http://houston.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3394&group=webcast
The Compiled "Buzzanco" Reports
by Duane Bradley 5:59pm Tue Jun 4 '02
address: 419 Lovett Blvd. Houston, TX 77006 USA
phone: 713.526.4000 dbradley@kpft.org
The following narratives are a combination of reports given to
me, as General Manager of Pacifica Radio station KPFT-FM 90.1 in
Houston, by Hep Ingham (a member of the KPFT Local Advisory Board)
and by George Barnstone (a member of the Pacifica National Board).
In the interest of full disclosure and transparency, the following
are presented for your perusal. It is hoped and intended that none
of the following are to be used as the foundation of any lawsuit or
to further the vicious cycle of attack and recrimination which has
been so prevalent in Houston recently.
The first section contains the information gathered by Hep Ingham and
includes the statments of: Scott Parkin, Jeff Wittig, Janice Blue,
Steve Brightwell, Jay Galic and Emilio Bateman.
The second section contains narratives gathered by George Barnstone
and includes: Stan Merriman, Greg Gieselman, Robert Epstein, Janice
Blue(repeat) and Donna De La Paz.
This is followed by the text of my report to the KPFT LAB on
Wednesday, May 22.
************************************************************
BEGIN HEP I.
PACKAGE********************************************************************************************
*********************
The following is a report on the incident including statements from the
eye-witnesses, statements made by non-eyewittnesses, the start and
continuation of a national smear campaign, George Barstone's resoulution for
an investigation at the April 24th KPFT LAB meeting, Barnstone's lack of an
investigation and my recommendations to move forward. As of this writing,
May 17th 2:00pm, Barnstone has talked to one independent eye witness (Steve
Brightwell) and Barnstone did not request anything in writing. Because
Barnstone has not carried out an ivestigation I contacted the independent
eye witnesses and had each send me a statement.
All of the eyewitnesses report that Buzzanco did not make an ethnic slur
towards the JV group and all except for Steve . The making, posting and
repeating of this allegation then is a SMEAR campaign which is the moral
equivalent of lying.
Since this report is lengthy I'll put forth a table of contents followed by
what I think needs to be done.
Table of Contents:
1. The Layout of KPFT
2. Statements from independent eye witnesses
3. Allegations are made and posted to email and reported in person
4. The Smear Campaign begins
5. Duane Bradely talks with Buzzanco in the On-Air Studio
6. The April 24th Lab Meeting
7. The Smear Campaign continues...
8. Scooter's phone call to Barnstone
9. The Smear Campaign continues...
My recommendations to move forward:
To move forward here's what I think should take place:
1. Duane should publicly exonerate Buzzanco, ie no 'slur' was made.
2. Donna De La Paz should issue an apology to Buzzanco on air and in print
(Houston Indypendant Media website)
3. Gieselman should resign or be removed from the KPFT LAB.
4. Barnstone should resign or be removed from the Pacifica PNB
5. and finally, anybody still working with Jones and Johnston should really
reconsider just ignoring them, fer christ sake.
******************************************************************
1. The Layout of KPFT
The following link shows the physical layout of the studio and the location
of the parties as they came into contact.
www.radio4houston.org/map.jpg
-------------------------------------------
2. Statements from independent eye witnesses
Here are the statements from the eye witnesses, where known their phone
numbers are included.
Mike [unknown] was also in the studio but I haven't been able to track him
down.
----------------------------------------------
SP = Scott Parkin 832-725-6220
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Parkin, Scott [mailto:sparkin2002@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 9:53 AM
> To: hep (E-mail)
> Subject: here ya go
>
>
> Hep-- This is what I saw and heard: On Wednesday April 17th, Jeff Wittig
> and I went to KPFT a little before noon to pick up a video camera from Bob
> Buzzanco. I entered the studio and saw Edwin Johnston and Emilio
> Bateman in
> the CD room and asked Emilio if he had seen Bob Buzzanco. He said he had
> seen him, but didn't know where he was at the moment. Jeff and I
> then went
> into the studio to a room full of people-- Bob Buzzanco, Jay
> Gallick, Steve
> Brightwell, Janis Blue (spelling?), Buzzanco's guest for his show on
> Venezuela and a volunteer engineer with long hair that I don't know. I
> stood in the hall adjacent to the studio until the JV show ended.
> Jeff went
> back into the lobby at some point while I waited for things to clear out.
> When the JV show ended, the guests and host of the JV show walked
> out of the
> sound room and Bob Buzzanco went in. No words were spoken whatsoever
> between Buzzanco and the JV guests. I saw the entire interaction. Jay
> Gallick asked me to get another of Buzzanco's guests on the phone and I
> spent a few minutes doing that. I then got the video camera and left. As
> Jeff and I were walking out, I saw the JV guests and host talking
> with Stan
> Merriman and Greg Geisalman and I heard the woman with the group say "I
> think some of the staff are anti-Semitic". Also, I saw Greg Geisalman in
> the lobby talking with the JV people, but I never saw him in the studio or
> hallway when the incident supposedly happened. I also never saw Edwin
> Johnston in the studio or hallway, only the CD room.
>
> --Scott
>
> FYI, I think Jeff saw Emilio confront the JV guests.
----------------------------------------------
JW = Jeff Wittig 713-324-9351
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wittig, Jeff [mailto:XXXXXXXXXX]
> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 7:50 AM
> To: Hep
> Subject: Buzzanco
>
>
> To whom it may concern:
>
> I was in the KPFT offices on the day of the alleged incident. I was
> standing in the hallway just outside of the control room. The guest hosts
> from the show were leaving the control room and were discussing "how it
> went." I saw Bob Buzzanco enter the control room and speak to
> Jay Gallick.
> I did not see or hear any interraction between Bob and any of the guest
> hosts. As the guests past through the library area a discussion did
> break-out with someone else (who I am not familiar with and did
> not see, but
> only heard - It was not Bob Buzzanco) and some of the guests.
> The comments
> were along the lines of, "I am a Jew and I cannot believe that you people
> can support the policies of Israel... You people make me sick..." As I
> left the offices I past by the guests as they were huddled around the
> reception area. I heard a woman among them say, "I think there is some
> anti-semitism among the staff." I assumed that she was referring to the
> comments made in the library.
>
> I have had several discussions with Bob Buzzsanco concerning the
> conflict in
> Israel and the occupied territories. During these discussions
> Bob has been
> very critical of the policies of the Israeli government, but I have never
> heard him utter a word or made any suggestion that was anti-semetic. In
> fact, I have seen and heard Bob go out of his way numerous times
> to condemn
> anti-semitism as well as other forms of racism.
