{"id":125,"date":"2009-02-17T18:19:00","date_gmt":"2009-02-17T18:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terragrafix.com\/blog\/?p=125"},"modified":"2009-02-17T18:19:00","modified_gmt":"2009-02-17T18:19:00","slug":"city-manager-bans-distribution-of-news-publications-at-city-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=125","title":{"rendered":"City Manager Bans Distribution of News, Publications at City Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"


Secret News Request Prompts Blanket Ban on “Outside Publications,” including Chamber Newsletter, Restaurant Flyers <\/span><\/p>\n

By Brian Donahue, Marc Albert, and Tracy Schroth<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>A request by The Secret News<\/span> to place printed copies of the Emeryville city news blog in City Hall \u00e2\u20ac\u201c alongside the Chamber of Commerce newsletter, The Emeryville Connection<\/span> — has triggered an all-out news ban by City Manager Patrick O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Keefe. As a result of The Secret News\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 <\/span>request, O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Keefe has declared all \u00e2\u20ac\u0153outside publications\u00e2\u20ac\u009d prohibited, including restaurant and other business flyers formerly posted in the employee break room, and the Connection<\/span>, copies of which were neatly stacked at the front counter for the past two + years. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>The ban was issued last Thursday, at the advice of City Attorney Mike Biddle, just two hours after The Secret News<\/span> made its request to place printed copies at City Hall. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>In an e-mail to City officials, Chamber President Bob Canter vowed compliance with the new ban (see below)<\/span>, and that he supports the arrest of individuals caught distributing any publications at City Hall. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the second time in recent years that the City has been challenged over its support of the Chamber\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s newsletter, which serves primarily as a pro- government PR sheet. The first challenge came when it was discovered the City was actually using taxpayer money to bankroll the Connection, at a cost of $43,000 a year. This is despite the Chamber\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s status as a private, independent membership organization with no formal city affiliation. The Chamber lost its taxpayer subsidy, and soon switched from glossy 4-color to newsprint.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Email to City officials from Chamber President Bob Canter:<\/span>
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We’re going to obey you.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/strong> <\/div>\n
The Emeryville Chamber of Commerce has every intention of obeying the law and abiding by the decision of the City Manager and City Attorney regarding the distribution of materials in City Hall. We recognize the right of the City Manager to control what materials are distributed in the building. <\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/strong> <\/div>\n
Effective immediately — in compliance with the City Manager’s\/City Attorney’s joint determination — we will no longer ask for, nor expect, The Emeryville Connection to be displayed anywhere inside City Hall. Per Mr. O’Keeffe, I will keep several issues with me and will hand them out on a one-on-one basis, upon request, or if someone says they would like to see a copy, but effective immediately there will be no illegal standing displays of the paper.<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/strong> <\/div>\n
The City Manager\/City Attorney can enforce their decision any way they deem proper, including removing illegally-displayed materials. Arrest also sounds like a great option to us.<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span><\/p>\n