Here’s what we learned this week in the never-ending onion that is the Flint water scandal. (And make no mistake, it’s steadily moving from a “crisis” to a “scandal.”)
Harvey Hollins – a top aide to Gov. Rick Snyder and a man who is now, ironically, painfully (we need a new word that combines the two– ironifully? painically?) in charge of the state’s response to the water crisis – was told a year ago that Legionnaire’s disease was killing people in and around Flint and making others sick.
And yet he didn’t tell his boss.
Brad Wurfel, the now former director of communications for the state’s Department of Environmental Quality, wrote the email telling Hollins about the outbreak, which roughly coincided with Flint’s switch to river water.
But he apparently didn’t tell the governor either.
Dan Wyant, the now former director of Wurfel’s department and a Synder appointee, was cced on Wurfel’s email.
But did he bother to tell Snyder?
Nope. Or so we’re told by the governor’s office. Snyder has said he knew bupkis about the outbreak – at least 87 cases during a 17-month period, including nine deaths, far beyond the norm – until last month.
Why didn’t he know? Well, his staff didn’t tell him. Shrug, shrug.
“Important information flow isn’t always forthcoming,” Snyder’s chief of staff Dennis Muchmore has said by way of explanation.
That might be the biggest understatement in Michigan history. Or the biggest fib. I suspect we’re close to finding out which, especially if all emails, including those of staffers, are released. (I encourage you to read the Free Press story that talks about all this and includes some of the damn near frightening emails referenced here.)
That Snyder knew nothing strains credulity. Holy hell, how could so many people know something that big and NOT tell the boss, if for no other reason than to protect their own backsides? That just doesn’t ring true. Would that many people in your workplace not tell the boss about something that huge and fraught with peril? (“Hey, everybody, the roof’s on fire – think we should tell the big guy?” “Nah!”)
C’mon.
If it did happen, though – if no one throughout the entire Snyder chain of command bothered to inform the top elected official in the state – then Snyder is the worst-served chief executive ever. I mean, honestly, if sick and dying people aren’t worth telling the boss about – much less doing something about – what is?
At best, there’s a severe culture and competency problem in the Snyder administration.
At worst, there’s something much worse afoot.
Stay tuned. Like I say, I have a feeling we’re about to find out which.
My view: If Snyder ever resigns, it’ll be over the Legionnaire’s disease issue, not lead or the state’s response.
This guy can’t be incarcerated fast enough
It appears that it isn’t only ostriches that hide their heads in the sand.
Andy, Snyder is a disgrace to the human race! If this whole story goes the way I think it’s going to go; Everyone who stands my him or around him, should be canned, jailed and/or sued. Plus forced to drink the unfiltered Flint water until it is fit for human consumption. Just saying.
Thank God that the FBI is also investigating this whole situation for any criminal wrongdoing. I highly doubt that AG Bill Schuette’s investigation can be fair and impartial considering BS’ political contributions to Snyder, in addition to his quick decision to represent the Governor only in the civil suit against the State and not any employees.
Communications in any organization aren’t always what we would like them to be. How many bosses out there have discovered that his/her staff did not tell them when their fly was open or their slip was showing? Have you ever seen something wrong and not told the person who needed to know? In my experience, one of the most difficult parts of management is to establish a open communications throughout any organization. It is too bad it didn’t happen here.
A lot of fibbing going on…….. all the way to the top.
We need an activist sound-person. Here’s the deal: The next time the Gov. speaks, the sound-person must play the Standells’ 1965 hit “Dirty Water” as an intro. Rather than whatever music or intro the Gov. usually uses. “I love that dirty water!!!” I would kick in $100 dollars toward that sound-person’s unemployment benefits. Would you contribute.
Yeah right, his staff didn’t tell him about something so important…just like Governor Christie’s staff didn’t tell him about closing the bridge. Do these people think we’re all stupid and believe this stuff?
Andy, you nailed it. Again I agree with you – scary. Don’t worry, I also read what is left in the Sag News for opinion pieces, the Washington Posterior and Bloomfest and they often give me reason to pull out my hair! The thing that turns my stomach most now is that the people of Flint still don’t have good, dependably safe water and nothing is being done. What happened to the positive, compulsive obsessive behavior (or whatever) this incompetent governor touted?
You had me at “bupkis,” Andy. A journalist who works that into a story is an A-OK mensch in my book. And aren’t you glad the MLive thing is in your rear view mirror? I suspect most of this column, including the word “bupkis,” would have never past muster.
I am so sick of people in office using the little guys to climb up the magic bean stalk.
It sickens me with their lack of integrity and care for others.
I meant “passed,” not “past.” Sheepishly humbled.
Its hard to believe SO many people knew, but didn’t pass it up the chain of command!