An audio collage Tribute to Gary Webb featuring 1997 Webb excerpts music by Sucking Chest Wound documenting the Dark Alliance links between the CIA, Cocaine Traffikers, the Crack epidemic of the 80s and the CIA orgainized Rightwing Contras of that era.

There will be an alternative/independent media conference in Fresno on Saturday, February 12, 2005.

NEW LIBRARY HOURS BEGINNING JANUARY 11, 2005

Year end 2004 best of indypendant music and mixes broadcast today on Free Radio Santa Cruz
Streaming Live at www.freakradio.org and
Broadcasting on 101fm (thanks to SCRAM Santa Cruz Radio Access Movement) starting at 11am throughout day eccept for 12-1pm for Democracy Now!

The three Salinas Public Libraries will close for an indefinite period of time soon after January 1, 2005. According to the website for the Salinas Public Libraries, these closures are part of the 9.2 million dollars in the service reductions incurred by the City of Salinas due to loss of revenues from the State of California, higher fees imposed by Monterey County, slower than expected economic recovery, and increased costs of employee health insurance and retirement benefits. Exact dates and details are to be determined. The Salinas Public Libraries may close in July, 2005 according to an interview on KCRW with Anna Caballero, Mayor of Salinas.

Reduced Hours Effective January 11, 2005

Audio: Salinas City Concil Votes to Shutter Libraries

[ Salinas Public Library I Friends of the Salinas Public Library ]

The City Council in Salinas, CA, birthplace to literary giant John Steinbeck, capped a series of contentious budget debates in mid-December with a decision to close all its public libraries next summer, becoming the largest US city to do so. FSRN reporter Vinny Lombardo has more... 3:31

This story originally broadcast on Monday December 20 edition of Free Speech Radio News.

The Homeless Persons Health Project has been compiling annual statistics on homeless deaths in the greater Santa Cruz area. Here is their executive summary of those statistics which was published on Dec. 21, 2004. The reason that the list of homeless deaths had 37 names but the report says 30 deaths is due to the fact that some homeless people were able to get into housing just prior to their deaths and were not included in the statistical study, though no doubt homelessness played a factor in their deaths. --- Becky Johnson of HUFF

Save Social Security From Bush!

Interview with Amalia Avila Gonzalez, mother of Lance Cpl. Victor Gonzalez, a US marine from Pajaro, CA who was killed in action on October 13. Amalia is a member of a Code Pink delegation travelling to the Middle East from December 27, until January 4, to deliver humanitarian aid for refugees of the US military's invasion on Fallujah. Amalia decided to join the delegation at the last minute, and is paying the $2000 in travel expenses out of her own pocket. Amalia was kind enough to invite me in her home to speak about her sons life, and death, and her decision to travel with the delegation.

Listen to the Stream or Download the mp3

[ Code Pink WOMEN for PEACE I Code Pink blog ]

The following is the presentation Bill Mandel prepared for the Public Forum ("KPFA/Pacifica - Democracy Deferred?"), held at La Peña in Berkeley on November 10, 2004.