SEATTLE, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Seattle Mayor Ed Murray released a very nice statement on Thursday afternoon mourning the death of the former director of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods.

The problem is that Jim Diers, who served as the SDN president until he was fired by former Mayor Greg Nickels, is still alive.


“I’m very saddened by the death of Jim Diers. He was an innovator in bringing communities together and made a significant contribution to the foundation that makes Seattle special,” Murray said in the statement. “His work with neighborhoods was passionate and progressive. His service to this city was unmeasurable. My thoughts go out to the Diers family. He will be missed.”

After a few minutes went by, a second statement was released about Diers: “He is alive and well.”

Apparently Murray mixed Diers up with Joe Dear, a former chief of staff for Gov. Gary Locke. Dear died from cancer at the age of 62.

Diers didn’t seem too upset about the mayor’s mistake.

Jim Diers posted Facebook message assuring everyone he's OK. "Thanks, everyone, for your concern, but I don't really have time for death." — Jim Brunner (@Jim_Brunner) February 28, 2014 Diers: "It's been a long time since a mayor said nice words about me, so I do appreciate Mayor Murray's sentiment" http://t.co/KpkAkgXHIM — Jim Brunner (@Jim_Brunner) February 28, 2014

[Seattle Times] [Seattle Pi]