Statement from the City of West Hollywood regarding whistleblower claims

Two weeks ago we received a letter written by the city employee we’re calling “Whistleblower 3,” who is known to city officials but whom we’ve chosen not to identify by name. We waited two weeks before its publication to give the city an opportunity to submit a rebuttal, which is printed below, and this article will stand as the final in this series. Future whistleblowers are encouraged to follow the protocol set by the city’s whistblower policy. 

In recent weeks, the community in West Hollywood and the City of West Hollywood’s staff, appointed officials, and City Councilmembers have been aware of a series of posts in WEHOonline from an individual claiming to be a City Hall whistleblower.

Recently, this individual came forward to City management to indicate that they are, in fact, the person communicating with WEHOonline and WEHOonline has posted that the individual has revealed their identity to the online publication, as well.

The content and tone of the posts on WEHOonline has sparked a wave of comments that reflect negatively on the City and the posts, themselves, contain a myriad of speculative information and a range of accusations about workplace culture and City employees.

WEHOonline reached out to City management this week to provide the City with an opportunity to provide this statement. The City appreciates the opportunity to act in response in this public forum.

In regard to this topic, City Manager David Wilson provided an overview to all City staff and the City Council on Thursday, February 29 to communicate next steps being taken the City. In the spirit of transparency and accountability, this information, as follows, is also being provided to the community.

With the identity of the person making the allegations now known to City management, a more comprehensive investigation can be conducted into all claims made in the online publication posts, as well as any related activities. This will be initiated by the City Attorney’s office, which will engage an independent third-party investigator to conduct the process. The investigation will include conducting interviews with everyone involved to ensure accountability for any alleged misconduct within the organization.

While whistleblowers are essential in upholding transparency and accountability, often risking their careers to expose truths that can lead to significant institutional reforms and justice, it is important to point out that there are multiple City processes and points of contact available to all employees to file whistleblower complaints for investigation, as well as a free and external ombudsperson service. The City’s intention is always to encourage open dialogue, but creating a public-facing discourse can have detrimental impacts on many employees within the organization, particularly when personal and professional information was shared with WEHOonline, rather than through the City’s Human Resources Manager or the City’s ombudsperson, who are qualified to accept sensitive information as part of the complaint process.

When it comes to the professionalism of the City as an organization, confidentiality is required in matters concerning individual employees, as it not only protects the privacy and rights of those involved, but also ensures fair and impartial treatment throughout any investigative or disciplinary processes. Publicly speculating on personnel matters can potentially compromise the integrity of such proceedings and expose the City to legal liabilities. Nevertheless, the allegations and concerns expressed in these posts deserve attention. The City takes all allegations of misconduct or unethical behavior seriously, and appropriate steps are being taken to address

them in accordance with established policies and procedures. The City’s commitment to maintaining a workplace environment that is supportive, respectful, and free from discrimination and harassment remains steadfast. Violating the City’s codes, abuse of authority, and bullying are not acceptable, nor are personal attacks against other employees, sharing of inaccurate information, or efforts to damage the important work and reputation of the City.

Importantly, while there may be community expectations at this time that the City should engage in an additional level of public-facing detail about specific allegations or personnel, it’s the City’s obligation to protect the privacy of individual staff members as the City goes through an investigative process. WEHOonline’s publisher has indicated to City management that the publication would like to mark this moment as an endpoint in posting whistleblower claims. To that end, the City agrees, and it regards transparent and factual information following an investigation as the best way for the City to hold itself accountable to the community.

The City of West Hollywood owes much of its success to the dedication and hard work of its dedicated City staff members and deeply values the support and engagement of its community members, who make West Hollywood the extraordinary place it is. The City achieves remarkable results when we stand together in support of one another and we want to support our employees’ success as we continue our focus on providing excellent service to our community.