takes away our federal
funding (about $140,000/year)  let us raise it here in our community. We
can do it!

If ever there was a time for us all to put our disagreements aside and
 pull together, in the same direction, this is it!

Wishing you all excellent health,

Richard
Host, Mind Body Health & Politics.

Richard Louis Miller, M.A., Ph.D.
Clinical Psychology
Wikipedia: Dr Richard Louis Miller
Wikipedia: Wilbur Hot Springs
MindBodyHealthPolitics.org
MendocinoTV.com
Psychepedia.org


*KZYX Programmers Terminated (not in chronological order of termination)

1-Phaedra Savage

2-Toni Orans

3-Beth Bosk

4-Sister Yasmin

5-Mary Walsh

6-Johanna Schultz

7-Els Cooperider

8-Christina Arnestad

9-Doug McKenty

10-John Sakowicz

11-Norm du Vall

12-Mitch Clogg

13-Marco McClean

14-KC Meadows










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