Renton leaders focus on “storytelling” as residents ask for data, assistance and transparency

As several controversial projects and long-festering problems reached a boiling point in last night’s Council Meeting, residents urgently requested more detailed and specific information, and intervention from their elected officials.  But at the meeting and its aftermath, it’s clear that most residents felt they were just getting a story from the council, not the facts.

This appears to have been by design by the City, and it failed pretty spectacularly last night.

The Council has recently adopted a new communication plan and funded two additional new communication positions in the Mayor’s office (adding to several already there).  The plan literally focuses on “storytelling”, and very little on providing comprehensive information and easy-to-find public records.

Perhaps “Storytelling” has a place in a marketing campaign, but this Communication and Engagement plan provides the structure for government officials and city employees to communicate with their constituents.  We’re looking for data and assistance, not a story.  Large companies get in trouble when they tell stories to their regulators.

Following are some excerpts from the plan.

 

Renton recently adopted a new communication strategy, and added two additional personnel to Communication roles

 

 

What if residents are looking for facts, and don’t wish to be told a story?

 

Someone asking about a dangerous building or an asphalt plant is probably not looking to be told a story

 

 

That’s our story, and we’re sticking to it. We’ll “tell our story again and again.”

 

Communications and Engagement Strategic Plan_090624 (1)

5 thoughts on “Renton leaders focus on “storytelling” as residents ask for data, assistance and transparency”

  • Yes, and Alberson was saying apparently noone on the council was pro asphalt plant, then he was generically stating that (likely you) were spreading misinformation, which is like, pro asphalt plant. Then the council was telling more stories about other cities who ran into trouble using eminent domain. Like as-if of course thaf would happen here, yet there was zero detail. There was not enough detail in their generalities at all and it’s kind of a joke. Even people on the council you might think would say more about being anti asphalt plant are mum. It’s disappointing. What a crock of a city council meeting.

    • Just when our far-left nutjob who’s unafraid to make a fool of herself in public would’ve actually been useful in calling out the asphalt plant… we get crickets.

      Remember when radical lefties occasionally spoke truth to power? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

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