>
> Please let me know if I can elaborate further or provide any other
> information.
>
> I would be happy to provide a sworn copy of this statment if so required.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Jeff Wittig, Esq.
----------------------------------------------
JB = Janice Blue
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Janice Blue [mailto:bluej@texas.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2002 10:59 PM
> To: hingham@igc.apc.org
> Subject: FW: Where I was...at KPFT
>
>
> Hi Hep,
>
> This is the letter I sent to Duane and Otis this afternoon when I learned
> nothing had been done to clear up this smear campaign against Bob.
>
> Thank you for anything you do to right this wrong,
> Janice
> ----------
> From: Janice Blue <bluej@texas.net>
> Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 16:32:15 -0500
> To: <dbradley@kpft.org>, <otie@kpft.org>
> Subject: FW: Where I was...at KPFT
>
> Dear Duane and Otis,
>
> I sent this "deposition" on May 2, 2002, almost two weeks ago.
>
> I am disappointed George has not shared it with you and that this
> unfortunate, manufactured remark has harmed someone who
> contributes so much
> to our station.
>
> This lie is a great injustice to Bob and I will not let a person
> be smeared
> and discredited when I was an eyewitness to what really happened.
>
> I am willing to take a lie detector test...that is how strongly I
> feel about
> this false accusation.
>
> We need to come to Bob's defense and rid the station of people
> who fabricate
> such lies, attempt to ruin someone's character and reputation
> and take your
> time away from the important mission you are both working so hard to
> accomplish for our community.
>
> Thank you,
> Janice Blue
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----------
> From: Janice Blue <bluej@texas.net>
> Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 13:00:40 -0500
> To: <gbarnstone@pdq.net>
> Subject: Where I was...at KPFT
>
> To Whom It May Concern:
>
> Two weeks ago yesterday, around noon, I was in the KPFT control room,
> standing in the doorway between the recording studio and the control room.
> I was facing the west (Montrose) wall of the room when a programmer, Bob
> Buzzanco, walked into the control room from the hallway and stood directly
> in front of me. He handed an engineer, I believe, named Mike, a hand
> written time script for the show he was about to do.
>
> I turned around and noticed some activity in the control room. The four
> guests from the previous show, Jewish Voices, were starting to
> get up, take
> off their earphones and walk out of the room. I kind of leaned into the
> narrow doorframe to give them more room.
>
> As they started walking out of the recording studio and into the control
> room, a LAB member now known to me now as Greg Geiselman, walked into the
> control room and Bob Buzzanco expressed his angry feelings about
> the station
> giving airtime to the previous show, "Jewish Voices," and criticized Greg
> Geiselman for bringing in these guests, who in his view were "Sharon
> government apologists."
>
> Bob said something like. "That's what we're hearing on CNN and
> FOX." It got
> more verbally colorful and I was starting to feel the discomfort you feel
> when two people are arguing and you are in hearing range.
>
> During this time, I am still facing the west wall. Greg, to my
> left, closer
> to the hallway door, and Bob, to my right, closer to the window. While I
> was standing there and while Bob and Greg were arguing, all four guests
> walked past my left side and went out through the hallway door.
>
> Two of the guests were women and I could sense they, like me, felt
> uncomfortable but they left the room while Bob and Greg were still
> exchanging remarks. It was a brusque exchange...one or two
> minutes... after
> which Bob walked into the recording studio and went on the air.
> I heard him
> make a quick apologetic remark about the previous program...I
> think he said
> something like, "You may have thought you were listening to CNN or FOX but
> you're still listening to KPFT."
>
> So, to the best of my knowledge and recollection, the guest from "Jewish
> Voices," known as Donna de la Paz, left the recording studio
> while Bob and
> Greg were arguing and left the building while he was interviewing the
> consul of Venezuela on the air.
>
> It is my hope this will be resolved in a fair and peaceful
> manner. We need
> 100% of our talent, energy and dedication for the betterment of Pacifica.
>
> Thank you,
> Janice Blue
>
>
----------------------------------------------
SB = Steve Brightwell, KPFT Engineer 713-526-4000
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Brightwell [mailto:sbrightwell@kpft.org]
> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 4:05 PM
> To: Hep Ingham
> Cc: dbradley@kpft.org
> Subject: Re: Jewish Voices day
>
>
> see attached...
To all concerned:
I am Steve Brightwell, Chief Engineer of KPFT. I was operating the air
console on the day of the Jewish Voices program, which ended in a verbal
exchange.
As a rule, verbal exchanges between KPFT family members are fairly
commonplace, and dont get my undivided attention. Also, the station was
running a carted break at the time of the transition, and my attention was
focused on pulling additional carts to extend the break while things in the
studio settled down. I was also focused on getting Jay Galic on-duty as
the console operator during that same break.
As to any verbal exchange between Bob Buzzanco and the participants of the
previous program, I would characterize the discussion as heated but not
inflammatory. I cannot recall specifics, but I did not hear any words or
expressions, which would not be allowed on-the-air, or be considered to be
ethnic slurs.
Again, I am being asked to recall a conversation which I was actively trying
to tune out at the time, but I do believe I would have noticed and
remembered any dirty name calling, and I dont remember things getting
quite to that level.
Sincerely,
Steve
----------------------------------------------
JG = Jay Galic 713-320-8839
> -----Original Message-----
> From: big daddy jay [mailto:nspctr39@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 11:07 AM
> To: Hep Ingham
> Subject: kpft statement
>
>
> mep.
>
> here's my statement. let me know if you want me to
> further clarify anything or if you have any questions.
>
> -gauk
I was at KPFT during the day of the Jewish Voices show which was followed
by Bob Buzzancos show. I was there to run the boards for Bob Buzzancos
show which was from 12-1pm. I had arrived at the station at around 11:30.
I arrived, said hello to people, and then helped try to record a PSA in the
back studio with Janice Blue before Bob said he needed me for his show. I
went to the front studio with Bob while the Jewish Voices was still on but
nearing the time it was to finish up. Brightwell was running the boards at
that time but I started to get situated and ready to take over. It was
during this time that Buzzanco and Geiselman had a verbal confrontation
spurred because the show was still on and should have been wrapping up.
