Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007 | I have finally reached the point where I say, “Enough is enough!”
In today’s Union-Tribune, I read with incredulity that City Attorney Mike Aguirre has launched an investigative probe into the business and editorial practices at KPBS-TV and Radio.
I have been a financial supporter of KPBS and other public broadcast stations over the years. I, too, am upset at KPBS General Manager Doug Myrland’s decision to cancel “Full Focus” on TV and “A Way With Words” on radio. In fact, my annual financial contribution to KPBS is up for renewal. I am among those who are upset at the cancellation of the two shows, and I may choose not to renew to protest the general manager’s programming decisions.
However, I have never made a financial contribution expecting that my donation would be targeted to support only those particular programs that I like, and no others. It doesn’t work that way, and it would be an accounting and logistical nightmare for KPBS or any station to try to program that way.
What really disturbs me, though, is Aguirre’s interest in how guests are chosen to appear on the KPBS public affairs programs. In his paranoid, delusional way (yes, I have come to that conclusion about him), Aguirre senses some grand scheme that somehow loads the shows with participants who are antagonistic to him and his views.
Aguirre purportedly also wants to know who the top 20 financial contributors are to KPBS. Does Aguirre really think there is some kind of grand conspiracy at the stations to undermine and target him? If so, is it the Left or the Right that is targeting Aguirre? Or both?
Though I have kept silent until now, I have felt for some time that Aguirre has no sense of discretion or prudence in many of the investigations and lawsuits he has undertaken. He has cost the city tens of millions of dollars in groundless lawsuits, settlements, lost judgments, court costs and staff expenses in his ill-advised, quixotic adventures to slay non-existent dragons.
Should we even wait until the 2008 elections to stop this man? Recall effort, anyone?