End of an era at KCSM radio

KCSM, "the Bay Area's jazz station," recently announced the "retirement" of longtime DJs Dick Conte and Michael Burman. Turns out their retirements were of the involuntary type, apparently required by an interpretation of CalPERS rules. Conte:

“It wasn’t my idea,” he said in an email to the Chronicle. “Michael Burman and I were forced to retire due to a CalPERS rule, which doesn’t allow retired annuitants to work for any CalPERS facility.”

Conte is referring to a rule that limits retirees drawing a pension from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System — such as those working for public institutions like the College of San Mateo, which operates KCSM — to temporary positions only, with a cap of 960 hours per fiscal year.  

Worse news still for fans of the station, on the air this morning the venerable Sonny Buxton announced his own retirement as of the end of next week, saying "it's time." Buxton, well into his 80s, seems to have been experiencing some health issues recently, so maybe his departure is truly voluntary. The recent death of another KCSM stalwart, Leslie Stoval, may have been on his mind. 

Between the three of them, these guys possess encyclopedic jazz knowledge– in particular Bay Area jazz knowledge– that comes with a deep love of the music and an eagerness to share their wisdom, not to mention their experience as musicians. Their tastes are all pretty mainstream, and if they have a higher tolerance for the Hammond B3 than I can muster, I forgive them that. I'll miss their friendly familiar voices and deep playlists.