our letters of today as well as other letters and articles you received in your packets. and i hope you will consider them before voting and vote no today sending the item to committee. the two morning show hosts were laid off by pacifica as was necessary measure to immediately stop a financial disaster and they were chosen because of union seniority rules. there was no choice in this as kpfa did not present a balanced budget. it had spent its million dollar surplus and had to borrow to make the last payroll. its parent foundation then had to step in. the pacifica foundation oversees five radio stations and 160 affiliate stations and holds a broadcast license, pays the corporation for public broadcasting, insurance legal

free speech radio news and democracy now. if kpfa goes under, so does this unique progressive free speech radio network. the other four stations and pacifica national have made the necessary staff cuts which pacifica requested three years ago. but a small insider group at kpfa -- >> good evening, supervisors. i'm robert english and am here to also speak against the resolution. just some background, i'm a native and resident of san francisco for most of my life. i retired from civil service with the city and county after 34 years as an administrative assistant and during that time i was active with my union local 790 of sciu and helped found a chapter and represented the p.u.c. chapter and the bargaining unit and union

council. i also was a founding member of the public employees for a democratic union in 2005 and also have been a long time active listener and supporter of kpfa. now, as a union man and from a union family, almost always take the side of the union in any dispute such as the problems we had at have a layo where i now -- at velayo where i now live but can't support the union in this case and have made written comments explaining why. i know this is a well intentioned resolution but unfortunately interposes the board on one side of a long time, complex struggle and the progressive kpfa community and believe it will offend as many of your constituents as it will please. and unfortunately, it's supporting the interests and continuing of kpfa by an old guard insider staff click who's always opposed democratic

governments and listener participation in the affairs of the station. also, it's not in the interest of the majority of kpfa workers who are volunteers, some salaried workers who aren't even represented by a union and it's not in the issue of the governance and well-being of the entire pacifica network. the network is practically insolvent and bankrupt. layoffs had to be made and let me explain that kpfa and pacifica are -- >> thank you. next speaker. thank you very much. >> thank you, my name is kim waldron. i hadn't planned on speaking today but after hearing some of the comments, i felt i needed to speak and thank you for the letter that you're planning in support about kpfa. i am not connected with kpfa

management. i am not connected with the communication workers, but i have worked in the labor movement for 30 years. and i paid careful attention to what was going on when the morning program was canceled because i couldn't figure out why it was canceled for financial reasons. you would cancel the number one fundraising program on the station. so i listened carefully to what the executive director had to say about this matter and in my considered opinion, there are -- this is not a labor dispute, it's a power dispute but the manage is in error of violating both the labor law and common sense, and i do again urge you to go ahead with what you'd planned and thank you for paying attention to it. >> hello there, i'm brian edwards, one of the two hosts of kpfa morning show who were given termination notices last month. for six years i served as an elected staff representative on kpfa's local station board. i want to speak in support of

your resolution number 60 and make a few very quick points. first of all, the argument that you heard that this was -- these layoffs were a measure to somehow save kpfa financially rings terribly false given the morning show is the station's top fundraiser and largest profit center and raise three times what we cost. pacifica has already lost more in the fundraising days that it had to cancel and the subscription it had terminated by donors than it will save in the course of an entire fiscal year but not paying our salaries which are minimal. second, the way the layoffs were carried out were clear breaches of the seniority professions of our union contract. i myself am senior to five people still on payroll whose positions i'm qualified to do. pacifica has not even been willing to sit down and do routine negotiations over our seniority rights. we want to work this out. the support group save kpfa has raised enough money in an off-air campaign to pay the salaries of people who have

been working on the morning show the next six months while we try to comeup a more permanent solution. what we need is for pacifica to sit down at the table with us in good faith and look for solutions. unfortunately that's not what we're getting and that's where you come in. pacifica has hired an expensive management side law firm to deal with all of our union's grievances, follinger and levin and represent some of your larger hotel chains in san francisco. what these firms do is tell managers to take hog line positions and increase their number of billable hours and the only ones who winner the attorneys. our station, our community can't afford for this issue to go through an expensive time consuming binding arbitration process. pacifica needs to hear from you as a group not tied up in our internal politics, as a group withstanding in our community and is in the interest of everybody to sit down and resolve this quickly. >> good afternoon, supervisors. eric brooks, san francisco green party.

normally don't speak at regular public comment. i'm speaking at it now because i consider this to be very important. i've been a listener of kpfa radio for 16 years. i also listen to a lot of other ultimatetive media on the internet. i know a lot about what's going on at kpfa, i've read a lot from various sources on both sides about the issue, and i can tell you t sides about the issue, and i can tell you that this issue is far more complex than is addressed in the resolution with all due respect to the sponsors of the resolution who i have deep respect for all of them. i can tell you that when the resolution says that the layoffs of two members of the morning show are what created the current disruption at kpfa, i'm sorry but that's just not the case. the disruptions began much farther back than that and they have to do with democratic

process at kpfa. as you heard, the previous union for the kpfa workers represented the nonpaid staff as well as the paid staff and the nonpaid staff make up 80% of the workers at kpfa. the new union does not formally recognize and protect those workers and include them in the democratic process. so i can't explain the whole thing in the next 30 seconds but there's a much deeper level to all this, and because programmers that are on the side that is saying yes, support the resolution spent a couple of months using a lot of their air time to argue their side of the story. the other side of the story of democracy at kpfa has been lost. tracy rosenburg with media alliance, a well respected media analyzer has come out --

