The City of Oakland hired a public relations firm, in a 6-month deal worth up to $90,000, to serve as official media consultants and spokespeople following the city’s deadly warehouse fire.
The Press Shop, a San Francisco-based public relations agency, was hired to develop “media strategies and communications” following the disaster. The NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit obtained the contract and discovered the deal entitles the city to a 3-person communications team, including one executive who is being paid $500 per hour.
LAWMAKER CALLS CONTRACT "MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS"
“I think that was a misappropriation and a misuse of public funds," said Oakland City Councilman Noel Gallo. “That is really unexplainable."
Gallo lives about a block away from the now shuttered warehouse and said he was unaware of the city’s contract until the Investigative Unit showed it to him.
“I don’t need a media strategy,” Gallo said. “I need to take care of the needs of this neighborhood, and that’s what the taxpayers are paying us to do, so I think that was a bad choice.”
The city became a target of heavy criticism following the fire, which erupted on Dec. 2 during an unpermitted, late-night dance party. The warehouse, known as the Ghost Ship, was never permitted as housing or event space, but it had been used for both. In the hours after the fire, the Investigative Unit obtained records that showed city building inspectors knew about the unpermitted activity and potentially dangerous living conditions well before the disaster.
CONTRACT "PROTECTS" TAXPAYERS
Local
According to the city’s contract, the media firm was hired “for the purpose of managing and minimizing the City of Oakland’s potential exposure to liability for claims and litigation that may arise out of the Incident.”
“It is clearly reasonable in terms of value,” said Charles Byers, a public relations professor at Santa Clara University with more than 40 years of experience in the industry. Byers, who is not affiliated with The Press Shop, reviewed the scope of services of the deal before speaking with the Investigative Unit.
“What this engagement is deigned to do is to protect the city from unwarranted liability… and ultimately protecting you, the taxpayer, from that bill,” Byers said. “This is the use of public relations to protect you.”
PORTIONS OF CONTRACT REDACTED
It is impossible to know all the details of the deal since the city redacted 12 lines of the contract.
The administration said that information is “privileged" since litigation could be involved.
Meanwhile, Oakland has already paid for $15,000 of work. The invoice, however, does not detail what the city got in return, only saying the payment was for “confidential media services.”
TAXPAYERS ACROSS CALIFORNIA PAYING FOR CONTRACT
According to the contract, "the city's insurance carrier will be responsible to pay for all of the consultant's fees and costs," however, the Investigative Unit learned taxpayers in Oakland and throughout the state are still getting stuck with the bill.
In addition to Oakland, residents in 13 other cities and counties across California are also funding the contract since those areas all pool their money into a single fund that can only be used to manage a major crisis. Allowable costs include counseling, funeral services, and media consulting.
The California State Association of Counties Excess Insurance Authority (CSAC EIA) manages the money and acts similar to an insurance company. Cities and counties pay annual premiums and those tax dollars are then used to pay out claims, like the one Oakland submitted to hire The Press Shop.
MAYOR'S PRESS TEAM AND THE PRESS SHOP DECLINE INTERVIEWS
The Press Shop and Oakland's in-house media team receive tax-payer money to deal with the press, however, both declined to be interviewed.
In a statement, the mayor’s Communications Director, Erica Derryck, echoed the language of the contract in saying the deal is helping protect the city from “potential exposure to liability for claims and litigation.”
The contract was signed on Jan. 12 and expires June 30. Gallo calls the deal unnecessary and irresponsible.
“I don’t need a media strategy,” said Gallo. “I need to take care of the needs of this neighborhood and that’s what the taxpayers are paying us to do, so I think that was a bad choice.”
______________________________________
Need to contact our Investigative Unit?
• You can remain anonymous
• 1-888-996-TIPS
______________________________________
Watch our investigative series on the Oakland warehouse fire:
- Oakland Venue Was Under Investigation Before Deadly Fire
- Family of Woman Who Owns Oakland Warehouse Sends Condolences
- Oakland Warehouse 'Looks Very Bad,' Stairwell Unsafe
- Oakland Artists Fear Fire Fallout Will Impact Their Lives
- Owner Knew of 'Hazardous Conditions' Around Warehouse
- Conflicting Laws Enable Artist Colonies in Warehouses
- Illegal Housing Conversions in Oakland Widespread
- Oakland Leaders Call for Probe Into Illegal Live-Work Spaces
- Legal Battle Brewing Over Who Is Accountable for Oakland Fire
- Oakland Paying Exec. $500/Hr to Run Public Relations After Warehouse Fire
