more spin/waste at $0.335 per household

As I said before, Mr. Mayor, stop sending us spin on our own dime.

Is there ANYTHING in this letter you couldn't have posted online or sent in your weekly email instead?


Note: only a rough scan of the front side uploaded. I assume we'll all have a copy soon enough, anyhow.

PR Strategy

re: COR's upcoming PR Strategy

I've already expressed my opinions on actual and wannabe PR flacks but it looks like the situation is about to get weird. Or weirder.[0].

Here are the city's options:[1]

1. do nothing. An often-overlooked option.
2. If blogger concerns are real and valid, address them. Win/win.
3. If blogger concerns are invalid, provide sufficient evidence and transparency to make that case. Win/Win.
4. Hire a Minister of Propaganda to run the infowar. Win/lose in the short term, lose/lose in the long term.

Reality check: if the customer wants an improved product do you listen to customer suggestions to make a better product, or do you hire someone to manage your brand and spin the current product?[2]

Cluetrain puts it this way: "You have two choices. You can continue to lock yourself behind facile corporate words and happytalk brochures. Or you can join the conversation."

bmouse,
guerilla capitalist


[0] as HST would say.
[1] I have left out some really unpleasant/counterproductive/stupid ones to avoid giving TPTB any ideas
[2] Extra value will be assigned to opinions expressed by those that have run their own businesses (especially here in Richardson).