Thursday Morning Massacre at City Hall

Wow

Mayor Bob O'Connor's office today announced the firing of three top administrators.

Chief among them was chief of staff B.J. Leber, who will be replaced on an interim basis by Dennis Regan, the mayor's director of intergovernmental affairs.

Also fired was city Solicitor Susan Malie, who will be replaced by law department veteran George Specter, and Finance Director Paul Leger, who will be replaced for now by Budget Director Scott Kunka.

The mayor "has been saddened and disappointed by the actions of some of his staff members in his absence. He had no choice but to terminate them," said the mayor's spokesman, Dick Skrinjar.

Mr. O'Connor informed the three of their terminations in a conference call at 9:15 this morning. He called from UPMC Shadyside Hospital, where he is being treated for brain cancer.

They were told to gather their personal belongings and police then escorted them from the City-County Building.

Even more interesting considering that the PG ran this article this morning. 

 

If I had to guess, I would say that this is an attempt by the inner, inner circle of the O'Connor administration to consolidate their power while the Mayor is recovering.  Leber, Malie, and Leger were not necessarily personally beholden to Bob; this could be an attempt at purging members of the administration that were perceived as less than loyal. 

 

Security, by the way, has not yet come for me...