Nice timing with that announcement

 When we had to remove a city, LA was empty.  LA has a lot more history I would have much rather remove Seattle but Seattle had crews in it.  When the change was made I was very upfront about saying the next time the city is empty and I can catch it in time I will switch the two so that it is back to LA.

After that Seattle was wiped, but I wasn't back in the office in time before a new crew set up, so I missed that chance.  So you are right this timing is perfect for this announcement and acts as a placeholder so that no one is surprised when it is renamed and those who set up can choose an appropriate name without any inconvenience of me changing that on them.

thats convient isnt it

Yes it is, I would think it is a lot more convenient to do it when it is empty and people haven't chosen location-based crew names. 

Not every action is a conspiracy.

I understand you are probably very distraught by your deaths and unable to control your emotions now so you're lashing out at me because I'm changing the letters of a virtual city in a game.  Would you like me to fetch you a juice box and a blanket to comfort you in your time of need or would it tin foil hat suffice?

But but but Seattle is a much better than Seattle. :(

 Ladies and gents, if it pleases the court I would like to enter into record 'Exhibit A" for reasons SEA should be LA