Marianela Tricoche (member of Women Workers for Peace [Bronx Latina group], Bolivarian Circle [Venezuela solidarity], & Vieques Support Campaign; immigrant rights activist; translator for WBAI's Wakeup Call and other programs)

Click here for candidate statement.

Marianela Tricoche

marianela@justiceunity.org
212-591-2111

1. Why do you wish to serve on the Local Station Board? 

I am running as a candidate for the WBAI Local Station Board because I firmly believe that the station represents a great asset to its listeners by informing them and clarifying the issues of the day in a manner that is not controlled by the corporate world. I have been an activist in New York City for about thirty years in causes such as women's issues, police brutality, and immigrant’s rights. My passion about these issues is the reason I am running with the Justice and Unity Campaign, to help ensure as a board member that the station remains the voice of the voiceless. I think my activist experience will be an asset to the board.

 2. What skills, qualifications and experience would you bring to the board?

I was a biochemist for thirty years; now I am a retiree. I have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from Notre Dame College and a master’s degree in chemistry from NYU. I served as an 1199 Union delegate for three decades. I was on the board of La Peña, a community center in the South Bronx. I was an activist in the Vieques Support Campaign. I currently belong to Workers for Peace, the Bolivarian Circle “Alberto Lovera” and several organizations dealing with immigrants’ rights. In the past, I sometimes translated Spanish to English (or vice versa) on Wakeup Call. I also use my translating skills to help other progressive organizations. My experience in many areas could enhance the functioning of the board.

3. What can be done to improve the dynamics and effectiveness of the Local Station Board?

On the board we need members who are ready to act in good faith, and who are willing to be respectful towards one another. Board members should be able to put aside their prejudices and work solely for the good of the station. We need board members who do not spread false rumors about management. Board members should undergo training in interpersonal communication and ethics.

4. What LSB committees would you like to join? What Pacifica National Board committees?

I plan to join the LSB’s Membership, Outreach and Fundraising Committee, which I have already attended several times. WBAI needs more exposure among communities of color and among young people, and I will continue to help do that outreach. I am also interested in joining the PNB’s Programming Committee.

5. Would you be interested in serving on the Pacifica National Board, and why?

Due to personal family issues it is not possible for me to join the Pacifica National Board. I would not be able to travel outside of New York City for the board meetings.

6. How do you view the dynamics between the Pacifica network and local station autonomy?

I believe that one of the main priorities of the local stations’ managements should be to serve the local communities within their listening area. This is done by implementing programs targeted to local community needs. If the Pacifica network wishes to implement a national program, the local stations should have a very strong input in the decision – after all, it is the contributions of the local listening public which in great part keep the stations on the air.

7. How should the Pacifica Foundation find a wider audience?

Local stations could advertise in small community local newspapers and in progressive publications. Local board members, together with listener volunteers, should attend activist functions in order to bring literature concerning the station and to establish ties with the listening public. Closer ties should be also be developed between the staff of WBAI programs and community organizations. This could lead to increased publicity to the public served by these organizations.

8. What can be done to preserve and share the treasures of the Pacifica Archives?

The material stored in the Pacifica Archives is priceless. It is a historical record of events and people who shaped the various progressive movements here in the United States and worldwide. The mainstream media ignored many of these people and these events. This gives these records added importance. It is imperative that the Pacifica Archives be preserved. Local stations have done many on-air fundraisers to raise money for the Archives. I propose that as material in the archives becomes digitized, copies of the material should be offered to the public in return for donations by using the different local programs to advertise the content of these offerings.

9. Do you have any ideas for new approaches to fundraising for Pacifica?

Members of the LSB should be encouraged to publicize and participate more closely with the station’s different fundraising activities  – whether those held on the air or off the air, such as dinners for major donors. Board members together with volunteers should help the premiums department to mail out premiums, if they need such help to speed up delivery to donors.. I will help carry out an idea of the Justice and Unity Campaign: board members should do phone banking to encourage those who have pledged but not fulfilled their pledges to do so.. We should also mobilize retired people to help with direct-mail and other off-air methods of fundraising.

10. How do you view Pacifica’s potential in providing internet content?

There is great potential in providing internet content to our listeners, especially among young people. Justice and Unity has done fundraising that has resulted in the station having digital audio archives of recent programs. With creative thinking, this type of digital offerings can be expanded.

11. What technologies should the Pacifica Foundation consider for the future?

There are many technologies that can be considered as worthwhile implementing at the local stations. Some examples are HD radio, satellite radio, internet just to name a few. We must also consider the cost of utilizing these advances and the listeners’ ability to utilize the technology.

12. What can be done to improve our signal strength?

WBAI transmits its signal from the Empire State Building. The cost of this transmission is $300,000 per year. This is a tremendous amount of money, especially considering that at most of the other Pacifica radio stations the cost of transmission is around $60,000. I would suggest consulting with technical experts to see what the station’s options might be for reducing costs and expanding the reach of the signal.

13. Should the station consider relocating the studio to other facilities?

Yes, we should relocate the station as soon as possible. The rent of the studios in Wall Street is huge and it increases every year. We should try to move into a facility which we own. Justice and Unity has a plan for a capital campaign, which hopefully will be implemented as soon as a new station manager is ready to do it.

14. How can our station better serve under-represented communities?

We should try to establish dialogue with communities that are under-represented, by holding meetings with their members and leadership. We should incorporate some of their members into activities at the station and into helping the local board members with some of their tasks. We should also try to become better informed about the workings and problems of these communities.

15. How can our station better serve the many linguistic communities of the signal area?

We should reach out to these communities by holding town meetings, by inviting their leaders to small gatherings, preferably within their own neighborhoods. We should print fliers in their own languages. We could probably have volunteer translators working with us when reaching out to the different members of these linguistic communities. Thanks to a Justice and Unity initiative, we already have a progressive Pacifica news show in Spanish (Informativo Pacifica) that airs Mon-Thurs.

16. What do you see as our station’s strong and weak points?

One of the weak points of the station is the huge rent it pays for the Wall Street location. This drainage of money affects our fiscal stability. The station has to find creative ways of including under-represented groups. The station suffers from underexposure among many people who have never heard of its existence. On the other hand, the station should be very proud of its 8 shows by and for the Latino community, and the inclusion of so many different issue-oriented programs.

17. Have you ever been party to, or provided support for a lawsuit involving Pacifica or its employees? When and Why?

I have never been involved in the above-mentioned lawsuits.

18. How do you think the election process for Local Station Board can be improved?

Elections should be changed to 4-year terms. This will free more time for the board to use its energy to deal with station issues. Elections are a very costly process and elections that are too close in years drain resources for every one concerned. There was an attempt made to amend the bylaws that deal with this matter. Justice and Unity was at the forefront of this attempt, but the effort was narrowly defeated at WBAI – the entire opposition bloc voted against it. We must also remove the influence of private monies from the campaign, especially those funds used for the voter mailings.

19. What are your hobbies, interests, and other organizational affiliations?

My main hobby is reading articles and books that pertain to archaeology. I am especially drawn to new archaeological findings from Latin America. Another hobby is reading history books, preferably books dealing with the analysis of wars, ancient and present. Some strong interests of mine are gardening and doing translations at progressive functions. I am a member of Workers for Peace, an organization based in the Bronx which deals with women’s issues. We have women from many countries such as Colombia, Salvador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Chile and the U.S. I belong to the New York Bolivarian circle named “Alberto Lovera.” This Bolivarian circle tries to inform the public as to what is really happening in Venezuela, in order to counter the lies spread by the main-stream media concerning the political process headed by President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. I work very closely with different organizations that deal with immigration issues.