Brian Platt continues to be suspended with pay as Kansas City manager. The city council voted unanimously today to ratify his suspension.
During a business session, city council members went behind closed doors to discuss Platt’s employment but did not publicly take any other action, such as firing or reinstating him. The council then voted unanimously to keep Deputy City Manager Kimiko Gilmore as the acting city manager.
Platt was suspended with pay two weeks ago after the city lost a whistleblower lawsuit. A jury unanimously ordered the city to pay more than $900,000 to Chris Hernandez, the city’s former director of communications, who alleged he was forced out of his job because he resisted Platt’s suggestions that it’s OK for city officials to lie to the media.
Mayor Quinton Lucas said he and the council think it's best to continue the suspension as they evaluate what comes next.
“We will continue to do everything in a fair way, a methodical way, but one that ensures consistency in this organization’s ability to operate while also making sure that we are respectful to all of our employees along the way,” Lucas said. “We’ll make sure that whatever steps we take ahead, we do it right.”
A city manager was last suspended in 2009, when then-Mayor Mark Funkhouser and city council fired Wayne Cauthen.
In an open letter, a coalition of civil rights organizations is calling for Lucas and the council to fire Platt. The Urban Council said Platt has a “well-documented pattern of...
Member of the group DJ DOC, Lee Ha-neul has announced a counter-suit against singer Jubi Train and the representative of his agency BASS Camp Studio. On the 21st, BASS Camp Studio issued an offici...