Post-Ike, Galveston mayor shuts down media access to city employees

The mayor of Galveston ordered city employees not to speak to the news media following the wave of destruction from Hurricane Ike, according to The Galveston County Daily News. 

At a press conference Monday, Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas would not say when the ban might be lifted. She said city employees, including the chiefs of the fire and police departments, were too busy to talk to reporters during the state of emergency.   

The Daily News quoted its publisher Dolph Tillotson saying he fears the new rule will force reporters to get their information from less reliable sources: “It’s the worst thing the city could do. Those who will suffer most are the evacuees.”