Brightwell said he was unaware that Buzzanco had a show on next and that the
show needed to be wrapped up. Brightwell then signaled that the show needed
to end and went on the air to give the end of show goodbye. I had cued up
and then played a Clash song to start Bobs show. The on-air people for the
Jewish Voices show were still in the studio and sitting and talking amongst
themselves. Buzzanco asked if anyone was going to get them out of the room
so that he could set up and begin his show. The Jewish Voices people left
the room and Buzzanco and his first guest, Vartkes Saattdjian, entered the
studio. Buzzanco never interacted with the people from the previous show.
During this time I was setting up the board and I asked Scott Parkin to call
the other guest, Dr. OBrien, on the phone. People who I saw were in the
general area of the studio at the time of the event were myself, Steve
Brightwell, Scott Parkin, Jeff Wittig, Janice Blue, Mike (dont know his
last name), Greg Geiselman, Bob Buzzanco, and Vartkes Saatdjian. Stan
Merriman had been in the area working the phones but I did not see him at
the time of the incident. The Jewish Voices people were inside the studio
with the door closed while the Geiselman/Buzzanco argument occurred, and
left the studio after it had occurred, and quickly entered into the front
lobby. Buzzanco entered the studio after the Jewish Voices people left.
This was the only time Buzzanco and the Jewish Voices people were in the
same area and no words were spoken between Buzzanco and the Jewish Voices
people. While I had seen Edi Johnson up at the station that day, I saw him
either outside or in the large back room--he was not present when the shows
changed over. Before the Clash song was over, Buzzanco signaled me to fade
it out and then he went on with his show. At about halfway through the show
and after the first set of interviews, I played more music and Buzzanco came
out of the studio to call the second guest, Mike Foley. After the show,
Buzzanco left the studio to go have lunch. I waited around because there
was a problem with the DAT for World Cafe and I was trying to help. I was
also going to help finish the PSA I had started, but since the front DAT was
messing up, the back studio was needed to play the DAT and I would not be
able to finish the PSA until later that afternoon and I left.
-Jay Galik
May 16, 2002
---------------------------------------------
EB = Emillio Bateman
emiliobateman@yahoo.com
713.269.5270
713-501-0124
I spoke with Emillio Bateman:
With his permission he said:
I was in the CD room (room with big table) having a heated discussion with
Gieselman and Johnston. I neither heard nor saw any exchange between the
people from Jewish Voices and Buzzanco. In fact I didn't know Bob was in
the station till I got in my car and heard him on the radio. I didn't here
him come in.
I had an exchange with the Jewish Voices group in the Lobby as I left.
In my opinion it would be impossible for Gieselman or Johnston to have heard
anything, since they were in the room with me at the time.
Emilio Bateman
emiliobateman@yahoo.com
713.269.5270
713-501-0124
----------------------------------------------
3. Allegations, based on hearsay, of an ethnic slur are made and posted to
email and reported in person:
At this point none of the independent eye witnesses have been interviewed.
Stan Merriman made the following response to Johnston's post on the
afternoon of April 17th. This message was forwarded to me by Torry Mercer:
> >From: "merriman" <merriman@neosoft.com>
> >Reply-To: kpftilab@yahoogroups.com
> >To: <kpftilab@yahoogroups.com>
> >Subject: Re: [kpftilab] Prof. Berzerko berates guest hosts on air
> >Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 17:21:04 -0500
> >
> >To make KPFT even more inhospitable to differing opinion, one panel
>member
> >observed him glowering at them and nodding his head in disapproval from
>the
> >engineers booth, of course having a somewhat unnerving impact of the
> >panelists. The crowning touch was blustering words like " Jew" or " you
> >Jew" as if this label were an insult to them as they exited the studio,
> >then
> >to be met by Emilio of La Resistancia who shouted at the Israeli Consul
>at
> >full lung power in the conference room as they were exisiting. Overall
>an
> >exquite example of non-civility, intolerance and maybe worse from this
> >"progressive" community. Stan Merriman
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Edwin Johnston <edi@hal-pc.org>
> >To: freepacifica@recordist.com <freepacifica@recordist.com>
> >Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 4:56 PM
> >Subject: [kpftilab] Prof. Berzerko berates guest hosts on air
> >
> >
> > >This morning KPFT featured a special program titled Jewish Voices at
> >11am.
> > >The guests of the show were an invited panel of a handful of notable
> >Jewish
> > >people from Houston. They each made separate statements about the
>current
> > >mid-East conflict, then later answered questions from callers during
>the
> > >live one hour program.
> > >Just after that program, at noon, associate professor Bob Buzzanco took
> >to
> > >the airwaves for a show he was going to do about Venezuela. But Buzz
> >didn't
> > >start off his program about Venezuela, he used the first few minutes of
> >his
> > >program to berate the previous program's guests on the air, while they
> >were
> > >still in the lobby of the radio station listening to the KPFT signal.
> >Then
> > >about a half hour into his show he did it again, claiming those guests
> >have
> > >no place on Pacifica airwaves.
> > >Oy vey! That meshugga Buzzanco, tienes cajones muy grandes, no?
> > >Regardless of the content of the Jewish Voices program itself, it is
> >simply
> > >outrageous that Buzzanco is using Pacifica airwaves to berate invited
> >guests
> > >to the station, when they had just finished their program and while
>they
> > >were still present in the building. What an offense! He has used
>listener
> > >money to directly insult specially invited guests. For these actions he
> > >needs to make an immediate and sincere apology to each of them.
> > >But I don't expect an apology from Buzz for his arrogance and
>insolence.
> >It
> > >was not a flip remark. This is emblematic of Buzzanco's drive for
> > >ideological purity at KPFT. If Buzz don't like ya, then ya have to go.
>If
> > >not you will be bullied into leaving. The only thing fresh here in his
> > >approach is that now he is actively using the airwaves to attack those
>he
> > >doesn't like.
> > >To me this is the lowest that Pacifica has sunk since we have regained
> > >power. Could it sink any lower? Yes, Buzz could run over invited guests
> >to
> > >KPFT radio with his car while they were in the parking lot. Vrrroooom!
> > >Shameless behavior, absolutely shameless. Buzz has just set the bar for
> >the
> > >use of Pacifica airwaves to attack fellow programmers. How many others
>in
> > >the new Pacifica will now follow in his footsteps?