>> thank you very much. next speaker. >> ladies and gentlemen, my name is -- [inaudible] >> to be honest with you, i [inaudible] >> to be honest with you, i don't know the board as supervisor is great for you, i'm going to count on you as our santa claus. today you make me happy like you make the rest of the city. the reason i'm happy, to sign and you agree to keep it, there is all american cup in my city does give us big, big, good chance to have a business. i am designer, i am beginning tonight to make some design and i would like the rest of my city to give a warm welcome to the tourists and everyone going to visit my city on the future.

it doesn't know that a lot of people, lot of hotel have lost their own jobs but for now on i would like to thank each one of you for what you did today, include our mayor. i think it is good action to raise my city walk again and let our restaurant open their own door to tell the tourists as i tell them before, welcome. we lost millions when the mayor used to be supervisor. he remember that. and i am very glad to tell you i love you and the mayor, tell me this is not public comment, i asked him, he said i see you. i watch every one of you, what you said and what you talk. now we give him his intention and he give us our attention and we must give my city attention.

is the time to work. is the time to bring money for my city. and before i go outside this door, i would like to tell you in my deep heart, god bless each one of you. >> thank you. next speaker. >> respected board members and respected chairmen of the board , my name is sar rendawa and am a past member of kpfa board for five years, six years, and i've been past five years board member of pacifica national board where i served as a board member, vice chair and then chair. i have come here to ask you to support this very mild resolution. there are all + resolution. i think that there are all types of ideas here, people saying how complex the situation is, but in my mind when i began to serve on these

boards there were two fundamental ideals which i wanted to uphold and one was autonomy and freedom for the programmers to create a work, writers, thinkers, musicians, and without any interference from outside agencies. through the life history of this institution, over last 60 years, pacifica has gone into ups and downs but a few times, forces from outside have tried to take over the station and tried to mandate what they think they ought to serve this community. i think at issue is the freedom of expression of this community and to reflect ideals in the institution of kpfa radio station. and for that reason alone, i think that somebody from thousands of miles away, completely oblivious to the needs of the community to come and yank out one of the most

forward programs on the station and put in turmoil, i think it's -- this resolution is so mild, i think it ought to be amended and perhaps even put stronger language in there to look up pacifica national board know that this community and its value will be upheld. >> thank you. are there any other members of the public that wish to speak in general public comment? seeing none, general public comment is closed. madam clerk can you read the adoption without the committee reference count p l. items 59-66 are for immediate unanimous adoption. these items will be acted upon by a single roll call vote if a member requests an item will be called separately and matter considered. >> colleagues, would anyone like to sever items? supervisor alioto--peer. item 59. >> yes, please.

item 59 and if supervisor avalos does not sever 60 i'd like to sever 60. >> supervisor avalos [ >> item 60. >> any other items? if we could take a roll call vote on item 61 through 66. >> supervisor alioto-here. >> aye. >> supervisor avalos? >> aye. >> avalos aye. supervisor campos? >> aye. prosecutor president chue? >> aye. >> supervisor chu? >> aye. >> supervisor daily? >> aye. >> supervisor dufty? >> aye. >> supervisor elsburnd aye. >> supervisor mar [ >> aye. >> supervisor maxwell of >> aye. >> supervisor markarimi. >> aye. >> there are 11 ayes. >> the resolutions are adopted. item 59. >> resolution condemning the anti-italian remarks made at the planning commission. >> supervisor alito-peer. >> colleagues, last week we

discussed a little bit the anti-cy civilian technically remarks made at the planning commission by supervisor suguya. i would like to say he has apologized both publicly at the commission meeting and privately through a letter he has i think pretty widely disseminated. it was a very gracious apology and would like to thank him for it and would like to table item 59. >> supervisor alito peer, made a motion and seconded by supervisor dufty. colleagues, can we do that without objection? without objection item 5 will be tabled. item 60. >> item 60 is a resolution supporting the kpfa morning show. >> supervisor avalos? >> thank you, colleagues. i would like to actually have this voted on today. i'm a long term listener and member of kpfa radio, probably over a decade and i've been an aindividual listener. -- the avid listener.

