Denver Water learned the hard way to watch what you put in emails when you are subject to the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). In a 7News investigation related to a bonus awarded to Denver Water’s CEO, investigative reporter Tony Kovaleski captured this email exchange:
Employee #1: “Where are you? We just got a CORA from Channel 7.”
Employee #2: “Home … you can call me. What are they looking for?”
Employee #1 “Glad you’re home and sitting down. You may want to pour a shot of tequila.”
Employee #2: “Fuck. Is it about pension? Or rates? Who is it from?”
7News also published invoices totaling $3,200 from Denver crisis management firm Rockford Gray to media train Denver Water’s CEO and one of its former board members.