> > >
Greg Gieselman made a statement to Ken Freeland on the evening of April 17
that he either heard Buzzanco make an ethnic slur or that someone else
stated that Buzzanco made an ethnic slur, here is Ken Freeland's response:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ken Freeland [mailto:kenfree@ev1.net]
> Sent: Monday, May 13, 2002 11:51 PM
> To: 'Hep Ingham'
> Subject: RE: The day in question
>
>
> Hep,
> I'm sorry to say that I cannot recall with accuracy whether he said he
> heard it or not. I believe that he told me what (supposedly) happened,
> and when I expressed disbelief, he said something like "I was there when
> it happened," or something like that, but I cannot say for sure at this
> point. He may have added something like "I heard it with my own ears."
> I simply do not remember his words, but I do seen to recall him in some
> way saying that he was in some way a witness to all this. That is the
> best of my recollection, and at this point it's a bit hazy. Sorry not
> to be of more help.
> Peace,
> Ken
Finally, Duane Bradley, KPFT GM receives the following from Aaron Howard,
the editor of a weekly paper.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Howard" <gamy@hal-pc.org>
To: <dbradley@kpft.org>
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 6:25 PM
Subject: Demons
> Dear Duane,
> I'm writing to you as a friend and a KPFT supporter about something that
is
> troubling me.
> Donna de la Paz related an incident that occured at the station after she
> had finished the program. She said that Bob Buzanko (spelling) confronted
> Dan Shaham and her and hissed in a nasty voice "you Jews!"
> She said that someone at the station immediately apologized and she was
> later told that the station was "handling" the incident.
> Duane, my purpose in writing you is not to dump on you or KPFT. I know you
> don't have a racist bone in your body. Nor is it to complain about the
> pro-Palestinian coverage on KPFT. I, personally, have strong pro-Israeli
> feelings. But I also believe that free speech is something that needs to
be
> exercised on a daily basis rather than subscribed to in theory. And
> although I would wish for you to be less (what I perceive as) one sided in
> your Middle East coverage, I think that KPFT is trying to promote at least
> some kind of dialogue.
> What bothers me is how easily pro-Palestinian sentiments become
anti-Jewish
> feelings in people like Mr. Buzanko. I don't know him personally. Donna
> says he teaches at UH. Is this man so self-righteous in his anger that he
> demonizes Jewish people? Or has he been hanging out with some of the less
> savory elements of the Palestine "revolution"?
> Duane, it pains me to see people on the left embrace the most reactionary
> elements in the Arab world such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas. These elements
> demonize all Jews in their statements, their strategy and their intent. Do
> you not think that we aren't aware that words have real power and real
> consequences?
> And when we see someone like Mr. Buzanko echo these sentiments, what do
you
> suppose we think?
> A few weeks ago you had a program on KPFT where three or so "Islamic
> sisters" explained how the Islamic religion, a system which values a
> woman's testimony at half the worth of a man's, a legal system which would
> give a sister only half the monetary legacy of her brother, an aesthetic
> which legally gives the husband the right to beat his wife if he disobeys
> her, does not opress women. Duane, if you put the same program on the air
> and had three Orthodox Jewish women who said the same thing, do you think
> your call-in listeners would accept these statements on face value?
> What also troubles me is how some segments of the "anti-war" movement has
> no problem with justifying bombing civilians as a necessary tactic. I
guess
> the means justifies the end, doesn't it?
> I wish you success in the future. As station manager, you have a difficult
> job. But please, beware of those who have a disregard of distinguishing
the
> guilty from the innocent, who have a hatred of everyone in the entire
> "enemy" group, and who make no distinction between a combatant and a
> non-combatant.
> With affection,
> Aaron
>
----------------------------------
4. The Smear Campaign begins
At this point none of the eye witnesses have been questioned, but here is
what is being posted to Houston Indypendent Media, newpacifa, freepacifica
and the goodlight boards:
-----------------------------------
The real story here
by .-D 8:12pm Wed Apr 17 '02
edi@hal-pc.org [Edwin Johnston]
Prof. Berzerko berates guest hosts on air
http://www.mcabee.org/lists/newpacifica/Apr-02/msg00507.html
Prof. Berzerko and Carol Spooner
http://www.mcabee.org/lists/newpacifica/Apr-02/msg00509.html
What will Duane do? (and thread)
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=154569&article=2240
Condemn Buzzanco, for he did wrong
by .-D 7:07pm Thu Apr 18 '02
edi@hal-pc.org
Read on:
[NewPacifica] Re: What is Pacifica?
http://www.mcabee.org/lists/newpacifica/Apr-02/msg00528.html
http://www.houston.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3086
Go threaten jo mamma
by .-D 11:44am Wed Apr 24 '02
edi@hal-pc.org
The station manager was p***** at Buzzanoc's antics for days afterwards, for
those who can't read between the lines.
Bozo Buzz done broke the rules and had to pay.
Still waiting on your witlesses.
Me do radio? Radio is for ugly people who shouldn't be seen. I'm a graphics
man, newpapers, websites, video, etc., and a writer.
I get interviewed from time to time. I have no personal interest in doing a
radio show. I just want to make sure what is going on at KPFT is fair and
above board. I'm around there so much because we are suffering from problems
in those areas. I'm here to keep people honest.
BTW - P*** off!
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=154569&article=2233
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=154569&article=2356
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=154569&article=2627
Many other posts exist. Use a search on the respective venues.
------------------------------------
5. Duane Bradely talks with Buzzanco in the On-Air Studio
At this point none of the independent eye witnesses have been interviewed.
I was working the console, talking with Buzzanco April 22, when Duane came
in and asked about April 17th. Bob confirmed that he made remarks critical
of the show on air and that he said "Now we return to regular Pacifica
programming." Duane took exception to this last statement saying the
Buzzanco did not determine Pacifica programming. Bob said "I apologize for
that statement, but not for anything else I said." Duane said "Fine".
Hear the show in question. Buzzanco's remarks come near the end at about
minute 43 or so.
http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=4646
--------------------------------------
6. The April 24th Lab Meeting
At this point none of the independent eye witnesses have been interviewed.
George Barnstone arrives late and demands that he be given an item on the
agenda. Deb Shafto puts it up for a vote, it passes and Deb puts it on the
agenda as the last thing before public comment.
During the course of the meeting Otis MacClay spoke with Barnstone in the
hallway. During this conversation Barnstone told MacClay that he was
calling for a resolution to censure Buzzanco for his alleged remarks. Otis
talks him out of it and Barnstone downgrades his resolution to calling for
an investigation.
Barnstone gets his chance to speak and calls for a resolution instigating an
investigation. After a while he determines that he will chair a committee
of Duane, Otis and Brightwell. Otis and Steve Brightwell decline membership.
