The continuing imbroglio relative to the water crisis in the City of Richmond is an unfortunate reminder of the failure of government.
As reflected by news reports, previous inspections of the Richmond water plant sounded warning signs for “deteriorating equipment, outdated emergency planning.”
City officials have blamed the water crisis on the loss of electricity from winter storms, but recent reports reveal outdated infrastructure, that the failsafe systems designed to respond during inclement weather were not sufficient, and that disaster preparation exercises were not regularly conducted.
The current city leadership, in an attempt to allay dread and fear of continuing contamination of the city’s water supply, has not been upfront and forthcoming about the impacts of the infrastructure failure. Henrico and Hanover Counties are concerned, and Chesterfield keeps a watchful eye.
I have said on many occasions that local government is the nexus to the people, perhaps the most important. Disregard and neglect for safe water, the essence of health, shows a deliberate mismanagement of a resource critical to ALL PEOPLE.
What I have read and heard about this reflects the lack of transparency in revealing the truth to the people. Perhaps, this is why Governor Youngkin is conducting his own investigation.
AGAIN, leadership is failing us. The people want the truth; it must come, and should it not be now? If not now, then when?
Stay tuned.
