Asheville media outlets await City Hall response to public records request regarding Occupy Asheville

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

1

Asheville media outlets are awaiting Asheville City Hall’s response to a people public records request in the wake of controversy surrounding the Facebook posts of two city workers.

Last week, two city employees were put on paid administrative leave after a local blogger called attention to a Facebook post by one employee critical of the Occupy Asheville movement, and a second employee’s response. Mainstream media outlets picked up the story and ran with it.

The media outlets have asked to see any emails written by city staffers that mention Occupy Asheville. I’m not sure what the time window is, but the request is obviously to see what, if anything, other city employees have said. Government email is a public record and open to review by anyone who asks.

It’s a question of fairness. Are the two employees on paid administrative leave being treated fairly? What about other Facebook posts by city employees – have they been reviewed? Where’s the line regarding what a city employee can and cannot say about a political movement?

We’ll be waiting and watching.