----------------------------------------
7. The Smear Campaign continues...
At this point none of the independent eye witnesses have been interviewed.
Gieselman makes the following post to kpftilab, a list controlled by Dan
Jones.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greg gieselman [mailto:aachen@firstnethou.com]
> Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 12:36 PM
> To: kpftilab@yahoogroups.com
> Cc: buzzanco@jetson.uh.edu; chickpea_@hotmail.com;
> exitvalrie@yahoogroups.com; hingham@igc.apc.org; ommusic@hotmail.com;
> scooter@radio4houston.org; wb4j@yahoo.com; renteria22@yahoo.com
> Subject: Re: [kpftilab] Re: LAB votes 4 investigation of Buzzanco
> incident
>
>
> sun 12:00p hou/10:00a pt
>
> torry et al:
>
> *** once again, torry, what you said simply isn't true...for a
> host of reasons,
> among them:
>
> * objection to buzzanco's remarks, behavior + demeanor that day
> [and others]
> is not restricted to any identifiable faction, group, race, creed, color,
> nation, trade, gender, religion, height, weight,
> alleged politcal affiliation, sexual orientation...or any other
> known criteria.
>
> * no one has suggested that he be taken off the air.
> even--perhaps esp--the
> people at whom he
> screamed his various insulting remarks + slurs.
>
> * more importantly, even those persons who disagree with him
> strongly, have
> asserted in his
> defense, publicly, positively and repeatedly, that buzz gives
> good radio, and
> that he and his opinions,
> however inaccurate or unpleasant they may be, most assuredly
> should remain on
> KPFT.
>
> NB: buzz has chosen not to extend this courtesy to those persons
> who disagree
> with him, even though spirited debate from all quarters is
> explicitly a tenet
> of the mission statement.
>
> . . . . .
>
> bob knows bloody well his behavior that day was outrageous +
> wrong. and so do
> the more than half a dozen people who were there to share it with him.
> everyone makes mistake. everyone gets angry
> at one time or another. everyone says things he/she regrets.
> my guess is
> buzz very much regrets this entire incident ever happened. only
> he can make it
> go away. torry, it's time for you to drop the agitprop ca-ca
> that buzz is the
> injured party. he knows better.
>
> gg
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=165346&article=8162
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=165346&article=8353
>From: "Torry Mercer" <torrymercer@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: kpftilab@yahoogroups.com
>To: kpftilab@yahoogroups.com
>CC: buzzanco@jetson.uh.edu, chickpea_@hotmail.com,
>exitvalrie@yahoogroups.com, hingham@igc.apc.org, ommusic@hotmail.com,
>scooter@radio4houston.org, wb4j@yahoo.com, renteria22@yahoo.com
>Subject: Re: [kpftilab] Re: LAB votes 4 investigation of Buzzanco incident
>Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 07:18:52 -0500
>
> >--- In kpftilab@y..., "Edwin Johnston" <edi@h...> wrote:
> > > >feel free to forward<
> > >
> > > Last night the KPFT Local Advisory Board voted in favor of an investigation
> > > of the "Buzzanco incident." Pacifica national board member, George Barnstone
> > > will chair an ad hoc committee to get to the facts of the case.
> > > What is not in dispute are the facts of what Bob Buzzanco said on the air
> > > during his program following a program titled "Jewish Voices" which featured
> > > specially invited guests and hosts. Buzzanco came on the mic to say that
> > > (paraphrasing): "The following hour was something you'd expect to hear on
> > > FOX News. They are apologists for Israeli terrorists. We now return you to
> > > regular Pacifica programming." As well as (paraphrasing): "That show has no
> > > place at all on Pacifica radio." It's all on tape as an air check. The
> > > facts in dispute are whether Buzzanco called American Jewish Committee
> > > member, Donna La Paz, a "Jew" in a deliberatley derogatory manner as she
> > > claims, which Buzzanco denies. However, Buzzanco had denied to the KPFT
> > > manager that he said what he did on the air, until the manager told him he
> > > had it on tape.
> > > At last night's meeting, KPFT manager, Duane Bradley said that after
> > > confronting Buzzanco on the incident, Buzzanco apologized (to Bradley).
> > > Bradley also said he was composing an apology to the guests of the Jewish
> > > Voices program on behalf of KPFT. (Q: Will Buzzanco apologize to the
> > > guests?) Bradley also said that he was angry at Buzzanco for his on air
> > > comments which were "Wrong!" and related that all programs produced at
> > > Pacifica stations are "regular Pacifica programming", meaning that Buzzanco
> > > was quite arrogant to claim that his show is the only one to represent
> > > Pacifica (or those who he approves of, IMO.) The Jewish Herald newspaper
> > > sent the KPFT manager a letter of complaint concerning the issue.
> > > So, the witnesses will be gathered and the evidence will be gone over. Then
> > > we shall get a complete report.
> > > From what I got out of Bradley's statements last night, this will help us
> > > set some rules for on-air decorum and decorum at the station, generally.
http://www.houston.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=3168
But not all Buzzanco's words
by .-D 9:10pm Tue Apr 30 '02
edi@hal-pc.org
He also said that the station-invited guests had "no place on Pacifica
airwaves" a half hour alter and is alleged to have called American Jewish
Committee member, Donna La Paz, a "Jew" to her face, in a derogatory manner.
For these and more reasons, buzzanco's comments and rude behavior are being
investigated by Pacifica officials.
More words
by .-D 9:16pm Tue Apr 30 '02
edi@hal-pc.org
According to the station manager, at the last Local Advisory Board meeting,
Buzzanco denied saying these things on the air, but then when confronted
with the fact that the manager had heard the recordings, he was forced to
provide and apology to the station manager for violating station policy for
trashing fellow KPFt broadcasters on the air.
After the investigation, I would hope that he is forced to apologize to the
guests themselves and the listeners as well.
http://www.mcabee.org/lists/newpacifica/May-02/msg00212.html
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=154569&article=3288
A historian friend told me that Buzzanco who academic
schtick was to go to meetings and piss and
Tue May 14 21:31:56 2002
208.191.151.209
moan that they were ignoring him cuz he was a Leftist.
(like reactionary HIV/AIDS denyer Pete Dusberg used to do at all the
retrovirus meetings I went to in the 80s)
Finally everyone got so sick of him bellyaching that they gave Buzzanco an
award to shut him up.
