I previously promised readers of knelsonvsi.com that I would follow up on my prior blogs regarding Riverside City Manager Mike Futrell, Susan Freeman, the City Council’s failure to act, and the growing public-records trail showing a serious breakdown in leadership at City Hall.

That follow-up has taken longer than expected.

Part of the delay is because my original public-records request to the City of Riverside has only been partially answered. The City has produced enough records to raise serious concerns, but not enough to complete the full timeline or determine the full scope of who knew what, when they knew it, and why they failed to act.

I also had to take a few days off for surgery. On top of that, I have had business trips and demands at the shipping ports that required my attention. For those who know my company’s work at the ports, you understand that when port operations require attention, the work must be done. Reliability matters. Accountability matters. Leadership matters.

That is exactly why this issue at Riverside City Hall matters.

While I have been reviewing thousands of pages of records — something our elected employees should have been doing long ago — the pattern has become harder and harder to ignore. The records point to a sustained failure by City Manager Mike Futrell to maintain a bright line between his public office, City staff, City communications, City resources, City access, City projects, and his household.

Now the City Council has quietly placed this matter, along with the hiring of a new City Attorney, onto the agenda for tomorrow.

That is unacceptable.

These issues should not be buried in daytime closed session, rushed through without meaningful public engagement, or handled as another insider City Hall cleanup exercise. The City Manager controversy and the hiring of a new City Attorney both go directly to public trust, governance, legal accountability, employee protection, and the future direction of Riverside.

These matters should be held in public view and in the evening session, when working residents can attend, call in, or submit public comment.

The City Council and Mayor have already proven ineffective in hiring, managing, and holding charter officers accountable. They allowed the current City Manager situation to deteriorate into a public embarrassment, a workplace issue, a governance issue, a litigation issue, and a financial risk to taxpayers.

Residents must not sit this one out.

Take the Time to Make Public Comment

Please take the time to make public comment and demand that our elected employees do their job.

Tell them:

• Do not hide the City Manager issue in closed session while the public is left guessing.
• Do not rush the hiring of a new City Attorney without full public transparency.
• Do not allow the same Council that failed to manage the City Manager crisis to quietly select the next legal adviser without serious public scrutiny.
• Do not protect insiders at the expense of City employees, taxpayers, and residents.
• Do not treat the City Manager’s household as more important than the City itself.
  

The Council works for us. The Mayor works for us. The City Manager works for us. The City Attorney works for us.

Riverside does not belong to the City Manager’s office. It does not belong to Susan Freeman. It does not belong to private-home strategy sessions, civic insiders, consultants, political friends, or the small group of people who keep trying to manage public business away from public view.

It belongs to the residents, taxpayers, employees, and businesses of Riverside.

This Is No Longer Just About Social Media

Susan Freeman and her defenders have attempted to frame this controversy as a free-speech issue. Let me be clear: Susan Freeman has the right to speak. She has the right to post political opinions. She has the right to criticize public officials. She has the right to file public-records requests. She has the right to hire an attorney. She has the right to make claims.

That is not the issue.

The issue is whether the City Manager allowed his spouse to become entangled with City operations, City employees, City communications, City HR, City economic-development messaging, City Library projects, City Museum planning, City Hall access, outside organizations, private-home strategy sessions, donor activity, event promotion, and Freeman business-branded communications.

The records produced so far raise serious questions in all of those categories.

The records appear to show Susan Freeman involved in or adjacent to City communications, City staff access, City Manager scheduling, City Hall meetings, City HR materials, City economic-development presentations, City Museum planning, Tool Library fundraising, BRAVA promotion, UCR and CSUSB initiatives, Riverside Games / Olympic-adjacent efforts, and private events involving City employees.

Again, the issue is not whether every project was bad. Some may have been good projects. The issue is whether the City Manager’s office was used, blurred, or leveraged in ways that created pressure, special access, favoritism, confusion, or liability.

That is a City Manager performance issue.

The City Manager’s Spouse Has Now Filed a Million-Dollar Claim Against the City

The situation became even more serious when Susan Freeman filed a formal claim against the City of Riverside seeking one million dollars.

That claim alleges retaliation and constitutional violations. But it also creates an obvious conflict: the City Manager’s spouse is now legally adverse to the City that Mike Futrell is supposed to manage.

How can the City Manager protect the City’s interests while his spouse is seeking damages from the City?

How can he supervise employees who may be witnesses?

How can he be trusted with privileged information, litigation strategy, claim-handling discussions, City Attorney communications, risk-management issues, insurance communications, or internal records relating to a claim filed by his own spouse?

He cannot.

At minimum, he should be removed from any access to City systems, records, staff, legal discussions, or decision-making involving this matter. In my view, the record already supports stronger action.

The Council Had Warning Signs and Failed to Act

The City Council and Mayor cannot pretend this arrived suddenly.

They had warning sign after warning sign.

They had records showing concerns about blurred boundaries. They had records involving City employees, City staff, and City Manager assistants. They had the Pasadena episode, where Futrell accepted another City Manager position, allowed Pasadena to announce him, then reversed course. They had the contract-extension drama. They had the public dispute involving Freeman. They had the City’s own December 11 letter. They had Freeman’s public-records request. They had the claim. They had the failed Measure Z campaign.

They had employee and public concerns.

At every step, Council failed to act decisively.

That failure has damaged public trust.

Measure Z Failed Because City Hall Refused to Look in the Mirror

This same City Hall asked residents for another tax increase through Measure Z while refusing to clean up its own dysfunction.

The City told residents it needed more money for public safety, infrastructure, roads, emergency services, and core needs. But voters were also watching the same City Hall spend money on vanity projects, political messaging, consultants, events, insider priorities, and endless “economic development” rhetoric that has not relieved the pressure on working families.

A regressive sales tax hits lower-income and working-class residents hardest. It takes a larger share of income from people who can least afford it. Riverside should be working to reduce that burden, not expand it indefinitely.

If the Mayor and City Manager were actually producing durable economic development, serious business retention, meaningful private-sector growth, efficient permitting, stronger revenues, and better management, Riverside would not be asking residents to keep paying more for the same promised services.

Measure Z failed because residents do not trust City Hall.

And they are right not to.

The Contract-Extension Pressure Should Have Been the First Breaking Point

Before the Pasadena reversal, before the claim, and before the most recent records became public, there was already a major warning sign: the City Manager’s push for a contract extension before completing his first contract.

A City Manager who has not yet completed his first contract should not be pressuring the Council for a longer deal while the City is facing financial strain, employee concerns, declining public trust, and unresolved governance questions.

When the contract-extension issue became emotional and public — in chambers and online — that should have been the moment Council drew a firm line.

Instead, Council allowed the drama to continue.

That made the Council look weak. Worse, it made City employees and residents wonder whether the City Manager and his household were being protected no matter what.

Now Council Wants to Handle This Quietly

Now, instead of fully confronting the issue in public, the Council has placed this matter and the hiring of a new City Attorney on tomorrow’s agenda.

Residents should demand that both items be heard in public view and in the evening session.

The City Attorney hiring is especially important. The City Attorney is a charter officer. This is not a routine administrative hire. This is the legal adviser who should be protecting the City, advising the Council, preserving transparency, guiding records compliance, protecting employees, and preventing the kind of governance failures we are now seeing.

The public should not accept another insider process controlled by the same Council that allowed the City Manager problem to grow into a crisis.

The Public Records Request Must Be Expanded

As I continue reviewing the extensive records already produced — and as the City continues to partially respond to my original request — it has become clear that my public-records request must be expanded.

The records already produced raise additional questions that demand full answers.

Below are the additional records I will be requesting.

Additional Public Records to Be Requested

City Communications, Press Releases, and Public-Facing Documents

Please produce all records concerning the Quality Inn / Homekey+ press release, including all drafts, edits, comments, Word metadata, attachments, final versions, City staff communications, City Attorney communications, Mayor/Council communications, and any role played by Susan Freeman, Freeman Means Business, or Conscious Inclusion Company in reviewing, editing, drafting, commenting on, or revising the press release.

Please produce all records concerning any City press release, resident notice, Fire Department notice, Harvard-related announcement, public-safety communication, or public-facing City document forwarded to, reviewed by, edited by, commented on, or revised by Susan Freeman from January 1, 2023 to present.

Please produce all records concerning the Thanksgiving 2024 message from City Manager Mike Futrell to City employees, including drafts, edits, metadata, final version sent, who drafted or edited it, whether Susan Freeman’s language was used, and any staff discussion of her role.

Please produce all records concerning the December 2024 gloves/beanies employee communication, including all drafts, edits, attachments, metadata, final versions, who drafted or edited the message, whether Susan Freeman’s language was used, and any City staff discussion of her role.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s December 28, 2023 podcast email, including any City podcast planning, City communications staff response, use of Freeman’s materials, podcast concepts, Riverside Personified materials, and any City work arising from Freeman’s offer.

UCR, CSUSB, City Partnerships, and Academic Workstreams

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s May 30, 2025 UCR/City collaboration email stating “Mike and I discussed these things,” including all responses, follow-up meetings, calendar entries, student mentoring records, City department internship/fellowship discussions, capstone project proposals, policy forums, community engagement initiatives, economic-development partnerships, data-sharing initiatives, and any City staff involvement.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s June 9, 2025 request to schedule coffee at Arcade and a City Hall visit involving Mike Futrell, Liam Burley, UCR, and Susan Freeman, including calendar entries, visitor logs, attendee lists, meeting notes, follow-up communications, staff time, and any reason the meeting was scheduled through the City Manager’s Executive Assistant.

