As the COVID-19 pandemic extended its tentacles into local cities and towns, municipal officials responded to decisions from the federal and state government for guidance to keep residents safe from an invisible enemy. The experience was unchartered territory for everyone, especially municipalities who had to juggle the need to continue to provide city services such as water and trash with the health and safety of employees and residents. To get a better picture of how different cities reacted to the early weeks of the novel coronavirus pandemic of 2020, Independent Newsmedia used Arizona public record law to understand how city leaders communicated with employees and the public. Records reveal a snapshot of what happened behind those city walls during the early days of the global outbreak.