Hammer To Fall: Layoffs Resume at Chronicle

In a sad spin on the righteous adage, layoffs delayed are not layoffs denied.

Last month, a number of San Francisco Chronicle employees told us that staffers were bracing for the "final" round of layoffs, which was supposed to come on April 17. Well, it didn't -- which led staffers to tell us they felt like rats in the cage of a python who wasn't hungry (yet).

He's hungry today. A pair of sources confirmed to SF Weekly that, among others, reporters John Koopman, Jonathan Curiel, and Tyche Hendricks have been let go. Media Guild representative Carl T. Hall -- himself a 20-year veteran Chron writer and editor before accepting a buyout earlier this year -- said around 10 "newsroom names" and possibly others outside the newsroom will be dismissed by sundown.

"By the end of the day, we'll know," he said. "People are still being informed."

UPDATE, 12:57 p.m.: A Chron staffer informs us that seven writers and an editor on the paper's Metro desk have been let go today. Some, however, will continue working until August. Two business writers have also been shown the door. 

UPDATE, 2:10 p.m.: These layoffs come two days before the annual Chronicle Picnic -- co-sponsored by the paper's management and the Guild. What fantastic timing. Good times to come at the picnic, no doubt. 

Update, 3 p.m.: SFist has a list of departing Chron staffers. Our source confirmed the following names (in addition to the aforementioned): Susan Sward, investigative reporter; Mark Hedin, copy editor; Deborah Gage, business writer; Derrick Smith, copy editor; Zahid Sardar, design editor; Karen Hata, business writer, Tim Sullivan, editorial assistant. It also appears -- but was not confirmed -- that Delfin Vigil has been let go as well. 

Update, 6:45 p.m.: The Media Workers Guild has posted its take on the layoffs -- and claims "about 25" of their members were dismissed today.