Olympia officials call fake proclamation posted on downtown businesses ‘shameful’
The city of Olympia responded strongly to a fake proclamation posted on downtown businesses overnight, calling it a “shameful” act in a time of fear and confusion about coronavirus.
The fake proclamation claimed that “all businesses are to be closed indefinitely,” and that “all employees are to be given their positions and shifts back when the crisis has passed.”
Itgoes on to say that the city will provide “sick pay and food benefits” and that “all rent, mortgage, utility, debt payments and parking fees are hereby suspended.”
Olympia officials made clear that the document, which included a fake city letterhead, was not released by the city.
“The information is false and misleading,” city officials said Monday. “We cannot state strongly enough how grossly irresponsible this act is at a time of crisis for our city, our state, our nation and the world.”
“To use this moment to exploit this health crisis to create fear and confusion in the community is nothing less than shameful,” city officials added.
Kellie Purce Braseth, a spokeswoman for the city, didn’t know how many of the fake proclamations had been distributed, other than to say “a lot,” based on the number of calls the city received, including from west Olympia, she said.
Olympia police are checking whether anything criminal took place, including the possibility of a forgery charge because of the fake letterhead, Lt. Paul Lower said. Police also are checking video cameras for information.
Lower, too, called the distribution of the fake proclamation “grossly irresponsible.”
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 11:45 AM.
