NAPERVILLE, IL. (ECWd) –
Naperville Hired PR Hitmen
In the run up to help convince the residents of Naperville, Illinois that a smart grid was a good thing to invest in, the Mayor and City Council decided it would be a good idea to hire a Public Relations firm to assist in distributing propaganda to their residents. The mission? To flood the city with good PR on Smart Grid / Smart Meters and quash all dissent at any cost.
Things weren’t going so well with the public, so with the assistance and advice of the United States Department of Energy, Naperville used taxpayer funds and hired “West Monroe Partners” (WMP) to conduct some public relations on their behalf.
On Tuesday, March 29, 2011, Mr. David Tilson of West Monroe Partners emailed Brian Quirke, DOE, and laid it all out for him (Read the email). He made reference to “the opposition” and even went on to state that they (WMP) have been working on “inserting” speakers during the public forum that support the program. He also indicated that they have the full support of the city council. Tilson even appears to be asking the DOE for assistance with this.
Tilson to Quirke: “I’d like the opportunity to discuss the different options for DOE support that might be available to the City of Naperville. For example, there is a City Council meeting where this group has been airing their grievances during an open forum and we’ve been working to insert speakers into that forum that support the program.”
During public hearings and city council meetings, this hit team of PR professionals went to work behind the scenes. When a taxpaying resident spoke out against the Smart Meter program, a representative of the PR firm would speak in favor of the move. Thereby giving the appearance of public support.
Let’s face the obvious: How bad of a product must you have that you resort to paying people to speak in favor of it?
The bottom line in this situation is that the City of Naperville used public funds to insert speakers during public forums to counter opposing statements made by residents. They certainly did not inform anyone present that these speakers were planted there by the city and West Monroe Partners.
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11 Comments
Ron Middlestadt
Posted at 10:43h, 26 AprilWell I wonder why they thought this needed to be “faked” as far as positive public response. Perhaps because there was NO positive response and the idea is rotten–like so many government ideas. Sounds like this was yet another solution seeking a problem. Is Naperville run by liberals?
you'vegot2Bkidding
Posted at 09:06h, 02 JuneNaperville is run/owned by Republicans, Ron.
R C Watt
Posted at 15:10h, 24 AprilGreat story..thanks for getting this out!
Janet Stesserson
Posted at 17:48h, 23 AprilMore than 40 communities in California have banned these type meters due to health and safety concerns. If these were so great and green surely California communities would not be banning these things. NO wonder they needed shills in the audience to “convince” people these were good.
Elliot Spicer
Posted at 14:47h, 23 AprilThis is the new “MO” for these type companies. The only idea that needs pushing by the government is a bad idea. WAKE UP SHEEPLE…YOU’RE GETTING FLEECED AGAIN!
Look It Up
Posted at 20:14h, 22 AprilSmart meters are nothing more than part of the implementation of Agenda 21. Look it up. They can’t implement a new system of control without knowing what you are doing in your home..and what better way than to know exactly when and how you use energy? Also this gives them the ability to turn off your appliances (new ones are equipped with electronics to “communicate” with the smart meter). These meters are only smart for the people who want to control you. The consumer will get higher bills (look it up..that’s what has happened where ever these go in).
Harrison Bounel
Posted at 19:35h, 22 AprilPat…astroturfing means deceit. That means these people didn’t identify who they were..they just acted like public. I’d call your local newspaper editor and demand to know why this wasn’t fully covered in the newspaper, if it wasn’t . Then I’d write letters to the editor publishing the deceit. I’d go to the city council and tell these people they are deceitful liars in public. Public shaming is the only thing they understand.
Pat
Posted at 19:17h, 22 AprilDid the speakers who were “inserted” identify themselves as PR folks? Or did they let the other attendees think they were members of the community? it’s one thing to provide speakers that say, “Hello, I’m with WMP and the City has asked me to tell you about some of the benefits of this program.” On the other hand, it would be very deceitful if they just stood up as a member of the audience and said, “I’m all in favor of smart meters so that we can save the earth,” or whatever BS was spewed. This article does not clearly indicate how the speakers presented themselves so just to be fair, please clarify that you know for sure that they let people think they were ordinary citizens. Thanks.
sick&tired
Posted at 19:10h, 22 AprilBeing a Naperville resident I knew about this, told the newspapers, the attorney general, and brought it to light at city council meeting. No one cares. The citizens of Naperville were railroaded and are now paying the price with 16% increase in electric costs over the next two years. I guess in Illinois it’s just business as usual.
Government Cheese
Posted at 16:26h, 22 AprilGood work Mr. Kraft! This is what is called “astroturfing” in the PR business. That’s when you use hired guns to create the appearance of a grass roots movement. What bastards. I mean who needs to do this unless your idea is bad. The worst ideas need to be pushed by government because they will not stand on their own. Who is making money from these smart meters? (They can be used to gather up commercial data about you and then sell it to data mining concerns).
jannie
Posted at 10:21h, 22 AprilIt Appears like this PR firm was hired 3 years ago — hopefully they aren’t still on the payroll. Wonder how much tax payer money they were paid. Just curious. Maybe the DOE paid some of it — oh that would be my taxpayer money also 🙂