Strikingly similar stories in the Times and Daily Breeze today on Matt Middlebrook's resignation as top communications aide to mayor Jim Hahn. Both stories talk about Middlebrook running Hahn's campaigns and his departure to join Fleishman-Hillard, the big and controversial public relations firm, in San Francisco. (I overstate that. The firm's city contracts and political involvement have been controversial at times in L.A., I don't really know about elsewhere). The stories also touch on his role as the staff tough guy -- with quotes in both from councilman Eric Garcetti. Only the Breeze reporter David Zahniser has the replacement -- current deputy Julie Wong -- while the Times' Patrick McGreevy and Jessica Garrison recount the growing list of recent departures from Hahn's office:

It does seem to be quite a few key departures, especially with Hahn just halfway through his term. The Daily News, by the way, handled it as a news brief. Here is the release with more background on Middlebrook and his job with Fleishman-Hillard.

Updated Sept. 7