Marc Moscato says he's no crook—and he's confused why that seems to be the rumor.

The co-founder of the Dill Pickle Club, which later became group Know Your City, says he was surprised and alarmed earlier this week, when his former organization issued a release saying its future is in peril, and strongly hinting it might have been Moscato's doing.

"It was quite a shock to receive that email," Moscato tells the Mercury. "I don't know what the 'personnel issue' is they're talking about."

Neither do we. Since announcing Know Your City's tenuous situation, and blaming it on "personnel issues" (there were two paid employees until earlier this year, now there's one unpaid volunteer), the group's new executive director, Cameron Whitten, has said he can't say anything more about the situation. He said this morning the group is planning a forum on January 14 to discuss the issue at length.

Moscato's version of events is that, yes, Know Your City had funding challenges when he left in late July, but that they were run-of-the-mill difficulties. The shortage led the organization's board to cut Moscato's pay and eliminate the position of his assistant—ultimately prompting him to resign. But Moscato denies there was anything untoward going on.

"I founded the organization," he says. "I care about it deeply. At no point were there any financial misdeeds."

Whitten—who oversaw Moscato as a member of Know Your City's board before assuming the role of executive director (he's currently not paid)—reiterated today that something was rotten under Moscato's leadership.

"There were actions taken that were not ethical and are currently putting the existence of Know Your City in jeopardy," he says, not naming Moscato individually. "It has exposed board members who weren't aware of this to financial and legal liability. We are doing the best we can to right this."

Again, Whitten refuses to go into detail, saying the group's investigating. But it's clear he and Moscato disagree on the latter's tenure. Moscato notes that the people currently driving Know Your City—known for history-tinged comic books and guided tours around the city—were around during some of his time as director.

"They've been on the board for more than a year," he says.

Whitten acknowledges this, and says he accepts responsibility for missing... whatever he's saying he missed.

By the way, Know Your City's nonprofit tax statements aren't as available online as some larger organizations', but one from 2012 lists $57,153 in revenue, and $62,513 in expenses. Moscato made around $16,000 for his full-time work that year, according to the filing.