Berry disses bloggers

I have a response to my questions;

• who has Mayor Richard Berry authorized to decide who is and who is not the press, and
• according to what criteria?

I have repeatedly accused Mayoral Spokesman Chris Huffman-Ramirez, of being a public servant assuming the authority to "credential" the free press, and then refusing to confirm it writing.

He takes it upon himself to decide who is and who is not protected by First Amendment rights to a free press; in particular, equal protection under the law.

Huffman-Ramirez says the legacy media; newspapers and radio/tv, enjoy more protection than bloggers. They are entitled to invites to press conference, bloggers are not.

Huffman-Ramirez would never admit that he assumes and exercises that authority.


I have received a belated email from Director of Constituent Services Tito Madrid. He is the first member of the Berry administration to answer the questions. He wrote;

Chris Ramirez serves as the Mayor’s Director of Communications and he has the authority to determine who receives press advisories.

The criteria you cited is still valid.

I have shared your concerns with the Mayor.

And there you have it;

1. Chris Huffman-Ramirez is authorized to decide who and who is not "the press" and therefore entitled to equal treatment under the law.

2. The criteria are still valid; "the press own printing presses and broadcast licenses", and




3. Richard Berry
knows about it.




photos Mark Bralley