A current investigative report has uncovered stunning revelations concerning the City of Gilbert’s Workplace of Digital Authorities (ODG), drawing consideration to its intensive monitoring and management over the web actions of city staff and elected officers.
The report, first dropped at mild by AZ Free Information, highlighted the workplace’s position in policing on-line speech to align with a selected political agenda.
The ODG, with an annual funds exceeding $1 million, is accused of imposing progressive, far-left views, carefully monitoring, and generally reprimanding staff for his or her non-public and public communications.
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Gilbert pays a division over $1 million a 12 months to manage city staff and elected officers’ on-line speech to make sure conformity with a progressive political agenda.
My newest lined by @azfamily ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bBs07t09aE— Corinne Murdock (@CorinneMurdock) January 19, 2024
Dana Berchman, the city’s Chief Digital Officer, has been on the heart of the controversy, with the ODG reportedly preserving an in depth eye on private social media posts of government-affiliated people.
ODG’s actions have raised considerations amongst city staff and watchdog teams about points associated to free speech and political bias.
Studies recommend that the ODG, led by Berchman, has a major affect over on-line communications from varied departments throughout the city’s administration.
Following important social and political occasions, such because the dying of George Floyd and the January 6 Capitol riots, the ODG’s scrutiny of staff’ social media exercise intensified. The division is accused of imposing strict tips on the general public expression of views, notably discouraging the present of assist for pro-police messaging.
The implications of ODG’s actions prolong past inner communications.
The division has influenced varied elements of city operations, together with public security responses and the portrayal of serious native occasions. There have been situations the place ODG’s directives seemingly prioritized political correctness over operational effectivity.
Gilbert’s Mayor Brigette Peterson and different city officers have confronted criticism and authorized challenges as a result of these practices.
Judicial Watch has been scrutinizing Gilbert’s management since 2021, citing allegations of utilizing municipal assets to propagate a specific political ideology, in accordance with Arizona Every day Impartial.
Mayor Peterson herself has been the topic of a number of ethics violation complaints, additional underscoring the contentious nature of the city’s management.
The salaries of ODG staff have additionally been introduced into the highlight, with figures starting from over $82,000 to just about $138,000, and Berchman’s wage exceeding $200,000 yearly. The overall ODG salaries surpass $1.15 million, elevating questions on using taxpayer funds to assist the division’s unconstitutional actions.
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