As Jackson's water system drowned, most reporters covering the story stayed in the shallow end of the pool as they repeated tired narratives requiring little analysis or research. The Clarion-Ledger dove into the deep end and came up with a damn good story. Surprised? Yours truly was too until he saw the bylines.
Gannett's Investigations Editor Emily Le Coz spearheaded team of three reporters. Ah..., Emily Le Coz, that explains the thoroughness of the article. She had the downtown beat at the Clarion-Ledger ten years ago and definitely knows where some bodies are buried. The veteran reporter shook off the rust, turned back the clock, and gave a sorely needed lesson in reporting to the Jackson (and national) media. Article.
The article opened with some history but quickly turned towards the present:
More than a century before failing infrastructure left Jackson, Mississippi, without running water this summer, thousands of the capital city's residents gathered in a park downtown to celebrate the new water filtration plant that promised to turn the muddy liquid flowing into people’s taps into “clean, pure water.”....
Today, Jackson’s water system is a symbol of national embarrassment, highlighted by this August’s crisis that deprived more than 170,000 people of water to drink, wash or flush toilets.
It was the latest in a series of water-related problems plaguing the state’s biggest city. They include frequent line breaks, shut-offs, boil-water notices and ongoing exposure to toxic lead and harmful bacteria. Jackson consistently has been in violation of safe drinking water standards since at least 2018 and has been under a federal order since 2020 to fix a host of issues impacting its water system....
Before turning back to the past:
The reporting found a complex story of population decline, poverty, racism, politics, mismanagement and theft. But key details emerged that, when pieced together, paint a portrait of a water system that was flawed from the start and worsened exponentially over the years as those in power seemingly lost control.
The system was cobbled together over the course of several administrations into a needlessly complicated operation with several moving parts. Complaints about bad water were rampant early on, and the system, unlike most Mississippi communities, relies mostly on surface water instead of cleaner, simpler wells.
No surprise to readers of this website. However, the story goes in a direction that actually uses the forbidden "M" word:
In choosing surface water, Jackson created for itself a host of challenges. But, in the view of Jason Barrett, associate extension professor with the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, Jackson's decision was not a fatal flaw. Other cities – like Atlanta, Birmingham and Nashville – also pull from surface water sources without nearly the issues facing their Mississippi neighbor.
“I don’t think Jackson’s issue is the quality of the source,” Barrett said. “I think Jackson’s problem is management.”
Hot diggity damn! A reporter actually said it but the team wasn't through with breaking barriers. The article uses the "S" word as well.
As the cost to fix Jackson's problems climbs, the city’s utility revenues are in a freefall. ...
Part of the issue is its dwindling customer base. Jackson has lost utility sales as its population declines and major customers like schools and hospitals disconnect from the system in lieu of more stable sources of water like wells.
But it's also because of rampant theft by residents who altered meters and connections to avoid paying for water, as well as by city workers who circumvented the billing system and bribed customers to give them cash in exchange for wiping out their monthly bills. A pair of investigations, one launched in 2015 and the other in 2019, nabbed more than two dozen people in a scheme that then-Public Works Director Bob Miller called "the worst I've ever seen."
But perhaps the biggest culprit is a faulty water meter and billing system installed by German technology company Siemens as part of a $91 million contract signed in 2012.
Can't believe that passage appeared in a news story about the Jackson water system. Someone needs to turn this team into its boss for committing the crime of engaging in real journalism.
Read the rest of the article or go buy a Sunday paper when it appears in print. It covers a a great deal of rarely-tread ground that is worthy of your time.
20 comments:
Too little too late. The nation has already moved on.
That’s how the democrat operatives do it. Just like a drive-by shooting. That’s exactly why Rush used to call them the “drive-by media” because the original lie of “systemic racism” as the cause of the crisis, is all that Joe Six-pack and Sally Soccermom will remember.
Google “Jackson Mississippi Water Crisis” and all you get are the hundreds of articles that all say “system racism and white flight” were the cause of the crisis.
And you are just a raving lunatic if you try to say otherwise.
My surprise in the story is they never mentioned the $5/month maintenance fee Ditto stopped. Also the headline is not accurate to the story.
While I appreciate the attempt not cover this story, they lost me at the “R”-word. Racism.
Where’s any actual proof of racism in Jackson’s third-world water system?
I'll take your word for it, KF, as there is no f*ckin' way I'm paying for access.
This CL article analogous to getting a grand slam home run after the stadium already emptied out.
Public service announcement. Please do not flush during the Jackson State football game. We are having some high profile well known sports figures here for the popular “Game Day” television show. We are trying to hide the fact we have very little (albeit undrinkable) water in the Capitol city. There is no way we can hide the crumbling streets. The city has arranged for special protection support for these visitors. We want them to enjoy their visit to the Capitol city.
Good info but unfortunately way way way over the head of 80% of Jackson's voters.
Weather forecast - rain...all...day...Saturday.
In honor of the Mayor’s request and the presence of the ESPN crew and all the wonderful out of town JSU and Southern fans I pledge to not flush my toilet until Monday at 8 AM!
I credit KF with pushing this story until print media finally picked it up. I wonder how hard they had to push to actually get it published?
Does LeMaster rip off the C-L also?
5:21, with time-of-day displaying on our our various devices, with such accuracy, it would be terrible, if evil people did just the opposite of what you're pledging. It would be horrible, and a terrible embarrassment (in front of those who really matter: Mainstream Media people from Yankeeland) if everyone flushed simultaneously.
Attitude of the incoming leadership made all the problems worse. When Harvey Johnson and his next two successors took office they had the attitude that they were getting the keys to a smooth running Mercedes and they would only need to stay out of the ditches and enjoy the ride. The "Capital City". They did not realize they really had a high-mileage chevy badly in need of an overhaul and new tires. So they set about enjoying the ride. What maintenance? Now it won't steer or accelerate for the new drivers and they are in the ditch. Who do you blame? The last time I almost bought a used car I checked it first. Wasn't worth the cost of repairs.
Never fear! Gameday’s presence will solve all of our problems. Thank goodness!!
Chose surface water over cleaner well water!!! That choice was made before Fewell was built in 1914!!! If Jackson had relied on wells for the past 100 years the aquifer would have dried up 50 years ago!!!
“needlessly complicated operation with several moving parts”. What the heck does that mean??? Help us out KF for those that won’t touch the CL.
oss Barnett wasn't built until late '50-early '60's I believe, sure hasn't been a 100 Years-
11:02. Read KF’s previous posts. Jackson was getting water out of the Pearl River BEFORE Fewell was built in 1914. Pumped untreated/unfiltered water from Fewell site to downtown area.
Dr. Jason Barrett calls the issue “management”. I know Jason, he’s a good delta boy. He’s on top of water systems around Mississippi. And he’s exactly correct. I’m glad he wasn’t scared to say the truth.
Anna Wolfe is best reporter around (except for you of course King), but unfortunately she’s got a one-track mind, and can’t seem to cover more than one subject at a time. I guess that makes her not a very good reporter the more I think about it. She started the investigation years ago, but hasn’t stayed on it. She prides herself on being reporter who protects the disadvantaged, but has dropped the ball on the biggest story around. I get the MDHS story, and feel that is certainly worthy of her time, but she could do more than just that.
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/03/29/jackson-water-employee-fired-talking-lead-media/82386382/
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