Please produce all records concerning the June 4, 2025 UCR Hospital thread forwarded by Mike Futrell to Susan Freeman, including all internal City communications about marketing, momentum, City awareness, City response, and any comments or follow-up by Susan Freeman.

Please produce all records concerning CSUSB, Dr. Maggie Boyraz, Dr. Jacqueline Coyle-Shapiro, Michelle Davis, Mike Futrell, Zoraida Caltitla, Susan Freeman, Freeman Means Business, Conscious Inclusion Company, UCR Center for Community Solutions, research proposals, calls, recordings, meeting notes, and any City staff participation.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s request to Zoraida Caltitla for the new UCR Chancellor’s email address, including any internal discussion, contact information provided, follow-up communications with Chancellor S. Jack Hu, UCR, City staff, Mike Futrell, or Freeman.

City Hall Access, Scheduling, and City Manager Staff Support

Please produce all records concerning the May 2025 BRAVA meeting scheduled at City Hall, including calendar entries, visitor logs, attendee lists, agendas, meeting notes, follow-up communications, staff time, City resources used, and any City discussion about why Susan Freeman was coordinating the meeting through the City Manager’s Office.

Please produce all records concerning the June 12, 2024 request from Susan Freeman to Jennifer Anderson to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Dr. Rudy Saenz regarding Altais Medical Group Riverside, including calendar entries, emails, meeting notes, follow-up records, City staff involvement, and any actions taken by the City Manager’s Office.

Please produce all records concerning the November 29, 2023 Creative Learning Center email in which Susan Freeman wrote that Mike could schedule a City Hall pitch and Jennifer Anderson could “make it happen,” including any calendar entries, meetings, follow-up, City staff introductions, City Hall visitor logs, and any related communications.

Please produce all records concerning any private dinner, home meeting, “strategy session,” City Manager dinner, or Freeman/Futrell home event involving City officials, City staff, Chamber representatives, UCR representatives, developers, nonprofits, donors, business leaders, or civic organizations from January 1, 2023 to present.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s December 2023 proposal for monthly “strategy sessions over dinner at our home,” including all emails, texts, calendar entries, attendees, meeting notes, agendas, topics, follow-up actions, and any communications involving Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, Mike Futrell, Nick Adcock, the Chamber, and any City staff.

Economic Development, CEED, Rotary, Riverside Games, and Olympic-Adjacent Work

Please produce all records concerning any City economic-development PowerPoints, Chamber EDC updates, business-data spreadsheets, new-business lists, or related materials sent to Susan Freeman, Freeman Means Business, or Conscious Inclusion Company, including the June 24, 2025 Chamber EDC Update and the June 27, 2025 2024 New Businesses spreadsheet.

Please produce all records concerning the Riverside Games Committee and any Olympic-adjacent planning involving Susan Freeman, Mike Futrell, Nick Adcock, Michelle Rubin, Lou Monville, Gina Sanchez, Mikaila Kruse, the Chamber, City staff, and any City resources, meeting notes, calendar entries, task assignments, dossiers, or work products.

Please produce all records concerning the Riverside Games Committee in August 2025, including Dave Stow, Greg Harney, Susan Freeman, Mike Futrell, Mikaila Kruse, Ana Lee, Lou Monville, Michelle Rubin, City staff, Chamber representatives, meeting notes, calendar entries, task assignments, agendas, City staff attendance, and any discussion of positioning Riverside for exposure or Olympic-related opportunities.

Please produce all records concerning the Riverside East Rotary presentation involving Jennifer Lilley, Luisa Gaspar, Susan Freeman, City staff shadowing employees, guest lists, talking points, presentation materials, and any communications in which Freeman advised City staff what to highlight regarding economic development.

Please produce all records concerning the CEED / Riverside East Rotary presentation, including the Canva link, PowerPoint, talking points, agenda, guest lists, staff shadowing, Jennifer Lilley, Luisa Gaspar, Susan Freeman, Jonathan Steele, and any records showing Freeman advising, reviewing, receiving, or controlling presentation content or event logistics.

Please produce all records concerning the September 2025 soirée at the Riverside Convention Center involving Susan Freeman, Mike Futrell, Jose Medina, Edward Ornelas, the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce, speaking order, remarks, scripts, talking points, attendance, registration, and any City staff involvement.

City Videos, Scripts, Presentations, Swag, and Promotional Materials

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s July 16, 2025 request for a Riverside video she could use when speaking “OBO UCR Center for Community Solutions and the City,” including all emails, text messages, Teams messages, calendar entries, drafts, video concepts, queue/work-order entries, staff assignments, CEDD communications, final videos, scripts, approvals, and records showing whether Freeman was authorized to speak on behalf of the City.

Please produce all records concerning the July 2025 LEGO video/script project, including the script sent by Miranda Evans to Susan Freeman, all drafts, edits, comments, approvals, final video, intended audience, staff time, and any role played by Susan Freeman, Freeman Means Business, or Conscious Inclusion Company.

Please produce all records concerning any City economic-development video requested by, sent to, reviewed by, used by, or discussed with Susan Freeman, Freeman Means Business, or Conscious Inclusion Company, including drafts, scripts, final videos, staff assignments, vendor discussions, text messages, and records showing whether Freeman used the video in public talks.

Please produce all records concerning any City swag, promotional items, gifts, branded materials, or City merchandise requested by or provided to Susan Freeman, Mike Futrell, Freeman Means Business, Conscious Inclusion Company, Dalton Baumgartner, or any Freeman/Futrell guest from January 1, 2023 to present.

Please produce all records concerning Mike Futrell’s “MIKE BIO” sent to Susan Freeman, including any use of the biography, where it was submitted, any event/program/promotion connected to it, and any records showing Freeman’s use of Futrell’s City Manager title or contact information.

Freeman Means Business, Conscious Inclusion Company, HR, Training, and DEI Materials

Please produce all records concerning Freeman Means Business or Conscious Inclusion Company course materials, CLE presentations, leadership presentations, DEI materials, or professional content sent to City staff, reviewed by City staff, used by City staff, or incorporated into City communications, training, presentations, conferences, or employee materials.

Please produce all records concerning training, leadership, DEI, gendered communication, cross-team collaboration, or other curriculum materials sent by Susan Freeman to Rene Goldman, Sandy Cramer, HR, Training and Organizational Development, or other City staff, including any use, review, adoption, modification, or internal discussion of Freeman’s materials.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman, Conscious Inclusion Company, Freeman Means Business, and any training, DEI, cross-team collaboration, gendered communication, leadership, workplace culture, communication, HR, or organizational-development materials sent to Rene Goldman, Sandy Cramer, Human Resources, Training and Organizational Development, or any City employee from January 1, 2023 to present.

Please produce all records showing whether any materials sent by Susan Freeman, Freeman Means Business, or Conscious Inclusion Company were reviewed, discussed, saved, modified, adopted, used, presented, incorporated into City training, shared with employees, or considered for City use.

Please produce all communications between Rene Goldman and Susan Freeman, including City email, personal email if used for City-related business, text messages, calendar entries, Teams messages, lunch/meeting arrangements, training material exchanges, HSA/benefit-related assistance, and any communications concerning City employees, HR matters, City workplace culture, employee complaints, or Freeman’s professional services.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s “Influence with Integrity,” “Art and Science of Persuasion,” wellness program, or related professional/business workshops promoted to, calendared by, attended by, forwarded to, or discussed by City employees, City officials, or City Manager staff.

Printing, Copying, City Resources, and Staff Time

Please produce all records concerning any print/copy requests from Susan Freeman, Freeman Means Business, or Conscious Inclusion Company, including the August 25, 2025 “Print please” email, what was printed, who printed it, whether City equipment or staff time was used, and whether any reimbursement occurred.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s September 23, 2025 “Please print” email to Regine Kennedy, including the attachment, what was printed, who printed it, whether City equipment or staff time was used, and whether any reimbursement occurred.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s “Please print in color” request, including the attachment, who printed it, whether City equipment or staff time was used, and whether reimbursement occurred.

Private Events, Employee Invitations, Holiday Parties, Book Promotion, and Pressure Concerns

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s September 30, 2023 request to Jennifer Anderson for the list of Mike Futrell’s department heads and executive staff for the December 9, 2023 holiday open house, including any list provided, all invitees, guest lists, RSVP records, Evite records, emails, texts, calendar entries, attendee records, and any City discussion regarding whether employees felt expected or pressured to attend.

Please produce all records concerning any City employee holiday luncheon, Loop & Tie gift card discussion, gift cards, employee gifts, department-head lists, executive staff lists, and any City funds, City resources, or staff time used for employee holiday events involving Mike Futrell, Susan Freeman, or the City Manager’s Office.

Please produce all records concerning the Freeman-Futrell Holiday Party and Book Signing Invitation, including recipients, City employee invitees, RSVP responses, book-purchase QR codes, purchase records known to the City, City staff responses, department-head or executive-staff invite lists, and any discussion of whether City employees felt expected or pressured to attend or purchase books.

Please produce all records concerning the Freeman-Futrell Holiday Party and Book Signing RSVP reminders, City employee invitees, City employee responses, purchase QR code, book-purchase promotion, author coordination, and any employee concerns about attendance, purchases, or pressure.

Please produce all records concerning any Freeman/Futrell communications referencing combined social-media reach, promotion, followers, LinkedIn/Facebook amplification, or offers to promote individuals, companies, nonprofits, City projects, or civic organizations through the Freeman/Futrell network.

BRAVA, Nutcracker, Arts Calendar, and Outside Organization Access

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s November 30, 2024 email titled “Mike Futrell and Susan Freeman of the City of Riverside,” including all recipients, attachments, BRAVA materials, Lamar billboard materials, PowerPoint files, Moreno Valley communications, City Manager dinner references, and any follow-up with Mike Lee, Glenda Carhart, BRAVA, or City staff.

Please produce all records concerning BRAVA, Nutcracker, City Arts Calendar, Glenda Carhart, Collette Lee, Kathy Allavie, Kaitlin Reierson, Mayor Lock Dawson, Mike Futrell, Moreno Valley City Manager Mike Lee, City Communications, City promotion, and any City staff assistance given to BRAVA from January 1, 2023 to present.

Museum of Riverside, Library, Tool Library, and Civic Projects

Please produce all records concerning the Museum of Riverside Grand Reopening Steering Team, including Susan Freeman’s role, meeting agendas, Word documents, homework assignments, shared-drive documents, edits, comments, drafts, steering-team membership, City staff communications, and any records showing why Freeman was selected or invited.

Please produce all records concerning Tool Library GoFundMe fundraising, including fundraising goals, donor lists, donor communications, GoFundMe updates, City Library staff, Library Foundation communications, Council acceptance of funds, and any City employee concerns about pressure to donate or participate.

Complaint Handling, Anonymous Letters, Retaliation Concerns, and Internal Investigations

Please produce all records concerning the November 2024 complaint regarding Susan Freeman’s social media post and any related complaints about Susan Freeman meeting with City staff, including all forwarding, replies, attachments, Council communications, City Attorney communications, HR communications, and records showing why Mike Futrell forwarded the complaint to Susan Freeman.

Please produce all records concerning the September 22, 2024 complaint referenced in the November 6, 2024 email thread, including any allegations about Susan Freeman meeting with City staff, undue influence, favoritism, intimidation, silencing, complaints involving Jennifer Lilley, and any City response or investigation.

Please produce all records concerning Susan Freeman’s February 19, 2026 email titled “Yes or no question,” including all responses, text messages, Teams messages, phone logs, calendar entries, forwarding, discussions, or follow-up involving Philip Falcone, Sean Mill, Rene Goldman, Margery Haupt, Kaitlin Reierson, Jennifer Lilley, Mike Futrell, or any City employee or official concerning the identity of anonymous letter writers, anonymous complainants, public-records request documents, or allegations involving Freeman, Futrell, or Lilley.

Please produce all records concerning any effort by Susan Freeman, Mike Futrell, Jennifer Lilley, Rene Goldman, Margery Haupt, Kaitlin Reierson, or any City official or employee to identify, investigate, contact, discipline, retaliate against, or discuss anonymous complainants or authors of anonymous letters concerning Susan Freeman, Mike Futrell, Jennifer Lilley, CEDD, or City staff workplace conditions.

Please produce all records concerning the September 22, 2024 anonymous complaint referenced in the November 6, 2024 Report Riverside email, including all Council forwarding, City Manager forwarding, HR review, City Attorney review, CEDD survey references, complaint handling, investigation notes, and any records showing why Mike Futrell forwarded the complaint to Susan Freeman.

Public Safety / Sensitive Information

Please produce all records concerning the September 16, 2025 Incident Notification – Bomb Threat forwarded by Mike Futrell to Susan Freeman, including the original incident notification, recipients, classification, whether it was public or confidential, any sensitive operational details, and any City policy concerning forwarding emergency/security notifications to non-employees.

Resident Service / Claims Routed Through Freeman

Please produce all records concerning the July 2025 sidewalk/disrepair/claim issue involving Vanessa Rogers, Susan Freeman, Gilbert Hernandez, Kristy Garcia, Public Works, CallCenter, blind-copy communications, claim-form guidance, repair status, and any staff discussion about Freeman routing resident service requests.

Futrell Hiring, Candidate Reimbursement, Due Diligence, and Prior Employment

Please produce all records concerning Mike Futrell’s candidate travel reimbursement, including approvals, reimbursement policies, Ralph Andersen communications, Council authorization, travel receipts, payment records, check disbursement records, review notes, and any communications discussing whether reimbursement was appropriate, complete, or compliant with City policy.

Please produce all records concerning due diligence performed before Mike Futrell’s hiring, including reference checks, background checks, prior employment verification, separation records, contract review, recruiter notes, Council interview materials, closed-session materials, and any communications concerning Futrell’s prior employment agreements, resignation history, performance, or workplace concerns.

Conclusion: Riverside Needs Sunlight Now

The public deserves to know the truth.

City employees deserve protection.

Taxpayers deserve accountability.

The Council and Mayor must stop treating this as a public-relations problem. It is a governance problem. It is a workplace problem. It is a litigation problem. It is a charter-officer management problem. It is a taxpayer-risk problem.

Tomorrow, residents should demand that the City Manager matter and the City Attorney hiring be moved into public view and heard during the evening session.

Make public comment.

Demand transparency.

Demand accountability.

Demand that our elected employees do their job.

Riverside has waited long enough.

Top 25 Exhibits: The Futrell-Freeman Boundary Failure

(note the exhibit classification was performed using AI powered search spiders)

Exhibit 1 — Susan Freeman’s $1,000,000 Claim Against the City

Record: Claim No. 26-06-14 Freeman
Date: June 10, 2026
People involved: Susan Freeman; Law Office of Carol Sobel; City of Riverside
What it shows: Freeman filed a formal Government Code claim seeking $1,000,000 from the City of Riverside, alleging retaliation, constitutional violations, reputational damages, pain and suffering, Bane Act damages, costs, and attorney fees.

The City Manager’s spouse is now legally adverse to the City her husband manages. This creates a direct conflict involving litigation strategy, employee witnesses, confidentiality, records preservation, risk management, City Attorney communications, and loyalty to the City.

The City Manager cannot protect the City’s interests while his spouse is pursuing a million-dollar claim against the City.

Exhibit 2 — Freeman’s Own CPRA Request Defines the Case

Record: Final Request for Clarity and Public Records
Date: December 22, 2025
People involved: Susan Freeman; City Attorney’s Office; City of Riverside
What it shows: Freeman requested records involving “City Manager’s wife,” “Mike Futrell’s wife,” Freeman Means Business, Conscious Inclusion Company, holiday parties, Christmas parties, wellness retreats, invitations, Facebook, misuse, undue influence, harassment, ethics, perception, and reputational risk.
Freeman herself identified the categories that matter. This undercuts later claims that discussion of her spouse status, business activities, invitations, wellness retreats, and City-adjacent activity is irrelevant or sexist.

Freeman’s own records request proves this was never just about Facebook.

Exhibit 3 — Freeman’s “Personal Note” Frames the Dispute as Free Speech but Signs as “City of Riverside Civic Advocate”

Record: A Personal Note on My Work, My Research, and My Rights
Date: December 4, 2025
People involved: Susan Freeman; City Council
What it shows: Freeman asserted First Amendment protection and claimed monitoring or screenshotting her posts would be retaliation. She also signed as “City of Riverside Civic Advocate.”

Freeman claims private-citizen status when defending herself, but uses a City-connected civic title when addressing the Council.

The contradiction is clear: private citizen when criticized, City-connected civic advocate when seeking legitimacy.

Exhibit 4 — Futrell’s Contract Gives Council For-Cause Tools

Record: Charles M. Futrell At-Will Employment Agreement
Date: City Manager contract period
People involved: Mike Futrell; City Council; City of Riverside
What it shows: Futrell is an at-will City Manager and the contract includes for-cause language involving misconduct, gross negligence, breach, fiduciary duty, duty of loyalty, reputational injury, material policy violations, and disruption of City operations.

The record is not just politically embarrassing; it may implicate the very standards in Futrell’s contract.

The contract gives Council the tools. The records give Council the cause.

Exhibit 5 — Recruitment Materials Show the City Manager Is Not Merely an “Executor”

Record: City Manager recruitment brochure and posting
Date: 2022 recruitment
People involved: City of Riverside; Ralph Andersen & Associates; Mike Futrell
What it shows: The City Manager role includes leadership, fiscal health, communications, employee relations, strategic planning, intergovernmental relations, staff supervision, economic development, public safety, infrastructure, and advising Council.

Refutes the talking point that the City Manager merely executes Council decisions. Futrell was hired to lead and protect the organization.

Futrell was not hired to be a clerk; he was hired to be Riverside’s chief administrative leader.

Exhibit 6 — Homekey Press Release Forwarded to Freeman and Returned Revised

Record: 5_21_2025_Fw__Press_Release_-_Quality_Inn_Motel_Conversion_Homekey...pdf and Freeman reply
Date: May 21, 2025
People involved: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; City Communications; City staff
What it shows: Futrell forwarded Freeman an internal City thread about the Quality Inn / Homekey+ press release, including sensitive discussion about who could stop a press release and Council procedural concerns. Freeman then returned a revised press-release document from Freeman Means Business.

This is one of the clearest examples of Freeman acting as an informal City communications adviser despite not being a City employee or consultant.

That is not free speech. That is the City Manager’s spouse revising City communications.

Exhibit 7 — Freeman Appears to Rewrite the Thanksgiving Message to City Employees

Record: 11_26_2024__EXTERNAL__Re__Thankful_at_Thanksgiving...pdf
Date: November 26, 2024
People involved: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; City employees
What it shows: Futrell sent Freeman an employee-facing Thanksgiving message. Freeman replied with a rewritten version beginning “Happy Thanksgiving Team Riverside!” and ending “Mike.”

Shows a non-employee spouse apparently drafting or revising City Manager communications to employees.

Riverside did not hire Susan Freeman to write messages to City employees on behalf of the City Manager.

Exhibit 8 — Freeman Appears to Revise Gloves and Beanies Employee Message

Record: 12_14_2024__EXTERNAL__Re__FW__Gloves_and_beanies...pdf
Date: December 14, 2024
People involved: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; City employees
What it shows: Freeman appeared to revise a City Manager employee-facing message regarding Riverside-branded gloves and beanies, ending “WARM regards, Mike.”

Confirms the employee-communications pattern was not isolated to Thanksgiving.

One employee message could be explained away. Multiple employee messages show a pattern.

Exhibit 9 — HR Forwards Freeman’s Business Material as “From Mike’s Wife”

Record: Hunter / Hunter2 batch, 11_13_2024_Fw___EXTERNAL__Our_HSA_Goldman__Rene.pdf
Date: November 13, 2024
People involved: Susan Freeman; Rene Goldman; Sandy Cramer; City HR
What it shows: Freeman sent training / organizational-development material from Conscious Inclusion Company to HR Director Rene Goldman. Goldman forwarded it internally as “From Mike’s wife.”

City HR itself treated Freeman’s status as the City Manager’s wife as operationally relevant. This directly undermines the “sexism” defense.

“From Mike’s wife” was not a phrase invented by critics — it was used inside City HR.

Exhibit 10 — Women’s Wellness Retreat Payment Request to City Employees

Record: 2_12_2024__EXTERNAL__WOMEN_S_WELLNESS_RETREAT_MARCH_9...pdf
Date: February 12, 2024
People involved: Susan Freeman; City employee attendees; Freeman Means Business

Freeman emailed women including City employees regarding a wellness retreat and requested $40 payment through Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal to Freeman / Freeman Means Business for art instructor and materials.

Directly supports the City’s later concern about pressure created when the City Manager’s spouse solicited paid participation from City employees.

City employees should never have to wonder whether declining the City Manager’s spouse will affect their job.

Exhibit 11 — Wellness Retreat Disclaimer to “Attendees Who Work for the City”

Record: 3_5_2024__EXTERNAL__PLEASE_READ...pdf; also quoted in Freeman’s CPRA request
Date: March 5, 2024
People involved: Susan Freeman; City employee attendees
What it shows: Freeman told City employee attendees the retreat was free, optional, and would have no impact on their work with the City.
The disclaimer proves the pressure issue was obvious.

If there was no pressure problem, why did the City Manager’s spouse need to reassure City employees their employment would not be affected?

Exhibit 12 — Department-Head List Requested for Private Holiday Open House

Record: 9_30_2023__EXTERNAL__Holiday_Party...pdf
Date: September 30, 2023
People involved: Susan Freeman; Jennifer Anderson; Mike Futrell; City department heads; executive staff
Freeman asked the City Manager’s assistant for a list of Futrell’s department heads and executive staff so she could invite them to a private holiday open house at their home.

Early evidence of City staff lists being used for private Freeman/Futrell events.

The boundary failure began early.

Exhibit 13 — Department-Head Emails Requested Again in 2025

Record: 4_30_2025__EXTERNAL__Department_Heads...pdf
Date: April 30, 2025
People involved: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; City department heads
What it shows: Freeman asked for names and emails of “Mike’s Department Heads.” Zoraida provided the list. Freeman then invited Zoraida to save the date for the Freeman/Futrell Christmas party.

Shows the department-head access pattern continued into 2025.

Freeman was not just attending City events; she was asking City staff for “Mike’s Department Heads.”

Exhibit 14 — “Mike Can Schedule a Time to Come Into City Hall and Pitch Your Idea”

Record: 11_29_2023__EXTERNAL__Re__Creative_learning_center...pdf
Date: November 29, 2023
People involved: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; Jennifer Anderson; private party

Freeman told a private party Mike could schedule a time to come into City Hall and pitch an idea, then copied the City Manager’s assistant to “make it happen.”

This is a direct City Hall access exhibit.
Freeman was operating as a gateway to City Hall.

Exhibit 15 — BRAVA Meeting Scheduled at City Hall Through City Manager Staff

Record: 5_5_2025__EXTERNAL__BRAVA_meeting...pdf; 5_6_2025_RE...Caltitla.pdf
Date: May 5–6, 2025
People involved: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; Mike Futrell; BRAVA representatives

Freeman wrote that Mike wanted a meeting set up to discuss BRAVA. Zoraida scheduled the meeting at City Hall.

Shows Freeman using City Manager staff to coordinate an outside organization’s City Hall meeting.

Outside organizations should not receive City Hall access through the City Manager’s spouse.

Exhibit 16 — “Mike Futrell and Susan Freeman of the City of Riverside”

Record: 11_30_2024__EXTERNAL__Mike_Futrell_and_Susan_Freeman_of_the_City_of_Riverside...pdf
Date: November 30, 2024
People involved: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; Moreno Valley City Manager Mike Lee; BRAVA
What it shows: Freeman emailed using the subject “Mike Futrell and Susan Freeman of the City of Riverside,” asked for help promoting BRAVA, and referenced City Managers’ dinners at their home.

Freeman herself used City identity and the “Mike and Susan” framing when seeking promotional help.

Freeman cannot use “of the City of Riverside” when it benefits her and call the same relationship irrelevant when questioned.

Exhibit 17 — “Mike and I Discussed These Things” UCR / City Collaboration Email

Record: 5_30_2025__EXTERNAL__Let’s_discuss...pdf
Date: May 30, 2025
People involved: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; UCR; Jennifer Lilley; City-related participants
What it shows: Freeman wrote that “Mike and I discussed these things” and proposed City/UCR collaborations involving City departments, internships, capstones, policy forums, community engagement, economic development, civic tech, data sharing, and advisory groups.

Strong management-team appearance record. This is the “City Manager Team” problem in one email.

Exhibit 18 — Freeman Requests City Video to Use When Speaking “OBO UCR… and the City”

Record: 7_16_2025__EXTERNAL__Video...pdf
Date: July 16, 2025
People involved: Susan Freeman; Kaitlin Reierson; Mike Futrell; Jennifer Lilley; CEDD
What it shows: Freeman asked for a Riverside video she could use when speaking “OBO UCR Center for Community Solutions and the City.” City Communications said it could be added to the queue.

Strong evidence of Freeman appearing to speak on behalf of the City while receiving City staff support.

Freeman was not appointed to speak on behalf of the City.

Exhibit 19 — City Economic-Development Staff Sends Freeman LEGO Video Script for Review

Record: 7_30_2025_Lego_video_script...pdf; 7_31_2025__EXTERNAL__Re__Lego_video_script...pdf
Date: July 30–31, 2025
People involved: Miranda Evans; Susan Freeman; Jennifer Lilley
What it shows: City economic-development staff sent Freeman a draft video script and asked for her thoughts.

Shows City promotional messaging being reviewed by a non-employee spouse.
A non-employee spouse should not be treated as a reviewer for City promotional content.

Exhibit 20 — Bomb-Threat Incident Notification Forwarded to Freeman

Record: 9_16_2025_Fw__Incident_Notification-Bomb_Threat...pdf
Date: September 16, 2025
People involved: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman
What it shows: Futrell forwarded Freeman an incident notification concerning a bomb threat.

Potentially serious public-safety / information-control issue. Requires the City to explain whether the information was public, confidential, or operationally sensitive.

Why was a bomb-threat incident notification forwarded to a non-employee spouse?

Exhibit 21 — Private Monthly “Strategy Sessions Over Dinner at Our Home”

Record: 12_22_2023__EXTERNAL__Strategy_sessions_over_dinner_at_our_home_monthly...pdf
Date: December 22–23, 2023
People involved: Susan Freeman; Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson; Mike Futrell; Nick Adcock; Chamber
What it shows: Freeman proposed monthly strategy dinners at the Futrell/Freeman home involving the Mayor, City Manager, and Chamber leadership on major public-policy topics including economic development, public safety, homelessness, transportation, housing, and lobbying.

Private-home policy strategy involving public officials and civic power brokers.
City policy does not belong at private-home strategy dinners.

Exhibit 22 — Freeman-Futrell Holiday Party and Book Signing Invitation to City Employees

Record: 10_11_2025__EXTERNAL__FREEMAN-FUTRELL_HOLIDAY_PARTY_AND_BOOK_SIGNING_INVITATION...pdf
Date: October–November 2025
People involved: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; City employee invitees; Riverside Historical Society
What it shows: Freeman invited recipients to a Freeman-Futrell holiday party and book signing, promoting purchase of a book via QR code. City employees responded.

