Radio for (Lots of) Change

Expectations are high for Boulder's Working Assets radio -- maybe too high.

A A A Comments By Michael Roberts Thursday, May 25 2000

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Lontine follows Kieschnick's lead regarding comments on ex-employees: "I don't think it's appropriate, and to a certain extent, it's classless." Instead, he focuses on new additions, including exclusive contributions from Saturday Night Live alum Brad Hall that will begin appearing soon on Flanagan's Real Time program. "This is the most meaningful broadcasting project I've ever been involved with," he says, "and it's also been the most challenging, and sometimes the most troubling. But in the end, we're making a difference -- and we will make change."

Bill De La Cruz hopes so. The vice president of the Boulder Valley School Board, De La Cruz produced Youth Talk, a show for and about teenagers in Boulder, for two and a half years prior to Lontine's hiring. At a meeting last summer, De La Cruz says, Lontine seemed enthusiastic about continuing the program on KWAB. But whenever De La Cruz called after that to inquire about getting Youth Talk on the schedule, he says he was put off -- and now, the better part of a year later, he's given up. "It's too bad, because the kids really miss it, and it would have fit in perfectly with everything they say about social consciousness," he says. "It's disappointing."

Susan Goldstein

Former employees of KWAB general manager Chuck Lontine say he has a cutting management style.

Susan Goldstein

Peter Jones is one of many former KWAB employees to be fired or lose their shows in the last year.

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De La Cruz may still benefit from KWAB, though: He runs a nonprofit organization, Restoring Choices, that's been nominated for the station's twice-weekly $5,000 giveaway. "But you have to be listening to the station to win," he says. "And lately, that's been hard for me to do.