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City Considering Proposal To Improve Messaging

June 12th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The City of Cumberland is considering a proposal by public relations firm McClarran and Williams to improve the way the city manages and presents its message. Dave Williams addressed City Council during a work session yesterday afternoon…

Firm co-owner Becky McClarran pointed out that in many instances, a negative impression makes the rounds before accurate information ever reaches the general public.

9 Responses to “City Considering Proposal To Improve Messaging”

  1. June 12, 2019 at 9:23 am, mac said:

    The takeaway from this is that a PR firm should be hired by the city to ensure that the message has the best spin possible.
    It shouldn’t be necessary to hire yet another consultant when the city has information for the general public.
    Speak plainly and honestly and you will be heard.

    Reply

    • June 12, 2019 at 12:12 pm, kevin said:

      > Exactly. A PR firm “trying to help” is like expecting a woodpecker to be a carpenter.

      Reply

  2. June 12, 2019 at 10:24 am, mac said:

    No, no Mr. Mayor. You don’t want to say that taxes must increase to fund city services. What you want to say is that every citizen will have a greater opportunity to enhance the future of Cumberland and to improve the quality of life for all of it’s citizens.

    Reply

  3. June 12, 2019 at 5:41 pm, LRH said:

    Thanks Mac. Could not have said it better……”It shouldn’t be necessary to hire yet another consultant when the city has information for the general public.
    Speak plainly and honestly and you will be heard.” BTW, how much of my “fee increase” will go to cover the PR firms fee?

    Reply

  4. June 13, 2019 at 7:16 am, mac said:

    The PR flacks must have done a real snow job on the City and the City bought it.
    Just another example of the privatization of governmental operations. Private contractors fulfilling military operations overseas, whole prison systems run by private corporations, and now the City of Cumberland wants to have it’s own Public Relations firm.
    Mr. Mayor, what about the upcoming budget? Uh, I’ll have my people get in touch with your people.
    Mr. Mayor, when do you expect the road resurfacing to be completed? Uh, I’ll have my people get in touch with your people.

    Reply

  5. June 13, 2019 at 8:13 am, Steve said:

    I don’t recall any of you having communication issues when you were running for office! Quit wasting taxpayer money!! Come On!!!

    Reply

  6. June 13, 2019 at 12:33 pm, mac said:

    Government (public) monies should not be wasted to “improve” or otherwise clarify whatever it is that City government has to say in a public forum.
    The PR firm didn’t approach the City out of any humanitarian impulse. The PR firm made their presentation to the City in an attempt to increase their own income by taking on the City as a client.
    Now I may be wrong and McClarran and Williams may have presented their proposal and expect no monetary remuneration ($$$) in return and, if so, I am sorry to have stated otherwise.
    But, you know what, I highly doubt it.
    Please, prove me wrong.

    Reply

  7. June 13, 2019 at 12:49 pm, mac said:

    A lot of public money gets wasted for the wrong reasons and, in my mind, this has to be one of the worst.
    Everyone knows that the City of Cumberland has some serious problems and that those problems will probably get worse before they get better.
    Why try to “improve” what has to be said by using a PR mouthpiece to change the “spin” on the information?
    Information need not be reworked to be all puppies and rainbows. The City should give the public a little more credit than to think they need to hear all happy news when that news might not be so pleasant.
    This is a bad idea and a waste of money.

    Reply

  8. June 16, 2019 at 5:30 am, mark said:

    Dave Williams & Co. just want to get some taxpayer money while there’s still some to get! Just another freeloading parasite getting chummy with the elected parasites. Cumberland deserves both & I hope they raise YOUR taxes to pay Dave & pay for CSX’s bridges.

    Reply

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