Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Must We Hit Madam Mayor Over The Head?

On Thursday, June 2, 2016 I reported Greensboro Makes List Of Cities Caught Cheating On Water Testing:

"Well as it turns out the Guardian has just published a list of 33 US Cities that have been cheating on water quality tests and our own City of Greensboro is on the list for having some of the same issues Flint, Michigan had:
"At least 33 cities across 17 US states have used water testing “cheats” that potentially conceal dangerous levels of lead, a Guardian investigation launched in the wake of the toxic water crisis in Flint, Michigan, has found.

Of these cities, 21 used the same water testing methods that prompted criminal charges against three government employees in Flint over their role in one of the worst public health disasters in US history"
And you still think our current city leaders should remain in charge? Seriously?

On Friday June 3rd, 2016, Roch Smith Jr wrote: Greensboro used ‘cheat’ to test water for lead:


"GREENSBORO, NC — The Guardian is reporting that Greensboro is among 33 cities its investigation found using testing techniques that can underestimate the levels of lead in drinking water. This comes on the heels of a News & Record report last week of concerning levels of chromium-6 in Greensboro’s water in 2014.
The Guardian identified three improper testing methods, ‘cheats” as it called them, that can be used to underestimate lead in drinking water. These cheats include pre-flushing lines, removing aerators, and slowly filling sample bottles. All are against the Environmental Protection Agency’s testing guidelines.
According to the Guardian, Greensboro testers were told to utilize the “slow fill” method. Who gave this directive, the Guardian doesn’t say, but that question has been submitted to the city of Greensboro and this post will be updated when they reply"

Today, Tuesday, June 7, 2016, Roch Smith Jr writes City mum on water lead test ‘cheat’

"GREENSBORO, NC — As reported here on Friday, an investigation by the Guardian found 33 U.S. cities using certain types of “cheats” that can make the amount of lead in drinking water appear to be lower. Greensboro was among those cities.

According to the Guardian, Greensboro testers were told to use a technique called “slow fill,” where sample bottles are slowly filled.

“Can you tell me who issued these instructions and to whom they were issued?”
Also on Friday, I emailed Carla Banks, the City of Greensboro’s communications and marketing director and asked who gave this directive and to whom was it issued. There has been no reply."

I e-mailed Mayor Vaughan just minutes before posting this post to show her how many people had read this website just today and yesterday and to inform her I was going to promote Roch's post.





Like it or not, these blogs have become the media in Greensboro. And the only media that can be trusted to push our local leaders to do their jobs. Ignore us at your own peril.

And please support Billy Jones for Mayor of Greensboro in 2017.as I've already been hit in the head enough you no longer have to.


Updated: 7:09 PM Roch reports City explains water lead test instructions

I can't claim it was the hit on the head that did it but at least we got a long overdue reply.