The audit into the city’s communications department was in response to an open letter from local media demanding more transparency. The department was consolidated and controlled by former City Manager Brian Platt, who was fired in March.

An audit of Kansas City’s communications practices found that the department was slow to respond to records requests, prioritized branding over public information and at some points threatened to revoke access to reporters who published stories that were unfavorable to the city.

All of that happened under former City Manager Brian Platt, according to the audit. Platt was fired in March , after the city lost a whistleblower lawsuit that cost it nearly $1 million. In the lawsuit, Chris Hernandez, the city’s former director of communications, alleged h

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