Chief BART spokesman (Linton Johnson) reassigned

[Newsjock]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle


Longtime BART spokesman Linton Johnson, who came under fire this summer for his response to protests over a fatal police shooting, was officially removed from his post this morning as part of a communications shakeup at the agency.

Johnson returned to work today after an extended leave that began Aug. 22 when his grandmother became ill. However, he has been reassigned by new General Manager Grace Crunican out of BART's media and public affairs office, said Bob Franklin, president of the agency's board of directors.

Franklin said the move was not punitive and that Johnson, a former television reporter, would remain at the same salary as a manager dealing with special projects. Franklin said the BART police force also planned to hire a full-time spokesperson for the first time as part of the reorganization.

... Johnson sent an e-mail to BART colleagues hours before a planned protest Aug. 11 in which he outlined a strategy to win over public opinion by showcasing "loyal riders" who would be carried to a news conference in rented SUVs. Only one rider contacted by BART actually appeared at the conference.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/14/BA9G1LUT1T.DTL&tsp=1

[KamaAina]

1. I was hoping he'd been reassigned to janitor

:eyes: