“Rodney King Redux?” Seven Days, 10/21
Irresponsible Journalism
Robert Gammon’s article is the most irresponsible piece of
“journalism” I’ve seen in years. He is practically inciting people to
riot if Mehserle is found not guilty. Many of the “people of Alameda
County” (of which I am one) believe that it would have been impossible
for Mehserle to get a fair trial here, and that it’s a good thing Judge
Jacobson ordered a change of venue. Gammon obviously has his mind made
up that Mehserle is guilty. It is that mindset that persuaded Jacobson
to move the trial.
Steve Heimoff, Oakland
“Manipulating the Vote,” Full Disclosure, 10/28
Cities Can Save Millions
In 2006, the voters of Oakland overwhelmingly voted to approve using
Ranked Choice Voting for local elections by a 69 percent
majority. By combining two elections into one, Ranked Choice
Voting eliminates unnecessary elections and can save our cities
millions of dollars. Â
Ranked Choice Voting requires using computer software that has been
certified by the California Secretary of State. Alameda County and
San Francisco use the same voting machines and computer
software. The Secretary of State recently approved these systems
for use in San Francisco elections, but has not yet approved the same
exact voting machines and software for Alameda County. Why is
there a delay? Three cities — Berkeley, Oakland, and San
Leandro — which have approved using Ranked Choice Voting, would
all realize significant long-term savings by using this system of
electing officials. The voters who approved Measure O in 2006 are left
wondering what is happening to delay this reform measure. San
Francisco, conducted post-election surveys about Ranked Choice Voting
and found the voters liked and understood the system quite
well. Using Ranked Choice Voting, San Francisco has saved millions
of dollars by eliminating unnecessary runoff elections. Â
Any further delay is inexcusable. Call your councilmember and demand
that this voter-approved reform measure be implemented now. Call
and write the Secretary of State with the same message.
Judy Belcher, Oakland IRV Implementation Group
KPFA Elections Mark Station’s Latest Turmoil,” News, 10/28
We’re Not Fruits and Nuts
Maybe in Chris Thompson’s world liberals have “bid farewell to the
paranoid style of American politics,” but to those of us watching DC
from a progressive point of view, the abandonment of green jobs advisor
Van Jones looked pretty paranoid indeed. And KPFA’s not much different
in sounding the alarm when listeners with God-help-us radical points of
view have the temerity to get involved with the governance of the
place. A place founded by, let us not forget, a World War II draft
resister, a political opinion at the time of the “Good War”
considerably less mainstream than 9-11 skepticism is today.
Thompson seems overly distracted by the superficial fun of watching
people call each other names, but unwilling to delve beneath the
surface into the why. It’s not really that hard. Pacifica instituted a
system of listener-based elections because a court case went all the
way to California’s Attorney General and upheld the rights of
subscribers as members of the organization. They had a say over whether
its board of directors could sell off the assets without asking
anybody and swap KPFA’s signal for a bunch of smaller radio stations in
the Southeast. Which was the plan per a misdirected e-mail sent by then
board member Michael Palmer. The answer was nope, or at least you can
try it, but if all those people who gave you money to operate a radio
station in Berkeley don’t like it, they can vote you right out of
there. Hard to disagree with that. And I don’t think too many people
do.
But according to Chris Thompson, staffer Brian Edwards-Tiekert does.
Although his job wouldn’t exist without the listener movement that
pried Pacifica out of the hands of a group with no intention of
continuing to operate the progressive radio outlet in Berkeley that
employs him.
The article is filled with complaints. Ranked choice voting is
difficult to understand. An argument currently being employed by the
notorious Don Perata to derail the Oakland mayor’s race in the
Express cover story printed in the very same edition.What’s
chilling about the article, and readers should note, is the ending. A
curt statement that people who don’t agree with Edwards-Tiekert, people
whom, to be straightforward, listen to his station, care about it
enough to get involved, and pay his paycheck, are fruits and nuts.
“9-11 truthers, fringe sectarians” and job hunters.
I think they’re his listeners. And insulting them isn’t going to up
the donations.
Tracy Rosenberg, Executive Director, Media Alliance Board Member,
KPFA-FM
History Issue ads, History issue, 10/21
Keep ‘Em Separate
I noticed several ads in your latest issue (October 21-27, volume
32) which at first glance look like regular articles. While I
found the advertising copy (such as the Amoeba Music, Looking Glass
ads, etc.) quite interesting and informative compared to more
traditional ads, it would make it clearer to the readers if your put
the disclaimer “ADVERTISEMENT” on top of the ad instead of at the
bottom or at least make the border which surrounds each ad a bit
thicker.
This way there would be no confusion right off the bat that the
reader is reading ad copy, not editorial copy.
I realize in these challenging economic times it is tempting to let
the advertising department gain too much sway over the editorial. I
urge you to resist the temptation, especially since you espouse on page
2 to be “the local alternative to mainstream media” and also state that
“We aim for the highest standards in our journalism and business
practices.”
Your publication as well as journalistic and business standards seem
fairly mainstream to me.
Richard Fabry, Point Richmond
Corrections
In the November 4 cover story “Understanding North Korea,” we got
Christine Hong’s title wrong. She’s an assistant professor. Also, we
misspelled Frank Januzzi’s name.
Your Worst NYE Ever?
New Year’s Eve is supposed to be a time of revelry — a
celebration of the year passed and a welcoming of the one to come. Yet
too often, the party can turn sour due to any number of factors:
impossible expectations, overindulgence, a bad trip, a cranky lover,
having to ride BART — you name it. Dispel the New Year’s Eve
blues by sharing your worst tale of woe and we’ll publish it in our
annual NYE guide. Deadline is December 16. E-mail to [email protected]
Seeking East Bay Biz Listings
In January, the East Bay Express is launching a new business
publication, Small Business Monthly. The section will feature
business news and columns, advice for small business owners, and
listings of business events and retail sales. To submit press releases,
send the pertinent information to [email protected]. Send
retail news to [email protected].
Send business events to [email protected]