Private household event plus purchase promotion involving City employees.

City employees should not be placed in a position where the City Manager’s household is promoting purchases to them.

Exhibit 23 — Freeman Asks Councilmembers to Help Identify Anonymous Letter Writers

Record: 2_19_2026__EXTERNAL__Yes_or_no_question...pdf
Date: February 19, 2026
People involved: Susan Freeman; Philip Falcone; Sean Mill; Rene Goldman; Margery Haupt; Kaitlin Reierson; Jennifer Lilley; Mike Futrell
What it shows: Freeman asked Councilmembers to help identify who wrote anonymous letters she found in public records, writing “After everything Jennifer, Mike and I do for this city…this kills.”

Shows Freeman attempting to enlist City officials and employees to identify anonymous critics. Also shows her placing herself with Jennifer and Mike as doing things “for this city.”

That is not private speech; that is the City Manager’s spouse asking officials to help identify critics.

Exhibit 24 — Futrell Forwarded Complaint About His Spouse to His Spouse

Record: November 6, 2024 Report Riverside / Perry / Futrell thread
Date: November 6, 2024
People involved: Councilmember Jim Perry; Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; Report Riverside
What it shows: A complaint about Freeman was forwarded to Futrell. Futrell forwarded it to Freeman. Freeman responded by framing the issue as First Amendment speech.

Futrell failed to preserve a clean complaint-handling process involving his spouse.

A complaint about the City Manager’s spouse should not be routed through the City Manager’s household.

Exhibit 25 — Pasadena Appointment and Reversal

Record: Public reports / Pasadena announcement / Riverside follow-up
Date: April–May 2026
People involved: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; Pasadena; Riverside
What it shows: Pasadena announced Futrell as its new City Manager, then Futrell withdrew and remained in Riverside amid public controversy.

Shows instability, reputational harm, and leadership failure.

Futrell allowed Pasadena to announce him, destabilized Riverside, then returned as if nothing happened.

The Exhibits in One Sentence

These 25 exhibits show a sustained pattern in which the City Manager failed to maintain boundaries between his public office and his household, while Susan Freeman repeatedly operated in City-adjacent channels involving staff, communications, HR, City Hall access, economic development, private events, donation or purchase activity, public messaging, and legal conflict.

Working Timeline of Submitted Correspondence and Public Records

Mike Futrell / Susan Freeman / City of Riverside

2022 — Recruitment, Hiring, Reimbursement, and Early Due-Diligence Questions

October 20, 2022 — Candidate reimbursement request

Record: Reimbursement request / receipts
People/entities: Mike Futrell; City of Riverside; recruitment process
What the record shows: Futrell submitted a candidate reimbursement request totaling approximately $2,031.36 for interview travel, including airfare, hotel, rental car / rideshare, and related expenses.
Significance: The reimbursement itself may not be improper in an executive recruitment, but it raises a due-diligence issue: Riverside spent taxpayer money recruiting Futrell and should have fully vetted prior employment, leadership history, contract terms, references, and potential workplace-risk issues.

November 17–18, 2022 — Next steps / onboarding correspondence

Record: “Next Steps” email chain
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Amalia Perez; Rene Goldman; Miriana Gonzalez; City HR
What the record shows: Futrell coordinated live scan, medical exam, benefits transition, and reimbursement timing. He stated that he was still fully engaged in his current position and asked about the ETA of the reimbursement because the interview travel was “no small amount.”
Significance: Establishes early onboarding and the need for records regarding hiring diligence, benefit transition, reimbursement approval, and prior employment review.

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2023 — Early Blurring of Private Home, City Access, HR, and Civic Strategy

September 30, 2023 — Department-head list requested for private holiday open house

Record: Holiday Party email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Jennifer Anderson; Mike Futrell; City Manager’s Office
What the record shows: Freeman wrote that Mike would host a holiday luncheon for City employees because it was “business-appropriate,” then asked for the list of Futrell’s department heads and executive staff so she could invite them to an evening holiday open house at their home.
Significance: Early evidence that Freeman sought City employee / senior staff lists for a private event at the City Manager’s home. Supports employee-pressure and private-household orbit concerns.

October 24, 2023 — Freeman asks City Manager assistant to influence Futrell’s schedule

Record: “Mike” email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Jennifer Anderson; Mike Futrell
What the record shows: Freeman emailed the City Manager’s assistant saying Mike was overscheduled and asked whether the assistant could help.
Significance: Early example of Freeman using City Manager staff for personal / household management of Futrell’s work schedule.

November 1, 2023 — Economic-development research / Freeman survey records

Record: Economic-development research / Freeman survey emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; City-related recipients
What the record shows: Freeman forwarded or circulated economic-development-related materials and survey content.
Significance: Early policy-adjacent activity by Freeman in economic-development space.

November 8, 2023 — “I can help you…” / “Schoolhouse Rock”

Record: Freeman Means Business emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; civic / City-related recipients
What the record shows: Freeman offered help and shared communications / civic-education materials.
Significance: Early evidence of Freeman presenting herself as a communications / civic-resource figure in City-adjacent channels.

November 29, 2023 — Creative Learning Center / City Hall pitch access

Record: Creative Learning Center email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; private party; Mike Futrell; Jennifer Anderson
What the record shows: Freeman wrote that Mike could schedule a time for the person to come to City Hall and pitch an idea, and that Mike could introduce the person to the right people. She copied Jennifer Anderson so she could “make it happen.” Freeman also added a postscript inviting the recipient to the Freeman/Futrell Christmas party.
Significance: One of the clearest City Hall access records. Freeman offered access to City Hall, the City Manager, and “the right people,” while using City Manager staff to facilitate.

December 2–7, 2023 — “Just Sharing — No Obligation” / Christmas Open House reminders

Record: Freeman event and invitation emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; City-connected invitees
What the record shows: Freeman promoted or reminded recipients about the Freeman/Futrell Christmas Open House.
Significance: Supports the private-home event / employee-pressure timeline.

December 9–11, 2023 — Freeman/Futrell Christmas Open House follow-up

Record: Christmas Open House Evite / thank-you records
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; City-connected attendees
What the record shows: The event was framed as “Susan Freeman & Mike Futrell’s event, CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE.” Follow-up messages thanked attendees and encouraged them to connect with both Susan and Mike on Facebook.
Significance: Confirms the Freeman/Futrell private-home civic network. Relevant when paired with the earlier request for department-head and executive-staff lists.

December 22–23, 2023 — Monthly private-home “strategy sessions”

Record: “Strategy sessions over dinner at our home monthly”
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson; Mike Futrell; Nick Adcock; Chamber
What the record shows: Freeman proposed monthly dinner strategy sessions at the Freeman/Futrell home involving the Mayor, City Manager, and Chamber leadership. Topics included economic development, small business incubators, youth job training, public safety, transportation, homelessness, mental health, affordable housing, climate change, and lobbying for state/federal funding. Freeman noted Wednesdays might work because Mondays were full of Council prep for Mike and Patricia.
Significance: Major private-home governance record. Shows proposed private policy strategy involving public officials, Chamber leadership, and the City Manager’s spouse.

December 27–28, 2023 — Leadership Riverside / social services / podcast

Record: LR Human Relations and Social Services Day materials; podcast email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; Kaitlin Reierson; City communications
What the record shows: Freeman forwarded LR human-relations and social-services materials and separately offered to help the City with a podcast, writing that she could teach them what they needed to know.
Significance: Early City communications / policy-adjacent involvement.

2024 — City Employees, HR Materials, Tool Library, BRAVA, Complaints, and Employee-Facing Messages

January 14–15, 2024 — City communications staffing and Riverside TV ideas

Record: Director of Marketing and Communications thread; Riverside TV ideas
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Kaitlin Reierson; Mike Futrell; City Communications
What the record shows: Freeman worked with or advised City communications staff on materials connected to communications duties and sent ideas for promoting and popularizing Riverside TV.
Significance: Shows Freeman operating as an informal communications adviser early in Futrell’s tenure.

February 2, 2024 — Octavia’s Kitchen / homelessness-service connection

Record: Connections email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Michelle Davis; Octavia’s Kitchen
What the record shows: Freeman connected an outside homelessness-service organization to City Housing / Human Services leadership.
Significance: Freeman acting as an informal connector into City policy channels.

February 12, 2024 — Women’s Wellness Retreat payment request to City employees

Record: Women’s Wellness Retreat invitation
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Pamela Galera; Kaitlin Reierson; Rene Goldman; Michelle Davis; other women / City employees
What the record shows: Freeman emailed attendees, including City employees, about a retreat and requested $40 for art instructor and materials through Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal to Freeman / Freeman Means Business.
Significance: One of the strongest employee-pressure records. Directly relates to later City concerns about paid participation and staff pressure.

March 4, 2024 — Women’s Wellness Retreat lunch logistics

Record: Retreat lunch order email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; City employee attendees
What the record shows: Freeman sent retreat logistics and lunch options to attendees, including City employees.
Significance: Confirms the retreat proceeded with City employee attendees.