the morning show brings coverage to a lot of the issues concern to us and our constituents across the bay area and the world. i can't think of a better source of information to provide the constituents with knowledge what's happening around the world. so it's difficult for me to see the station having such difficulty. i would agree with mr. brooks who spoke at public comment and said there's been disruption at the station much earlier. yes, there has. but this latest layoffs of the morning show and cancellation of the morning show created even greater disruption especially the listener audience who come to rely on the morning show for their news. and information and is an innocuous resolution and had a original resolution much more strident in its urging and concern about what happened at

the station. this to me is really expressing concern and calling on the parties related to the crisis and kpfa working things out and is something we should support here in the board chambers. thank you. supervisor alioto-pier? >> thank you, president chu. i respect respect supervisor avalos' feelings about it and personally don't want to vote yes on this particular item so i would like to make the motion to have it continued for one week. we do need six votes for that but i'd rather not have to send it to committee but this is not something i'm willing to support. >> supervisor alioto-pier made a motion to continue the item to january 4 seconded by supervisor dufty. is there any discussion? supervisor mar? >> i'd like to urge a no vote on that motion, like supervisor

avalos, i'd like to see this settled today so that we can vote on this today and not delay it for a week. >> if i may, i can send this to committee without a vote. i can do that as one member of the board. so if we don't vote to continue this item today, then i'll send it to committee. >> supervisor daly? >> i support the item, largely because i'm a really big fan or was a big fan of the morning show but i think given our roles we should definitely support the continuance until our next meeting in january. >> supervisor dufty? ok. supervisor alioto-pier, supervisor mar? >> i will support the continuance but just say that as a former programmer the department at kpfa in the 1980's and went through one of the first apprenticeship programs for women and people of color, it pains me the

station is tearing itself apart with different factions and this is a very simple resolution that calls for unity and coming together to protect an important progressive institution in our community. the morning show -- i'm so glad brian edwards tikiert is here and i remember criswell of and andrea lewis, the late andrea lewis and others that have a tremendous tradition and for people to say -- urge us not to support something like this that supports progressive unity and strengthening the station really pains me and i would just urge those that are asking us to not vote for this to think about how many of us are allies that want to strengthen the station as well? i applaud supervisor avalos' efforts to change language to make it more of a broad call for unity to defend the station but i'm going to be supportive in a week when we vote on this. thank you. >> supervisor avalos? >> i forgot to mention,

colleagues, i'll be supporting the continuance, of course but i do have an amendment, very slight apartment i put on your desks and emailed it to bos legislation as well and just some cleanup language and took out mediation and work together and didn't want to there to be an illusion i'm calling on a, body to deal with the labor dispute. but working together is what this is calling for and think it's pretty innocuous and can support it january 4. thanks. >> supervisor alioto-pier, if i could ask or suggest we take the amendment as a whole and move on your motion to continue. supervisor avalos made a motion to amend the whole seconded by mirkiami. can we take that without objection? that should be the case and now supervisor alioto-pier made a motion to continue to january 4 selected by supervisor dufty. can we take that motion to

continue without objection? that shall be the case. and if we can now go to the last item, item 56. >> item 56, ordinance amending the administrative code to provide for appeals to the board of supervisor of certain environmental documents and determinations under the california environmental quality act to clarify procedures and to provide public notice of environmental documents. >> supervisor alioto-pier. >> thank you, president chue. we're still working out a couple little things and would like to request a one-week continuance on this item. >> i'm sorry, not a one-week continuance but a continuance until january 4. >> supervisor alioto-peer made a motion seconded by supervisor dufty, can we take that motion to continue without objection. without objection that shall be the case. madam clerk could you please read the end memory yams for today. >> today's memory will be

adjourned on the following individuals, on behalf of alioto-pier for jonathan simmons and on behalf of supervisor dufty, gill white, sergeant jim acivedo. on behalf of president chiu, for the late rose santimno, for richard johnsonton, mr. john crawl, on behalf of supervisor campos for mr. jimenez. >> i want to thank everyone for your hard work in 2010. certainly this month as well as obviously the entire year we only have one more meeting of our session but i hope everyone has a very happy holiday and look forward to seeing you over the coming weeks. madam clerk, do we have any more business in front of this board? >> that concludes our business today, mr. president. >> at this time we are adjourned.

[horns honking] [siren wails]

announcer: big dreams and goodrades aren't enough to get into college. there are actual steps you need to take. finding someone who can help is the first and most important. for the next steps, go to knowhow2go.org. because we have a great waste water system here in san francisco, we do about 80 million gallons of waste water here in san francisco, which means we basically fill up 120 olympic sized swimming pools each and every day here in the city. we protect public health and safety and environment because we are discharging into the bay and into the ocean. this is essentially the first treatment here at our waste water treatment facility. what we do is slow down the water so that things either

settle to the bottom or float to the top. you see we have a nice selection of things floating around there, things from bubble gum wrappers, toilet paper, whatever you dump down the toilet, whatever gets into our storm drains, that's what gets into our waste water treatment and we have to clean. >> see these chains here, this keeps scum from building up. >> on this end in the liquid end basically we're just trying to produce a good water product that doesn't negatively impact the receiving water so that we have recreation and no bad impact on fish and aquatic life. solids is what's happening. . >> by sludge, what exactly do you mean? is that the actual technical term? . >> it's a technical term and

it's used in a lot of different ways, but this is organic sewage sludge. basically what it is is, oh, maybe things that come out of your garbage disposal, things that are fecal in nature. it's sludge left in the water after the primary treatment, then we blend those two over and send them over to digestion. this building is built to replace tanks here that were so odoriferous they would curl your hair. we built this as an interim process. >> is there a coagulant introduced somewhere in the middle of this? . >> this coagulant brings solids together and lets the water run through.