Maybe if we give him the first annual KPFT anti-first amendment award for
his heroic efforts to silence debate, he'll quit sulking and get back to his
synchophantic Chomsky interviews.
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=154569&article=2421
http://disc.server.com/discussion.cgi?id=154569&article=2426
.-D
Oh, Scooter-pie, bee-Hayve!
Fri Apr 26 20:13:08 2002
206.180.129.247
Curt "Scooter" Schroell is scared of what the investigation will reveal.
This is Scooter's new nickname for George Barnstone, which he applies in his
usual sadistic manner: "If the stuffed suit Garland appointed Barnyard moron
..." The points that Scooter leaves out of his rant are that KPFT guest
programmer, Donna La Paz, of the American Jewish Committee claims that KPFT
programmer, Bob Buzzanco called her a "Jew" to her face in an intentionally
derogatory manner, that he leered at and tried to intimidate the guests
while they were on the air, and violated a station policy of not abusing
fellow KPFT broadcasters over the KPFT airwaves. As well, Scooter implies
that all the guests were drawn from the Israeli Consulate in Houston, which
is completely untrue. A consular official was on the program, but so was Ms.
La Paz, a Rabbi, and other representatives of the Jewish community in
Houston. Buzzanco also said of the guests of the program on his own program
directly afterwards, that they "have no place on Pacifica airwaves." Scooter
is trying to prevent a proper investigation from taking place and is lying
about the incident to serve that aim.
----------------------------------------
8. Scooter's phone call to Barnstone
***************************************************************************
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END OF HEP PACKAGE
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
***********************
BEGIN GEORGE B. PACKAGE
***************************************************************************
**************************************
Duane,
I believe these are all the narratives of people at the station who either
witnessed, or were close to, Bob Buzanco's behavior while the Jewish Voices
program was broadcasting and his alleged statement immediately afterwards.
George
From: "merriman" <merriman@neosoft.com>
To: <gbarnstone@pdq.net>
Subject: Fw: Jewish Voices Incident
Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 09:40:41 -0500
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4807.1700
X-Airmail-Delivered: Fri, 17 May 2002 09:38:19 -0500 (CDT)
X-Airmail-Spooled: Fri, 17 May 2002 09:38:19 -0500 (CDT)
George, let me add a postscript:
Donna, Rabbi Ben Ora and Bob Epstein, in telephone conversations the day or
two following April 17; they all described the heavy, bushing haired fellow
with the black hair and gotee who came into the control room while their
show was in progress, they recalled twice, during their show, glared at them
disapprovingly and shook his head in disagreement with statements they were
making. This was Buzzanco. The telephone room door was open during part of
the time I was taking calls and I saw Buzz on at least one of those two
occasions walk into the control room while the show was in progress. Prior
to the show, Buzz passed through the conference room where we were preparing
and exhibited what I would call "unfriendly body language", did not
acknowledge any of our presences, talked loudly to those he was with, Janice
Blue included; I took this as a continuation of the personal abuse he has
direct toward me over the past several months. Stan Merriman
----- Original Message -----
From: "merriman" <merriman@neosoft.com>
To: <gbarnstone@pdq.net>
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 9:28 AM
Subject: Jewish Voices Incident
> I simply cannot find my written report to Duane. So here is a recap:
>
> On April 17, following the completion of the Jewish Voices Show at noon, I
> joined the entourage from Jewish Voices in the hallway outside the telephone
> room where I had been working; I was right behind Consul Dan Shahan, who led
> the narrow line of people out through the door into the conference room;
> behind me were Rabbi Ben Ora, Bob Epstein and Donna DeLaPaz who, I believe
> was last or near last in the line. As we came into the conference room,
> Shahan was immediately confronted by a screaming "Emilio" from La
> Resistencia, who was immediately in his face shouting words like "killer,
> nazi, murderer".....I immediately stepped between them; I believe the
> entourage behind me were still in the hallway, not yet through the doorway;
> in stepping between them I said "they are trying to run a radio station
> here; let's take this outside"; I think John Jordan and Edwin Johnston
> witnessed this attack in that room. Emilio, on my words, immediately turned
> and literally ran out the front door through the reception room. I was
> still in the conference room and heard a voice behind me at the hall
> doorway-turned and Donna DeLaPaz said " you have some antisemites here"; I
> was just called 'you jew' by the big guy with the black bushy hair and
> gotee". I asked Donna to repeat what was said to her and she repeated this
> and asked if he was an employee. I explained that he was a volunteer like
> me and tried to assure her that I was sure it was not personal as I had had
> some internal conflict with Bob Buzzanco, the person she described and I was
> sure it was a result of that conflict (trying frankly, in embarrassment for
> KPFT to fade the heat to minimize the damage). I had an appointment so
I
> had to thank everyone and leave right away. The next day, to reassure
> myself that the incident happened, before reporting to Duane Bradley,
> station manager, I called Donna and asked her to repeat the incident; she
> described it exactly as it happened again. I repeated my apology that she
> experienced this, repeating that I felt Buzzanco's and my conflict was to be
> blamed and not KPFT. I reported this in the same exact detail to Duane
> Bradley and requested that for the good of KPFT and our frayed relationship
> with the Jewish community, Buzzanco be asked to direct private letters of
> apology of each of the 4 Jewish Voices participants. Stan Merriman
Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 07:03:48 -0500
From: greg gieselman <aachen@firstnethou.com>
Reply-To: aachen@firstnethou.com
Organization: The Aachen Group
X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.76 [en]C-DIAL (Win95; U)
X-Accept-Language: en
To: gbarnstone@pdq.net
Subject: Jewish Voices follow-up
X-Airmail-Delivered: Fri, 17 May 2002 06:48:44 -0500 (CDT)
X-Airmail-Spooled: Fri, 17 May 2002 06:48:44 -0500 (CDT)
TRANSMMITTAL
TO: George Barnstone
FR: Greg Gieselman
DA: 11th May 2002
RE: Jewish Voices Broadcast
George:
On Wednesday, 17th April 2002, KPFT broadcast a special one-hour
program entitled <Jewish Voices>. The program began at approximately
11:00am and ended a few minutes after 12:00 noon that day, i.e.,
it ran over its allotted time a few minutes. The featured on-air
guests that day were Donna De La Paz, representing the American Jewish
Committee; Dan Shaham, the Israeli Consol in Houston; Eve Benora,
a local rabbi; and Bob Epstein, whose professional affiliations I
do not know, but who was introduced to me as a local gentlemen, who
is an avid historian of Middle East Affairs. If I have misspelled
anyone's name or misspoken anyone's affiliation, please forgive me.