March 5, 2024 — “PLEASE READ” disclaimer to City employee attendees

Record: “PLEASE READ” email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Kaitlin Reierson; Rene Goldman; Pamela Galera; City employee attendees
What the record shows: Freeman addressed “Attendees who work for the City of Riverside,” described the retreat as free and optional, and stated attendance would have no impact on their work with the City.
Significance: The disclaimer does not erase the pressure issue; it shows Freeman understood the need to reassure employees that their employment would not be affected.

May 2024 — Leadership Riverside / Tool Library / Economic Development team

Record: Team ED and Tool Library emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Jennifer Lilley; Erin Christmas; Leadership Riverside participants
What the record shows: Freeman participated in Leadership Riverside economic-development messaging and Tool Library planning, including documents, data collection, and project coordination.
Significance: Early Tool Library and economic-development activity involving City staff and City-connected projects.

June 12, 2024 — Altais Medical Group meeting scheduled by City Manager staff

Record: “Book a meeting please” email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Jennifer Anderson; Mike Futrell; Dr. Rudy Saenz; Altais Medical Group
What the record shows: Freeman asked the City Manager’s assistant to schedule a one-on-one meeting between Futrell and Dr. Saenz and to block Futrell’s calendar for a dinner. Jennifer Anderson replied that she would set it up.
Significance: Shows Freeman directing City Manager staff for outside meeting access and calendar control.

June 17, 2024 — Continued Women’s Wellness Retreat outreach

Record: Women’s Wellness Retreat email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Leadership Riverside women; City-connected recipients
What the record shows: Freeman invited “Ladies of Leadership” to a mini retreat at her home.
Significance: Extends the wellness-retreat pattern beyond the March event.

August 2024 — Tool Library fundraising and donation planning

Record: Tool Library / tool collection / donation records
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Erin Christmas; Jennifer Lilley; Elva Padilla; Mark Long; Leadership Riverside; Library Foundation
What the record shows: Records show fundraising, tool collection, donation language, and a Tool Library project integrated into the City Library system.
Significance: Supports donation / fundraising track tied to City Library and later Council acceptance.

September 22, 2024 — Anonymous complaint about Freeman meeting with staff

Record: Referenced in November 6 Report Riverside thread
People/entities: anonymous complainant; Susan Freeman; Jennifer Lilley; City staff
What the record shows: The complaint warned that Freeman meeting with City staff, including Jennifer Lilley, risked blurring boundaries and creating perceptions of undue influence or favoritism.
Significance: Early notice that Freeman’s non-staff involvement with City employees was a concern.

November 6, 2024 — Social-media complaint involving City Manager’s spouse

Record: Report Riverside complaint thread
People/entities: Report Riverside; Councilmember Jim Perry; Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman
What the record shows: A complaint was forwarded to Jim Perry, then Futrell, regarding Freeman’s social-media post and broader concerns about the City Manager’s spouse. Futrell forwarded the complaint to Freeman. Freeman responded that the critics were wrong and framed the post as history, America, and her First Amendment right.
Significance: Major governance failure: a complaint about the City Manager’s spouse was forwarded by the City Manager to the subject of the complaint.

November 13, 2024 — Freeman sends HR training content; HR forwards it as “From Mike’s wife”

Record: “Our HSA” / Cross-Team Collaboration emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Rene Goldman; Sandy Cramer; HR / Training and Organizational Development
What the record shows: Freeman sent HR training / communications material from Conscious Inclusion Company. Goldman said she was happy to accept material that would help Team Riverside and forwarded the material internally as “From Mike’s wife.”
Significance: One of the strongest HR/boundary records. Shows Freeman’s business-branded material entering City HR, and HR identifying the material by Freeman’s relationship to the City Manager.

November 16–18, 2024 — Gendered communication / bias training materials

Record: Understanding Gendered Communication to Combat Bias PPT threads
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Rene Goldman; HR-related recipients
What the record shows: Freeman sent or discussed additional training materials with City HR.
Significance: Supports pattern of Freeman’s business / DEI / training content entering City HR channels.

November 18–19, 2024 — GoFundMe / Tool Library notes

Record: GoFundMe email and Tool Library meeting notes
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Erin Christmas; Mark Long; Elva Padilla; Leadership Riverside; City Library
What the record shows: Freeman circulated GoFundMe information; meeting notes included fundraising, donor, tool acquisition, and City Library-related planning.
Significance: Supports Tool Library fundraising and City Library project track.

November 26, 2024 — Thanksgiving message to Team Riverside

Record: Thanksgiving message from City Manager Mike Futrell
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; City employees
What the record shows: Futrell sent Freeman a draft employee-facing Thanksgiving message. Freeman replied with a full rewritten message beginning “Happy Thanksgiving Team Riverside!” and ending “Mike.”
Significance: Strong communications-boundary record. Shows Freeman apparently drafting or rewriting employee-facing City Manager communications.

November 30, 2024 — “Mike Futrell and Susan Freeman of the City of Riverside”

Record: Email to Moreno Valley City Manager Mike Lee
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; Mike Lee; BRAVA
What the record shows: Freeman used the subject “Mike Futrell and Susan Freeman of the City of Riverside,” referenced “My Mike and I,” discussed City Managers’ dinners, and asked for help promoting BRAVA / Nutcracker.
Significance: Strong selective-use-of-status record. Freeman used City identity and Futrell’s status when seeking promotional help.

December 1–2, 2024 — BRAVA / City Arts Calendar / Mayor promotion

Record: City Arts Calendar and BRAVA promotion emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mayor Lock Dawson; Kaitlin Reierson; BRAVA representatives
What the record shows: Freeman asked the Mayor about helping promote BRAVA’s Nutcracker, then routed BRAVA to City Communications staff for promotion guidance.
Significance: Shows Freeman helping an outside organization access City Communications and the Mayor’s promotional support.

December 14, 2024 — Gloves and beanies employee communication

Record: Gloves / beanies message
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; City employees
What the record shows: Freeman appeared to revise an employee-facing message about Riverside-branded gloves and beanies, ending with “WARM regards, Mike.”
Significance: Another strong City Manager communications record.

December 16, 2024 — Tool Library fundraising goal reached

Record: GoFundMe fundraising goal email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Erin Christmas; Mark Long; Elva Padilla; Tool Library team
What the record shows: Freeman forwarded a GoFundMe notice that the fundraising goal had been reached.
Significance: Supports donation/fundraising track connected to City Library / Council acceptance.

December 17, 2024 — State of the City invitation logistics

Record: State of the City invitation emails
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; City/Chamber contacts
What the record shows: Futrell forwarded State of the City invitation logistics to Freeman.
Significance: Supports City/Chamber event information being forwarded to Freeman.

2025 — Escalation Across City Staff, Communications, Economic Development, Museum, UCR, and Private Events

January 14–15, 2025 — City communications and Riverside TV

Record: Communications / Riverside TV records
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Kaitlin Reierson; Mike Futrell
What the record shows: Freeman continued advising or suggesting City communications strategy and content.
Significance: Shows continuing communications-boundary issue.

January 16–29, 2025 — State of the City guest coordination

Record: State of the City guest emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; Mike Futrell; Chamber
What the record shows: Freeman coordinated State of the City guests through the City Manager’s Executive Assistant, identifying guests as “Mike” or “our” invitees. Zoraida confirmed the Chamber was notified of CM Futrell’s guests.
Significance: Shows City Manager staff being used for Freeman/Futrell event access logistics.

January 24–27, 2025 — “THE FORCE” podcast introductions

Record: THE FORCE podcast emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Gilbert Hernandez; Larry Gonzalez; City-related contacts
What the record shows: Freeman asked for introductions for her podcast / media platform.
Significance: Supports use of City relationships to build Freeman’s private/media platform.

February 7, 2025 — TerraCotta slides forwarded to Freeman

Record: TerraCotta presentation slides email
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; City economic-development staff
What the record shows: Futrell forwarded City economic-development presentation materials to Freeman.
Significance: Shows internal economic-development material flowing to a non-employee spouse.

February 10, 2025 — Lunch with HR Director Rene Goldman

Record: Lunch soon emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Rene Goldman
What the record shows: Freeman and Goldman arranged lunch.
Significance: Context for ongoing personal access to HR leadership while HR/training and employee-pressure issues existed.

February 12, 2025 — Freeman sends professional presentations to City staff

Record: PPTs email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Miranda Evans; Jennifer Lilley
What the record shows: Freeman sent professional presentations and suggested staff could learn from them and share them at conferences to raise Riverside’s profile.
Significance: Shows Freeman’s business/professional content entering City staff channels.

February 24–28, 2025 — Riverside Olympic / Riverside Games Committee

Record: Riverside Olympic Committee / Riverside Games Committee emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; Nick Adcock; Michelle Rubin; Chamber; City staff
What the record shows: Freeman proposed committee mission, structure, member dossiers, Google Docs workflow, and task assignments for Riverside Games / Olympic-adjacent planning.
Significance: Shows Freeman operating as an organizer / team lead in City-promotional workstreams while copying the City Manager.

February 24, 2025 — Civil Rights Institute access request through Zoraida

Record: Civil Rights Institute email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; Emily Hudson; Mike Futrell
What the record shows: Freeman asked Zoraida to help connect Emily with Mike, noting CRI wanted him to speak.
Significance: Shows Freeman using City Manager staff to facilitate access.

