[Kzyxtalk] Further chicanery out of KZYX.

[Marco McClean]

I just read in TheAVA.com this letter to the editor the Anderson Valley 
Advertiser, sent by former MCPB boardmember, resigned, Larry Minson of 
Willits:

MORE CHICANERY OUT OF KZYX

Dear Editor:

I was just informed by Patricia Kovner of yet another gross violation by 
the person or persons who have secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) 
seized control of KZYX management.

Patricia was a candidate this year for the 3rd District seat on the KZYX 
Board of Directors. There are 9 members of the Board, one from each of 
the 5 districts (using the same map as the Mendocino County Board of 
Supervisors) plus 4 members at large. Since day 1, almost 30 years ago, 
only the KZYX members who lived within a given district could vote for 
that district’s local board seat, while all KZYX members voted for the 
at large seats. To change that policy, the station is required to have 
public discussion and a public vote either on this single issue or, if 
it prefers, a public discussion of formally amending the bylaws of the 
station, which would then also have to be approved by a membership vote.

Now that KZYX is being audited by the Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting, who will perform an on-site investigation of the station 
and its practices next month, you might think they would at least make a 
small gesture toward remediating a corrupt situation. You would be 
wrong. Instead, the autocrats who have illegally seized the station for 
their own private purposes — Jeff Parker, Stuart Campbell and possibly 
others — have decided to double down on corruption instead. For the 
first time, they arbitrarily, without authority to do so, allowed the 
entire membership to vote for candidates in districts other than their 
own. Patricia voted for candidates running in the 2nd district and the 
5th district, even though she lives in the 3rd district. If her 3rd 
district seat had not been usurped and superseded by an illegal change 
in how elections are supposed to be conducted, the results may have been 
very different.

For some time, these usurpers have advocated for a smaller board to 
reduce the possibility of someone being elected who might actually focus 
on performing his or her mandated duties and responsibilities. Now, by 
illegally forcing the local candidates to face a very non-local 
electorate, this cabal can impose a tighter control on maintaining an 
emasculated board of directors that would continue to enable this cabal 
to commit malfeasance and misfeasance – and worse - with impunity.

I have encouraged Patricia to contact Ms. Helen Mollick, Esq., the 
Assistant Inspector General of the CPB and one of the 3 people who will 
be conducting the audit of KZYX, at hmollick at cpb.org or (202) 879-9600.

Ms. Mollick routinely explains to concerned members and listeners that 
her scope of inquiry is narrowly focused. This is true, but it’s not the 
whole story. The CPB is funded by federal tax dollars as well as private 
donations. That means that KZYX is also funded by federal tax dollars, 
which requires the station to acquit itself in the same manner as a 
squeaky-clean government subdivision, where there must be transparency 
over secrecy, strict financial oversight where there is current none 
whatsoever, and strict adherence t0 EEO laws rather than nepotism and 
creating “jobs” that perform little or no duties whatsoever.

There is a wealth of reference material that states that the CPB can 
terminate their contract in the face of the mere appearance of 
wrongdoing, let alone an out of control situation with smoking guns 
going off virtually every day.

I am personally advocating for a decision in line with an “opportunity 
letter.” I would like to see the autocrats at KZYX terminated and the 
board of directors given the opportunity to straighten up and fly right. 
It’s true that most board members lack the skill required for the 
position that they hold. They see it as simply a feather in their caps 
and haven’t a clue about what is required of them. Some may resign, to 
which I say good riddance to bad rubbish, and can be replaced by someone 
who has the skills and dedication required to hold this unpaid, 
difficult position. In the interim, I and others are more than happy to 
help them restore a clean and honest, democratically run non-profit.

I encourage everyone with concerns about KZYX to contact Ms. Mollick, 
and I hope that she and her 2 colleagues (the Inspector General and a 
professional auditor) have a safe field trip across our continent and 
get to the bottom of this current mess.

(signed) (former MCPB boardmember, resigned) Larry Minson, Willlits


--
Marco McClean
memo at mcn.org
https://MemoOfTheAir.wordpress.com