Media-Blackout Memo Leaked to Media
Water boss orders employees' silence on possible bankruptcy
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 | Updated 2:58 PM PDT
Everybody knows memos are meant to be leaked.
The general manager of an Antelope Valley water district has told his employees they will be fired if they speak with journalists, after the local daily published details about impending budget cuts and possible bankruptcy, it was reported Saturday.
The Antelope Valley Press says its staff was singled out by Palmdale Water District general manager Randy Hill for a press blackout after the manager met with a newspaper editor Friday. Accompanied by a water board member and assistant, he complained that his memo about budget shortfall contingencies, that include possible layoffs or even bankruptcy, had been covered as news before he was ready.
"Effective immediately while working for the PMD no employee is to converse, or share information in any way with Antelope Valley Press reporter Alisha Semchuck," said a memo issued by Hill, which was immediately leaked to the newspaper. "Failure to follow this directive will subject an employee to disciplinary action up to and including termination."
The paper reported that, when Hill was contacted by Semchuck for comment on the gag ordered by his latest leaked memo, he then extended the ban to all reporters.
"I just happened to use your name because you've been the problem," he reportedly told the reporter.
The newspaper reported that its editor told Hill that its policy was to cover events of civic importance as they happened.
The newspaper has been detailing possible bankruptcy for the district, based on leaked memos that Hill wrote. The district, with a $25 million annual budget, has just $140,000 in its dwindling reserve funds, the Press reported.
The district has already raised water rates by between 65 and 140 percent, and has effectively cut its rank and file employees' pay by 10 percent. Hill has offered to take a pay cut of 7 percent but keep his controversial $1,000 per month vehicle use reimbursement untouched.
In a subsequent memo, which was also leaked, Hill said the informant "has broken trust with all of us and made it more difficult to share openly with all employees in the future. What a shame."
Under California's Public Records Act, the memos are public documents and must be made public upon request, a journalism advocacy group said.
Neither Hill nor any spokesman for the water agency was available for comment Saturday.