February 28, 2025 — Police Chief luncheon tickets for “Mike and me”

Record: Luncheon ticket email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; Mike Futrell
What the record shows: Freeman asked Zoraida whether tickets had been purchased for “Mike and me” and requested proof of purchase.
Significance: City Manager staff used for Freeman/Futrell civic-event logistics.

March 5, 2025 — World Skate “Hello Team”

Record: Letter to World Skate
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; Chamber; City staff; sports contacts
What the record shows: Futrell included Freeman in a “Hello Team” communication about World Skate / Olympic-adjacent efforts.
Significance: Places Freeman inside a City Manager / City-promotional team communication.

March 20, 2025 — Leadership Riverside Economic Development Day revamp

Record: Economic Development Day proposal
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Nick Adcock; Andrew Walcker; Jennifer Lilley; Michael James
What the record shows: Freeman proposed revamping Leadership Riverside’s Economic Development Day around City strategy, Northside, ASR, The Cheech, Green Tech, workforce development, infrastructure, affordable housing, and City planning.
Significance: Shows Freeman attempting to shape City/Chamber economic-development messaging.

April 1, 2025 — Freeman says Mayor only knows her as “Mike’s wife”

Record: Library Foundation reference email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mayor Lock Dawson
What the record shows: Freeman wrote that the Mayor only knew her as “Mike’s wife,” while seeking support / recognition for a Library Foundation role and attaching a dossier.
Significance: Undercuts later claim that references to “Mike’s wife” are inherently sexist; Freeman used that framing herself.

April 1, 2025 — Leadership Riverside ED Day pause

Record: LR Economic Development Day follow-up
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Nick Adcock; Andrew Walcker; Mark Long; Jennifer Lilley
What the record shows: Freeman believed she was “good to go”; Nick Adcock told her to pause until proper leadership / steering structure was consulted.
Significance: Shows Freeman pushing forward on economic-development programming before process alignment.

April 2, 2025 — UCR support-letter request / City Manager letterhead

Record: Urgent support-letter emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; Zoraida Caltitla; UCR
What the record shows: Freeman forwarded an urgent UCR support-letter request to Futrell. Futrell asked Zoraida to print it on City Manager letterhead, sign his name, scan, and return it.
Significance: Shows Freeman as a conduit into an official City Manager letterhead action.

April 30, 2025 — Department-head list requested from Zoraida

Record: Department Heads email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; Mike’s department heads
What the record shows: Freeman asked for names and emails of “Mike’s Department Heads” and their departments. Zoraida provided the list. Freeman then invited Zoraida to save the date for the Freeman/Futrell Christmas party.
Significance: Major access and employee-pressure exhibit.

April 30, 2025 — Venue thread forwarded to Freeman

Record: Help with Venue emails
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; Krystelle Schneider; RCOE
What the record shows: Futrell forwarded City staff venue-search work to Freeman and asked her to follow up. Freeman responded that she was the one who connected them with RCOE.
Significance: Shows Futrell pulling Freeman into City staff operational follow-up.

May 5–6, 2025 — BRAVA meeting scheduled at City Hall

Record: BRAVA meeting emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; Mike Futrell; BRAVA representatives
What the record shows: Freeman emailed Zoraida, copied Futrell, and wrote that Mike wanted to set up a BRAVA meeting. Zoraida scheduled the meeting at City Hall.
Significance: Direct City Hall access facilitated through Freeman and City Manager staff.

May 8, 2025 — CLE / recruiting and retention course to HR / leadership

Record: Course that may interest you
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Rene Goldman; Jennifer Lilley
What the record shows: Freeman sent professional course material from Freeman Means Business and acknowledged she had sent content before.
Significance: Continues business/professional content track.

May 17, 2024 / May 2025 records — Mike’s leadership presentation

Record: Office of Communications / leadership presentation
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Kaitlin Reierson
What the record shows: Freeman sent “Mike’s Leadership Presentation” to City Communications.
Significance: Shows Freeman’s leadership / DEI material intersecting with City Manager communications.

May 20–21, 2025 — Harvard draft, Fire defensible-space letter, Homekey press release

Record: Harvard draft press release; Fire defensible-space letter; Homekey press release
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; City Communications; Fire Chief; City staff
What the record shows: Futrell forwarded internal City communications materials to Freeman, including a Harvard-related draft, a Fire Department defensible-space letter, and the Quality Inn / Homekey+ press-release thread. Freeman returned a revised Homekey press-release document.
Significance: One of the strongest City-communications / internal-control exhibits.

May 30, 2025 — “Mike and I discussed these things” UCR / City collaboration

Record: UCR / City collaboration emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; UCR; Jennifer Lilley; City-connected participants
What the record shows: Freeman wrote that “Mike and I discussed these things” and proposed City/UCR collaboration areas involving City departments, internships, capstones, policy forums, engagement, economic development, civic tech, data sharing, and advisory groups.
Significance: Strong “management-team appearance” record.

June 4, 2025 — UCR Hospital thread forwarded to Freeman

Record: UCR Hospital email
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Jennifer Lilley; Miranda Evans; Susan Freeman
What the record shows: Futrell asked City economic-development staff how the City could market UCR’s hospital expansion and build momentum, then forwarded the thread to Freeman.
Significance: City economic-development / marketing issue forwarded to spouse.

June 9, 2025 — UCR coffee and City Hall visit

Record: Appointment email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; Mike Futrell; UCR contact
What the record shows: Freeman asked Zoraida to put a coffee meeting and City Hall visit on Mike’s calendar with a man from UCR and Freeman.
Significance: City Manager staff used to arrange outside access to Futrell and City Hall.

June 24–27, 2025 — Economic-development PowerPoint and business-data spreadsheet

Record: Chamber EDC update; 2024 new businesses spreadsheet
People/entities: Miranda Evans; Jennifer Lilley; Susan Freeman
What the record shows: City economic-development staff sent Freeman a Chamber EDC update PowerPoint and new-business data.
Significance: Shows City economic-development materials flowing to Freeman.

July 8–9, 2025 — Resident sidewalk / claim issue routed through Freeman

Record: Need assistance emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Vanessa Rogers; Gilbert Hernandez; Public Works; CallCenter
What the record shows: Freeman forwarded a resident sidewalk / claim issue to City staff and later said she had blind-copied City staff.
Significance: Shows Freeman functioning as an informal constituent-service access point.

July 12–14, 2025 — CSUSB / UCR research call coordination

Record: CSUSB call emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Michelle Davis; Mike Futrell; CSUSB researchers
What the record shows: Freeman coordinated research calls involving City Manager and City Housing leadership.
Significance: Academic / City connector pattern.

July 16, 2025 — Video request for speaking “OBO UCR… and the City”

Record: Video email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Kaitlin Reierson; Mike Futrell; Jennifer Lilley; CEDD
What the record shows: Freeman asked City Communications for a Riverside video she could use when speaking “OBO UCR Center for Community Solutions and the City.” City Communications said it could be added to the queue.
Significance: Strong management-team / speaking-for-City appearance record.

July 22, 2025 — City swag request

Record: Swag emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Kaitlin Reierson; Margery Haupt; Mike Futrell; Dalton Baumgartner
What the record shows: Freeman asked City staff for City swag for a student; staff arranged to drop items upstairs to the City Manager’s Office.
Significance: City resources / staff support for Freeman/Futrell network.

July 30–31, 2025 — LEGO video script sent to Freeman

Record: LEGO video script emails
People/entities: Miranda Evans; Susan Freeman; Jennifer Lilley
What the record shows: City economic-development staff sent Freeman a draft video script and asked for her thoughts.
Significance: City promotional messaging reviewed by non-employee spouse.

August 10–11, 2025 — UCR Chancellor email requested through Zoraida

Record: UCR Chancellor emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Zoraida Caltitla; Mike Futrell; UCR Chancellor S. Jack Hu
What the record shows: Freeman asked Zoraida to get the new UCR Chancellor’s email for “Mike and me.”
Significance: City Manager staff used for Freeman/Futrell UCR access.

August 11, 2025 — Dinner invitation referencing “Mike as Riverside’s City Manager”

Record: Dinner at our home email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; UCR / civic invitees
What the record shows: Freeman described “Mike as Riverside’s City Manager” in a private dinner invitation about the university, City, and Inland Empire.
Significance: Strong selective-use-of-status record.

August 12, 2023 / referenced in August batch — “Between Mike and me, 25,000 followers”

Record: Let’s connect email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; civic/business contacts
What the record shows: Freeman promoted the combined social reach of herself and Mike.
Significance: Shows joint influence branding.

August 2025 — Museum reopening / Riverside Games / Tool Library / workshops

Record: Museum, Riverside Games, Tool Library, Influence with Integrity, Wellness Program emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Museum staff; City staff; Chamber; Rene Goldman
What the record shows: Freeman continued operating in City Museum, Riverside Games, Tool Library, and professional-workshop channels.
Significance: Shows broad continued City-adjacent involvement.

September 16, 2025 — Bomb-threat incident notification forwarded to Freeman

Record: Incident Notification – Bomb Threat
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman
What the record shows: Futrell forwarded an incident notification concerning a bomb threat to Freeman.
Significance: Potentially serious information-control / public-safety confidentiality issue requiring full context.

