“This has been going on for years, with a wink and nod, as long as the political activity in question serves the interests of a council majority, or of certain past city managers, or of a city attorney who has a real genius for finding legal technicalities to justify questionable activities.”
– former Councilman Sean Paige, who wrote in his blog today that the city has turned a blind eye to on-the-clock politics in the past.
Paige’s blog post was triggered by a “politically charged email” sent by the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association to some city employees at work alleging that mayoral candidate Steve Bach would implement slash-and-burn policies if elected.
In his blog, Paige mentions that The Gazette had a story in April about Colorado Springs Utilities employees meeting to discuss elections “but lost interest when it learned that the Police Chief wasn’t in attendance.”
After learning about the meeting, The Gazette interviewed a manager and a spokesman at Utilities last month who said that while the meeting took place at a city-owned facility, it didn’t occur while employees were on the clock.
Hey Sean…here is a clue……talking politics, gossiping, or simply screwing off have been taking place in the workplace for as long as time. Who hasn’t sent an email or given their position on a political subject while at work at one time in their lives?