June 14, 2000
Bessie Wash, Acting Executive Director
Lynn Chadwick, Retiring Executive Director
Mary Frances Berry, Chair of the Board
Pacifica Foundation National Office
2390 Champlain Street NW
Second Floor
Washington, DC 20009

Dear Ms. Wash, Ms. Chadwick and Ms. Berry,

As you may know, WCBN has been on a dues strike during the 2000 Fiscal Year to protest what we believe to be unfair labor practices, disregard for the founding principles of Pacifica, and irresponsible actions on the part of Pacifica Management.

For these reasons, the deteriorating integrity and quality of the Pacifica Network News, and demands from our listeners and the staff, WCBN ceased airing PNN effective today. We also hereby serve notice of our intent not to renew our three-year contract set to expire on October 1.

In meeting to approve the FY 01 budget, the WCBN Board of Directors moved not to renew funding for the contract. The board also moved to allocate the total amount donated to WCBN, in protest of Pacifica, to your striking contributors working on the Free Speech Radio News and spend last year's budgeted Pacifica allocation to purchase desperately needed new equipment.

While we salute the work of Pacifica over the years, in light of recent events, we cannot in good conscience continue to call ourselves "Radio Free Ann Arbor" while supporting an organization that does not, in its actions, support freedom of speech or the democratic process.

We also implore the Pacifica Board to immediately meet the strike demands and restore Pacifica to serving in the Public, not the Private/Corporate, interest.

Sincerely,