September 23, 2025 — Print request to City staff

Record: Please print email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Regine Kennedy
What the record shows: Freeman requested printing from City-related staff.
Significance: Resource-use follow-up issue.

September 25, 2025 — Riverside East Rotary economic-development messaging

Record: Riverside East Rotary agenda emails
People/entities: Jennifer Lilley; Susan Freeman; Luisa Gaspar; City staff
What the record shows: Lilley asked Freeman what would be helpful to highlight. Freeman advised on the economic-development message and approved adding shadowing City staff to the guest list.
Significance: Shows City economic-development director treating Freeman as a participant in messaging and access.

September 2025 — Regional soirée speaking roles

Record: Soirée emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; Jose Medina; Edward Ornelas; Inland Empire Regional Chamber
What the record shows: Freeman coordinated speaking order and prepared / discussed regional economic-development remarks with Futrell and civic figures.
Significance: Shows Mike and Susan operating as paired speakers in civic/economic-development context.

October 1, 2025 — Economic-development video requested for Freeman’s talks

Record: Econ Dev Video emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Kaitlin Reierson; Miranda Evans
What the record shows: Freeman asked for City economic-development video content to incorporate into her own talks.
Significance: City content requested for Freeman’s external presentations.

October 7, 2025 — “Please print in color”

Record: Print request
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell
What the record shows: Freeman asked Futrell to print a presentation in color.
Significance: Resource-use follow-up issue.

October 11–21, 2025 — Freeman-Futrell Holiday Party and Book Signing invitation

Record: Holiday Party and Book Signing emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; City employees; City-connected recipients
What the record shows: Freeman promoted a Freeman-Futrell holiday party and book signing, invited recipients to purchase a Riverside Historical Society book using a QR code, and City employees responded.
Significance: Private event plus purchase promotion involving City employees / City-connected recipients.

October 22, 2025 — CEED / Rotary presentation materials

Record: CEED presentation emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Jennifer Lilley; Luisa Gaspar
What the record shows: Freeman requested City economic-development presentation materials and received a Canva link.
Significance: City presentation materials provided to Freeman.

October 23–31, 2025 — Futrell bio, abstract, and Museum steering team

Record: Mike Bio; abstract; Museum Grand Reopening Steering Team
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; Museum staff
What the record shows: Futrell sent Freeman official bio materials. Freeman was part of Museum grand-reopening steering-team work, requested editable documents, completed “homework,” and had her work added to a shared drive.
Significance: Shows Freeman involved in City Museum planning and using / receiving Futrell official profile materials.

November 3–6, 2025 — Museum steering team / invitations

Record: Museum shared-folder and invitation emails
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Chantal Downing; Robyn Peterson; City Museum staff
What the record shows: Freeman continued in Museum grand-reopening planning and invitations.
Significance: Ongoing City Museum project involvement.

November 8–10, 2025 — Holiday party / book signing RSVP reminder

Record: Holiday Party limited parking / RSVP reminder
People/entities: Susan Freeman; City-connected invitees
What the record shows: Freeman continued promoting attendance and book-purchase-related holiday party activity.
Significance: Supports pressure / purchase / private-event track.

December 4, 2025 — Freeman’s “Personal Note on My Work, My Research, and My Rights”

Record: Personal Note
People/entities: Susan Freeman; City Council
What the record shows: Freeman framed the dispute as First Amendment retaliation, protected speech, media literacy, civic research, and attempts to silence her. She signed as “City of Riverside Civic Advocate.”
Significance: Foundation for her later legal claim; also shows the private-citizen / City-connected-role tension.

December 11, 2025 — City Council warning letter to Freeman

Record: Referenced in Freeman claim and PRR
People/entities: City Council; Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Conder; Susan Freeman
What the record shows: Council accused Freeman of disruptive / harassing communications, intruding into confidential personnel issues, comments suggesting she was part of City decision-making, and pressure created by her relationship with the City Manager when soliciting paid participation or donations.
Significance: Anchor record for City’s concerns.

December 15, 2025 — Freeman response / claim foundation

Record: Personal Note / response to City Council
People/entities: Susan Freeman; City Council
What the record shows: Freeman denied harassment, denied representing herself as part of City decision-making, and denied soliciting City employees for paid services or donations.
Significance: Her denial becomes important because the produced records appear to challenge multiple aspects of that denial.

December 22, 2025 — Freeman’s Request for Clarity and Public Records

Record: FINAL_REQUEST_FOR_CLARITY_AND_PUBLIC_RECORDS
People/entities: Susan Freeman; City Attorney’s Office; City of Riverside
What the record shows: Freeman requested records about herself, Jennifer Lilley, anonymous correspondence, invitations to City employees, “City Manager’s wife,” Freeman Means Business, Conscious Inclusion Company, holiday parties, Christmas parties, wellness retreats, Facebook, misuse, undue influence, harassment, ethics, perception, and reputational risk.
Significance: Freeman’s own CPRA request confirms the categories at issue.

2026 — Anonymous Letter Identification, Pasadena, Claim, and Discipline Agenda

January 16, 2026 — Freeman asks City employees about anonymous letters

Record: Forwarded in February 19 “Yes or no question” email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Rene Goldman; Margery Haupt
What the record shows: Freeman asked whether either knew of or participated in the composition of anonymous letters found in public records.
Significance: Shows Freeman seeking to identify anonymous complainants / letter writers.

February 19, 2026 — “Yes or no question” to Councilmembers

Record: Yes or no question email
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Philip Falcone; Sean Mill; Rene Goldman; Margery Haupt; Kaitlin Reierson; Jennifer Lilley; Mike Futrell
What the record shows: Freeman asked Councilmembers to help find out who wrote “very horrible anonymous letters” and wrote, “After everything Jennifer, Mike and I do for this city…this kills.”
Significance: Major record showing Freeman placing herself with Jennifer and Mike as doing things “for this city,” while asking City officials to help identify anonymous critics.

April 15, 2026 — Pasadena announces Futrell appointment

Record: Public Pasadena announcement
People/entities: Pasadena City Council; Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman
What the record shows: Pasadena announced Futrell as its new City Manager and welcomed Mike and Susan to Pasadena.
Significance: Shows Futrell accepted another position, destabilizing Riverside.

Late April / May 2026 — Futrell withdraws / remains in Riverside

Record: Public reporting
People/entities: Mike Futrell; Susan Freeman; Riverside; Pasadena
What the record shows: Futrell withdrew from the Pasadena move and remained in Riverside, with public discussion about the role of the Freeman controversy.
Significance: Pasadena reversal confirms instability and reputational impact.

June 10, 2026 — Freeman Government Code claim submitted

Record: Claim No. 26-06-14
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Law Office of Carol Sobel; City of Riverside
What the record shows: Freeman filed a claim seeking $1,000,000, alleging retaliation, constitutional violations, reputational damages, pain and suffering, Bane Act damages, attorney fees, and costs.
Significance: Major conflict. The City Manager’s spouse became legally adverse to the City he manages.

June 11–15, 2026 — Media coverage of claim and discipline

Record: Press-Enterprise, Los Angeles Times, Raincross Gazette coverage
People/entities: Susan Freeman; Mike Futrell; City Council; City of Riverside
What the record shows: Public reporting described Freeman’s claim, the City’s warning letter, and Council consideration of discipline.
Significance: Confirms the matter became public, legal, and disciplinary.

June 16, 2026 — City Council agenda / public employee discipline and City Attorney hiring

Record: City agenda / public reporting
People/entities: City Council; Mike Futrell; City Attorney candidates / appointment process
What the record shows: Council placed City Manager discipline and City Attorney hiring on the agenda.
Significance: Governance issue moves into formal Council action. Public should demand evening-session transparency and meaningful public comment.

Core Themes Established by the Timeline

1. The issue is not merely social media

Freeman has First Amendment rights, but the submitted records show the dispute involves City staff access, City communications, City HR, City economic development, City Library, City Museum, City Hall scheduling, City employee invitations, donor / purchase activity, and City Manager household access.

2. Futrell failed to maintain a bright-line boundary

The records repeatedly show City information, staff, communications, and access flowing to or through Freeman.

3. Freeman repeatedly made the City Manager relationship relevant

Records show use of “Mike and I,” “Mike and me,” “Mike Futrell and Susan Freeman of the City of Riverside,” “Mike as Riverside’s City Manager,” “Mike’s Department Heads,” and “after everything Jennifer, Mike and I do for this city.”

4. City employees could reasonably feel pressure

The retreat disclaimer, holiday parties, department-head lists, book-purchase promotion, GoFundMe / Tool Library records, and City HR materials support the pressure concern.

5. HR and communications were pulled into the pattern

Freeman’s business/training materials entered HR, and HR forwarded them as “From Mike’s wife.” Freeman also interacted repeatedly with City Communications and economic-development messaging.

6. The claim creates an unavoidable conflict

Freeman’s $1,000,000 claim against the City means Futrell’s household is legally adverse to the City. Futrell cannot credibly manage City interests while his spouse is pursuing damages from the City.

7. Council had notice and failed to act

The records show early warning signs in 2023 and 2024, formal complaint activity in 2024, escalating records in 2025, and legal conflict in 2026. Council and the Mayor had many opportunities to intervene before this became a public crisis.