Wednesday, August 13, 2008
There is one indisputable truth about the dumping of sludge by West Palm Beach into a poor neighborhood: It wouldn't get dumped into an affluent neighborhood.
On Tuesday, The Post reported how West Palm Beach violated state law by sending sludge from the city's water plant into a canal north of the plant without a permit. Historically in Florida, water plants were built in poor neighborhoods, and West Palm Beach was no exception. The canal is in an African-American area; residents noted correctly that the city would not let it happen where residents are richer. Those in Pineapple Park, a racially mixed, blue-collar neighborhood that flooded during Hurricane Frances because of the city's ineptitude, would agree.
To make things worse, West Palm Beach was less than candid at first with state regulators who asked about the sludge dumping. It was another problem the city's utilities department wanted to hide, rather than fix. The regulators pointed out that even if the city had asked for a permit, the state would have said no. Having treated the neighborhood so badly, the least West Palm Beach could do is send a personal apology and a promise to do better. Mayor Lois Frankel owes those constituents a visit.
(source: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/08/13/a10a_wpb_edit_0813.html)
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