Stan Merriman was the originator/organizer of the program and produced
it. During the Q + A portion of the program, he also handled the
in-bound calls [he was the stacker, if you will]. I thought the program
was a good idea--still do--and assisted Stan in any way I could.
. . . . .
During the second part of the program [the Q + A], Bob Buzzanco--one of
KPFT's programmers [among other things, he co-hosts a show on Thursday
evenings]--came into the sound board room of the sound studio. There
was a brief conversation. Among the things discussed, he asked if we
were aware that we were running late, and that we would likely run
into his time. [Bob was doing the show immediately following ours.] I
told him that we were aware of it; that it was a reasonable complaint;
that it should not have happened; and we were sorry it had happened,
but that it would be only a few more minutes. I apologized again.
As we stood there waiting for the program to end--there were four of
us in the sound board room; the four guests in the sound studio; and
Stan in the small news room--there was more conversation between Bob
and me. We tried to keep it pleasant, but under the circumstances,
some of it was disputatious, although there was no profanity that I
remember. Simply put, Buzz had let us know in no uncertain terms--from
the moment he walked in--that he objected strenuously 1) to the
presence of the guests in the studio, and 2) to the very premise
of the program itself. He appeared to be angry. Bob said he was of
the opinion that we should not have aired a program which advanced
the Israeli point of view of recent events in the Middle East. We
discussed the matter. We continued to disagree. There were other
things discussed as we stood there. As the program ended, Bob asked
that we get the guests out of the sound studio so that he could start
his show. He crossed in front of us--but behind the engineer at the
board--to leave the sound board room. The guests from the sound studio
were filing out of the room. I believe the Israeli Consul was first,
followed by the rabbi, but I cannot be certain. I think Donna De La
Paz was the last out of the studio, but again, I am not certain as
to the order in which they left the room. They were in a bit of hurry
[the rabbi, for example, left her daily agenda in the studio, and we
had go back later that day and get it for her. They proceeded past
the doorway to the small news room and turned rightinto the conference
room. As you know, the total distance is only a few feet. Bob followed
them out of the studio and into the conference room. Sometime during
the few seconds that it took for the above events to occur--while the
guests and Buzz were filing out of the studio and into the conference
room--I heard Bob say "You Jew." I was not looking at him, nor did I
see his face. His back was to me. I was surprised at what I had heard,
and thought to myself for an instant, <Did I really hear that?> [or
something similar]. I walked into the conference room, and Donna De La
Paz had an incredulous look on her face. She looked at Stan and said,
"Did you hear what he said to me?"
For the record, by now, Emilio [sp?] had arrived and was literally
shaking his finger in the face of the Israeli Consul, and speaking
loudly and animatedly to him. They were standing near the foyer double
doors and to the right of Donna and Stan. Anyway, Donna and Stan
asked me if I had heard what Buzz said to her, and I replied that I
had heard him say it to someone, but that I had not seen to whom he
had said it, since his back was to me and he was walking away from me.
. . . . .
Shortly thereafter, Duane [Bradley] asked me what had happened. I
told him that in my opinion, Buzz had gotten angry about the content
of the program and the featured guests--and perhaps that we had run
over into his program's air-time--and may have said some thing or
things he regretted; that everyone gets angry from time to time, and
says something he/she regrets; and that I thought that such was likely
the case with this incident. I told Duane I doubted Bob had meant to
offend anyone. Later that afternoon, Buzz came back to the station. He
was no longer angry...or so it appeared. He was pleasant and polite,
although we continued to disagree strongly about whether or not the
program ever should have aired. We discussed the situation further,
and it was clear that we were never going to agree on the matter.
I hope the above helps.
Submitted per your request.
gg
From: RE10SBH@aol.com
Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 15:47:01 EDT
Subject: Incident at KPFT
To: gbarnstone@pdq.net
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Dear George: In response to your request that I furnish you with my
observation regarding the incident at KPFT Radio Pacifica Station in Houston
on the occasion of the broadcast representing the Jewish point of view of the
Middle East crisis, I forward this recollection.
We assembled in the KPFT conference room about 10:30 AM on the morning of the
broadcast for an 11:00 program. The participants straggled in over about a
20 minute time span with the Rabbi the last to arrive, naturally. We were
given surprisingly sparse instructions as if we had done this every day and
no one seemed to realize that I, the moderator, had never done this before.
Nevertheless, we were all educated people, professional in some field or
other, used to having to do quick studies and at precisely 11:00 we received
the "On the Air" signal from the program director and we began. I presented
a concise 2 minute introduction of the problem, followed by Donna de la Paz,
Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee in Houston, Danny
Shechem, Israeli vice Consul in Houston, and Rabbi Eva ben Hora, of the JCC.
, each of whom gave a brief statement of the crisis from their own particular
vantage point. We then began to take calls from the listening audience and I
selected the calls from a screen which indicated how long the caller had been
holding. I tried to give preference to those who had been holding the
longest. In my opinion, although the large majority came from Palestinian
sympathizers, they were surprisingly calm and well organized and I hope that
we fielded those questions properly. There were no "hate" messages or
hostile questions. Most were even toned and respectful. I was later advised
that the calls were screened, so perhaps some of the unpleasantness was
eliminated in the screening.
During the broadcast an gentleman entered the control booth, seemed agitated,
but it had no effect upon me and did not disturb me or the other
participants. He was referred to later on as Bizenko (?sp) and was the same
person who seemed to be in conflict with the others later on. When we
emerged from the broadcast booth into the conference room there was a small
man highly agitated screaming that we had no told the truth and making the
usual charges that are made when the other side of anything has the floor. I
was told that he was a Palestinian and often appeared at KPFT in his
Arafat-like head scarf.
As I turned back to visit with my fellow participants, Donna de la Paz spoke
to one of the station people and said, "You have anti-Semites working here".
I heard no statement because I had been on the other side of the room, but
apparently the rest of the group was accosted by a person, not in agreement
with our presentation. One of the station people said, "Those people do not
work here" Since I am unfamiliar with the personnel, regular employees,
volunteers, I could not evaluate what had happened. One of the group was
later identified to me as this person Bizenko. he, with others disappeared
into the broadcast booth from whence we had emerged. There was some other
unrest and attempts to quiet things down and we were then advised by Mr.
Merriman not to venture outside until some of the people who had come into
the radio station had entered their cars and left. We soon followed and left
the station.
