| People are asking: We voted NO for Democracy — But, Now What!? |
| WHAT ABOUT THE $3.7 MILLION DOLLAR LOAN the Bylaws Revision proponents cited? Pacifica attorneys negotiated a reduced settlement, down from a $5.6 million debt to the Empire State Building Realty Trust. The $3.2 million loan to cover that settlement is not due until April 2021 – a full year to pay down our debt and begin improving our credit. The loan is at a lower interest rate than the 9% Empire State was charging us. Lenders are willing to REFINANCE the loan if necessary.  The Pacifica National Board and local station boards have identified and implemented solutions to save the network rather than filing for bankruptcy and splitting the assets as some “Vote Yes” proponents (“Big Tent Radio”) have repeatedly urged over the years. WHAT CAN WE DO TO REBUILD OUR AUDIENCES, IMPROVE OUR FINANCIAL PICTURE, AND USE UNITY IN OPPOSING THE BYLAWS REVISION TO CHART A COMMON WAY FORWARD? Improve existing programming and refresh our grid with voices from burgeoning new movements for democracy, peace, freedom of cultural expression, human rights and environmental action to attract new listeners and donors with the understanding that Pacifica is part of the solution. Launch a strategic planning process at each station incorporating management, governance and paid and unpaid staff, with input from listeners and from expert advisers about short term, how to deal with the COVID-19 crisis in operations and programming, and long term, how to prioritize our human and financial capacities to best rebuild Pacifica’s audience and our impact. Establish fundraising task forces at each station to develop off-air fundraising efforts to augment on-air fund drives, like major community events, special-purpose funds or grants, etc.  Reduce expenses judiciously, including development expenses for thank-you premiums, and implement better financial controls, like integrating our membership and financial software. Develop media partners to allow our expansion into consistent audio-visual production, better use of social media platforms to attract content producers, promote our stations and content, fund-raise, and bring the many-to-many ethos of social media into our broadcast operations in order to enhance community engagement and feedback.  Market content from the Pacifica Radio Archives so that PRA becomes an income generator for Pacifica, rather than an expense and obligation for the stations and another occasion for on-air fundraising from our listeners.  Target promotion of our programming to likely listeners on campuses, with organized labor, at bookstores and libraries, and in like-minded publications or websites.  Maintain elected local oversight of budgets, management and programming, and establish functioning PNB Committees of Inclusion to assure diversity and involvement of all communities, as well as Community Advisory Board to assess community needs. |