A public relations firm is apologizing for incorrectly attributing an off-color comment about Gov. Ned Lamont to one of its clients.
A press release sent in a Wednesday afternoon e-mail blast included a bullet point that clearly was not intended to go public: "The governor needs his ass-kicked."
The release attributed that quote to John Souza, President of the CT Coalition of Property Owners (which was announcing a Thursday press conference on its concerns about the governor's ongoing pandemic-related moratorium on evictions).
Ann Baldwin, who handles media for the coalition, issued this statement:
I want to profusely apologize for inappropriate comments that were sent out earlier this afternoon. These were never intended to be included in any press outreach. This is not the way that any of the landlords who are truly suffering would want to be portrayed. Unfortunately, the words of one person during a round table discussion got included in the message.
Somehow they were inadvertently included into talking points that were sent out. These were NOT the words of John Souza, President of the CT Coalition of Property Owners and to him we also apologize.
This was a very blatant and unfortunate mistake made by a person in my agency, however I take full responsibility for this error.
The original document also derided Connecticut tenants, saying many "never intended to pay," and "try to live for free annually in CT."
