Urban Unrest

15 December 2005 | Community | Ernesto Aguilar

The KPFT news office is now locked at night. Vanished equipment, inappropriate computer use and discovery of questionable items were the main reasons for this security change. I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you are coming up late at night for station business, please be as prepared as you can. If you are using production time, sign up a week beforehand, for example. Remember that people at the board may be new or are concerned for their safety, and they have the right to ask questions. No offense is intended.

If you are here late at night and someone you do not know comes to the door and you’re not comfortable letting them in the building (or their explanation for being there does not wash), you do not have to let them in. The instructions for using the white call box in the studio are posted in the studio. Politely give them my number (posted on the same page as the call box instructions) and instruct them to call me. If they want to get in, they’ll find a means to call me, either by mobile or at a pay phone at Walgreen’s. If I know who they are (and I usually will), I’ll call you back on the red phone (yellow light blinks, pick up red phone) and let you know if they’re okay.

People are permitted late-night entrance to the building for station business pertaining to programming. If someone says they’re here to do production, check the clipboard by the engineering room to confirm such. A person coming by on weekends or late nights to check email, surf the web or make calls does not qualify as station business, though they can call me and explain. I’ll be happy to call you on the red phone to clear them if it’s okay.

Our front door has taken some damage that has come from people leaning back with their weight and forcing the door open. Those who damage property in this fashion should be asked to leave and not return. Damaging KPFT property purposefully is not acceptable, fixing it costs listeners money, and doing something like yanking the door until it gives way is frankly foolish. I believe we’re pretty much in agreement about this.

If you are at KPFT when the door is locked, do not prop open the door or close it in a manner that leaves it open. I have seen this more often than not, and I’d prefer not to come down on anyone, but it’s a simple request people keep ignoring.

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