Name:

Shawn Casey O'Brien

Expertise:

Endorsements:

Statement:

My name is Shawn Casey O'Brien and for the last 7 years I have been co-host and co-producer of KPFK's "Access Unlimited" the disability awareness show heard every Tuesday at 3 p.m.

As the former executive director of the Unique People's Voting Project for 9 years I was instrumental in getting over 100,000 disabled citizens and there family member registered and out to vote. And I continue to this day to fight for the voting and civil rights of citizens with disabilities though out California.

In other words, I take my democracy very seriously and thus, should I be elected to the Station's Local Board, I will work assiduously to increase the democratic participation of KPFK's subscribers and staff in their Local Board elections.

I will do this first, by making sure that during every fund drive we repeatedly point out that one of the main benefits of membership to KPFK is that people who donate also get to vote in our local elections. The fact is, most of our subscribers don't realize that their donation entitles them to cast a vote in local BD elections. We should let them know. During our fund drives, we should -- with nearly every pitch -- drive home that very point. That, we not only want their money, but we also want their vote! So that the idea of donating and participation in our elections become one in the minds of our subscribers and listeners.

Besides the benefit of increasing participation in our elections, such and effort would very likely expand the composition of the Local BD to better reflect our community as a whole, as well as, make it that much harder for one small group or another to hijack our dismally low turn out election... as is currently the practice.

I would also see to it that all ballots sent out to subscribers include a stamped, self-addressed, return envelope which is a small price to pay to substantially increase participation in our elections. If we can give them a stamped, return envelope to make it easier for them to send us their money, we ought to do the same with their ballots.

Finally, I and my co-host on Access Unlimited -- as the name implies-- take access very seriously and as such have worked for years to make KPFK and it upstairs archives and studios accessible to all our colleagues and guests.

And after years of having the funds for an elevator deferred, I'm happy to say that this year I and my co-host were instrumental in getting the funds necessary to get an elevator installed. Along with current BD members, who understood well that "Justice delayed is justice denied", KPFK is now committed to becoming totally accessible.

As a member of the LSB it is my every intent to make sure that that such a thing happens in the quickest, most efficient, cost effective fashion possible.

I promise to do this not just for the disabled community. But for the whole community. As a board member I intend to watch out for just about everybody's future. With the aging of American over the next 25 years KPFK must be in the forefront of promoting & protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities. Not because it the law, but because it is the right and the smart thing to do if we are going to realistically meet the access needs of the community we serve now and in the not-to-distant future.

I run for the local board to strengthen democracy and participation at KPFK and prepare her for a future accessible to everyone. If you share a similar vision for KPFK, I would appreciate your vote. Thank you.