The Buzz blog brings bad news behind a pay wall but thanks to some AWESOME tipsters out there I can stay informed even though I'm broke.
Here's what I've read: Joe Miller just got the ax as far as his media duties are concerned after a lot of grumbling from even Funkhouser supporters:
Joe Miller, has come under criticism from some of Funk's strongest supporters, including from a certain real estate tycoon. (They writing about Nutter, right? Just wondering) . . . Criticisms surrounded off-the-cuff comments, a tentative style and bland press releases . . .it wasn't a huge surprise when Miller revealed this week that he was turning over the media responsibilities to Kendrick Blackwood. Insiders believed Blackwood, son of former Councilman George Blackwood, was a smoother presence, more familiar with politics and would be a better messenger.It's kinda sad really and I only want to dance on this grave a little bit today . . . Thing is, I told Miller that Funkhouser would inevitably sell him out and disappoint and Mayor Funky didn't even take a year to prove me right . . . Furthermore, if you look at this excerpt really closely you'll see that the Mayor challenges Miller's assertion that (once again) Gloria Squitiro is calling the shots or at the very least integral in the decision making at City Hall . . . On this one you're going to have to decide who to believe for yourself . . . A writer, who has naive notions about social justice and might now regret swallowing the kool-aid so enthusiastically OR some politician who is quickly racking up a slew of broken promises.
But exactly who pulled the trigger on the shift is in question today. Funkhouser said the shift was his decision.
"I wanted to push his creativity and energy" toward special projects. "He's good at events and special projects," the mayor said.
Miller says he broached the idea with Chief of Staff Ed Wolf; Wolf's wife, Gwen; and Funkhouser's wife, Gloria Squitiro.
"I consulted with Ed. I talked with Gloria and Gwen," he said. "Mark wasn't really part of those deliberations for delegating a small part of my responsibilities."