How a “toxic” City Hall became unraveled by “very horrible” anonymous letters
The letter was remarkable. In an official rebuke of a private citizen, the Riverside City Council accused one of its residents of harassing local employees through phone calls, emails and social media posts. But even more extraordinary was the fact the letter was addressed to the wife of the city’s chief executive. “Your pattern of communication has been disruptive at the workplace, caused significant distress to City staff, and serves no legitimate purpose,” read the letter sent to the home of Susan Freeman and her husband, City Manager Mike Futrell. The Dec. 11 missive is just one of hundreds of emails, texts and letters that have become public recently, shocking residents with accusations of toxic work conditions and “civic indecency” within City Hall. The controversy that has embroiled the prominent Riverside couple has fueled calls for the city manager’s ouster as well as ignited debate over free speech and workplace boundaries. “It’s a weird story,” said Jason Hunter, a Riverside resident who posted the letter online after obtaining it through a public records request. “It …