Robert A. Epstein
User-Agent: Microsoft-Outlook-Express-Macintosh-Edition/5.02.2022
Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 13:00:40 -0500
Subject: Where I was...at KPFT
From: Janice Blue <bluej@texas.net>
To: <gbarnstone@pdq.net>
X-Airmail-Delivered: Thu, 2 May 2002 13:19:23 -0500 (CDT)
X-Airmail-Spooled: Thu, 2 May 2002 13:19:23 -0500 (CDT)
To Whom It May Concern:
Two weeks ago yesterday, around noon, I was in the KPFT control room,
standing in the doorway between the recording studio and the control room.
I was facing the west (Montrose) wall of the room when a programmer, Bob
Buzzanco, walked into the control room from the hallway and stood directly
in front of me. He handed an engineer, I believe, named Mike, a hand
written time script for the show he was about to do.
I turned around and noticed some activity in the control room. The four
guests from the previous show, Jewish Voices, were starting to get up, take
off their earphones and walk out of the room. I kind of leaned into the
narrow doorframe to give them more room.
As they started walking out of the recording studio and into the control
room, a LAB member now known to me now as Greg Geiselman, walked into the
control room and Bob Buzzanco expressed his angry feelings about the station
giving airtime to the previous show, "Jewish Voices," and criticized Greg
Geiselman for bringing in these guests, who in his view were "Sharon
government apologists."
Bob said something like. "That's what we're hearing on CNN and FOX." It got
more verbally colorful and I was starting to feel the discomfort you feel
when two people are arguing and you are in hearing range.
During this time, I am still facing the west wall. Greg, to my left, closer
to the hallway door, and Bob, to my right, closer to the window. While I
was standing there and while Bob and Greg were arguing, all four guests
walked past my left side and went out through the hallway door.
Two of the guests were women and I could sense they, like me, felt
uncomfortable but they left the room while Bob and Greg were still
exchanging remarks. It was a brusque exchange...one or two minutes... after
which Bob walked into the recording studio and went on the air. I heard him
make a quick apologetic remark about the previous program...I think he said
something like, "You may have thought you were listening to CNN or FOX but
you're still listening to KPFT."
So, to the best of my knowledge and recollection, the guest from "Jewish
Voices," known as Donna de la Paz, left the recording studio while Bob and
Greg were arguing and left the building while he was interviewing the
consul of Venezuela on the air.
It is my hope this will be resolved in a fair and peaceful manner. We need
100% of our talent, energy and dedication for the betterment of Pacifica.
Thank you,
Janice Blue
Reply-To: <delapazd@ajc.org>
From: "Donna De La Paz" <delapazd@ajc.org>
To: "George Barnstone" <gbarnstone@pdq.net>
Subject: KPFT
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 13:06:34 -0500
Organization: American Jewish Committee
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Thank you for calling this morning. Per our telephone conversation,
I will briefly update you on what happened at KPFT on Wednesday, April
17th. Stan Merriman greeted us as we entered the building and was
very cordial in getting us water and making us feel most comfortable.
When we entered the room to broadcast our show, everyone was very
polite and explained to Bob Epstein, as we listened, how the calls
would come up on the screen in front of him. During the show, I believe
Mr. Epstein became flustered. This does not mean that he did not do
his homework; he was well-prepared. By stating he became flustered,
I felt he did not know how to handle some of the callers and cut them
off, before they could make a statement. He told them they could ask
a question, but that it wasnt a forum to make statements. I feel by
cutting off the callers, he made the public more upset and we (the
three left) felt helpless.
In the future, I would recommend that the moderator be someone who
can handle callers and take comments from us. Too many times, he cut
us off also.
Now to the item in which you called, during the show, a gentleman,
who was heavy set with curly hair, paced the floor of the engineering
room and was throwing his hands up in the air yelling. We couldnt hear
what he was saying, but knew he was upset. When we left the room,
I was the last one out. He looked at us and said in a derogatory
fashion You Jews. I was shocked and immediately told Stan, who assured
me that he would take care of the situation.
I do believe that KPFT needs to show both sides of the coin and that
our show added some information. If the show is repeated, I definitely
would suggest making some changes. Let me know if you are interested.
Donna De La Paz
Executive Director
American Jewish Committee
Houston Chapter
houston@ajc.org
***************************************************************************
*********************************************
END GEORGE B. PACKAGE
***************************************************************************
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TO: KPFT LOCAL ADVISORY BOARD
FR: DUANE BRADLEY, KPFT GM
RE: BUZZANCO/JEWISH VOICES INCIDENT
In reporting to you regarding the controversy surrounding the
events of April17, 2002 involving the Jewish Voices on the Middle
East Crisis segment of that mornings Cultural Potpourri program,
the following Open Journal program on Venezuela with Bob Buzzanco,
the allegations and accusations and subsequent vote by this LAB
to authorize iPNB member George Barnstone to assist in compiling
information from those present and/or participating in these events,
I must first and foremost express several thoughts.
I regret the fact that this incident has been allowed to fester and
foster damage in our community and, apparently, around the entire
country. My original statements to this board last month could have,
and should have, been much more forceful about the fact that this was,
in essence, an internal KPFT programming and personnel issue which
was being handled, as it should, by the management of the station. In
allowing the LAB to participate in assessing this incident I thought
that I was being inclusive and that I could use the assistance. In
retrospect, this decision was a mistake and only added fuel to the
fire by allowing the process to continue unresolved for too long. I am
sorry for this and apologize to all parties involved in this incident.
In reviewing the statements compiled from participants and
eyewitnesses, I can only say this with absolute certainty-there are
several conflicting versions of the truth.
I have ten people sharing their recollections of the events of that
morning. I am in no position to determine whose truth is the definitive
one and I am in no position to call anyone a liar.
To Donna De La Paz and other members of the Houston Jewish community
who feel offended by their experience at KPFT while guests of the
station, I offer my apology as the representative of the Pacifica
Foundation.
To Bob Buzzanco I also offer an apology and regret any damage which may
have been done by the apparent dissemination of offensive allegations
related to this incident.
KPFT and Pacifica Radio are, and should be, about studying the causes
of antagonisms, not causing or fostering them. It should be about
creating an atmosphere of understanding between and among peoples.
It should be a space wherein principled personal differences, even
extreme, are dealt with and acknowledged with civility and respect.
To the extent that this did not occur, I acknowledge the need to work
harder to accomplish the goals and fulfill the mission of Pacifica
www.kpft.org