Pomona, California, found itself in an unexpected controversy when residents received a community recreation guide not quite suitable for all ages. The city had to quickly issue a public apology after reports surfaced that some guides featured adult content.
"The City of Pomona is aware that some copies of the recently mailed Recreation Guide may include inappropriate images that should not have appeared in a publication distributed to residents," the city explained in a Facebook post on Monday. They assured the community that these materials were not approved for inclusion.
The images, described as "pornographic," alarmed many in the community, leading city officials to extend a heartfelt apology. "We sincerely apologize to our community, especially to families and children who may have been affected," they stated, emphasizing that such content does not align with the city's values.
“We recognize this incident has damaged public trust and are committed to transparency as we review the issue and implement corrective actions,” city officials wrote.
The guides were swiftly pulled from further circulation, and an investigation has been launched to discover how this misstep occurred.
Pomona's Assistant City Manager, Mark Gluba, told The Daily Bulletin that the print shop responsible for producing the guides was not at fault. "We await the Pomona Police Department to come take a crime report and coordinate the investigation in conjunction with the US Postal Inspection Service," he said.
The city is now considering the possibility of a rogue actor being responsible for the error and has assured residents that measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. For those eager to see the recreation guide as intended, it is available on the city's official website.