A lesson in PR from a miserable city

The city was just named Forbes’ No. 1 most miserable city, based on its unwaveringly high unemployment, diving home prices, and massive budget shortfalls. Tasked with giving his city’s side of the story, Bob Deis, Stockton’s city manager, did his best to dispel this dubious distinction:

“Stockton has issues that it needs to address, but an article like this is the equivalent of bayoneting the wounded. I find it unfair, and it does everybody a disservice. The people of Stockton are warm. The sense of community is fantastic. You have to come here and talk to leaders. The data is the data, but there is a richer story here.”