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Announcement from October 17, 2025 City Manager's Weekly Update from City Manager Stephanie Hirsch:

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Hello City of Eau Claire employees, residents, and Council Members –

Here are some updates from around Eau Claire. Note that prior updates can be found here, and you can use these linked forms to send feedback to the City Manager’s Office or City Council.

I’m sending this out a bit early today to share this important message below about our recent decision regarding social media. Please take a look, and feel free to let me know your thoughts.

City Manager Stephanie Hirsch

 

CITY UPDATES

Social Media Policy Decision: After careful thought, the City of Eau Claire has decided to turn off the ability to comment on the City’s social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.). We don’t want to make this change, but comments have become increasingly abusive, profane, and threatening. The attacks have been aimed at staff and public officials, as well as residents, including crime victims, suspects, and family members. The comment sections have also been used to promote scams and identity theft.

We have studied data on the comments, and most of the extreme ones come from outside of the region, and even outside of the country. It appears some commenters are not actual people, but bots of some type. We prioritize engagement and partnership with our community. We value hearing your feedback and exchanging thoughts on challenges we face together. However, the harm that this particular tool is currently causing has come to outweigh the benefit.

We will continue to watch how technology evolves and adjust our policies as we go. We also commit to redouble efforts to find alternative ways to build community, listen to your needs and ideas, and answer questions.

Here are a few ways to ask a question, share your concern, build community, or get involved:

  • Contact City Council. Council Members welcome contacts, and you can reach them here: City Council
  • Attend Council Meetings. Individuals can stream or attend City Council meetings, and each Monday evening session has a period of public comment. Meetings can be found here: Meetings | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin
  • Attend an upcoming District Discussion (described below). We hope that direct conversation continues to play an important role in problem solving, and we invite you to come chat with us. More information can be found here: District Discussions | City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Related to this policy change, I am also going to pause the Employee Spotlight section of the newsletter. We will be working to consider other approaches to honoring the work of our exceptional and committed employees. We will be working to make sure that they know that we greatly appreciate all of the ways they work so hard to take care of our community and its residents.

We appreciate your understanding, and please contact me with any questions or concerns: stephanie.hirsch@eauclairewi.gov, 715-839-6045. As technology and political dynamics evolve, we will continue to work together to create a safe, healthy, close-knit, and inclusive community. I welcome your advice and thoughts on how to continue to pursue these goals together.

 

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 Also posted on the City's website as a news item and on all City of Eau Claire social media channels

 

After careful thought, the City of Eau Claire has decided to turn off the ability to comment on the City’s social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.). We don’t want to make this change, but comments have become increasingly abusive, profane, and threatening. The attacks have been aimed at staff and public officials, as well as residents, including crime victims, suspects, and family members. The comment sections have also been used to promote scams and identity theft.

We have studied data on the comments, and most of the extreme ones come from outside of the region, and even outside of the country. It appears some commenters are not actual people, but bots of some type. 

We prioritize engagement and partnership with our community. We value hearing your feedback and exchanging thoughts on challenges we face together. However, the harm that this particular tool is currently causing has come to outweigh the benefit. We will continue to watch how technology evolves and adjust our policies as we go. We also commit to redouble efforts to find alternative ways to build community, listen to your needs and ideas, and answer questions. 

We appreciate your understanding, and please contact me with any questions or concerns: stephanie.hirsch@eauclairewi.gov, 715-839-6045. As technology and political dynamics evolve, we will continue to work together to create a safe, healthy, close-knit, and inclusive community. I welcome your advice and thoughts on how to continue to pursue these goals together.

 

See more in the City Manager’s Weekly Newsletter, found here: https://www.eauclairewi.gov/Home/Components/News/News/12290/90#!/

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