The Clarion-Ledger published this front page yesterday:
In a combined effort between the Clarion Ledger and the MCIR, samples were collected from faucets at 17 locations throughout Jackson, including residences, businesses, schools and restaurants as well as the State Capitol Building. The Clarion Ledger commissioned and paid for testing independent of the city or state. Testing of those samples by Waypoint Analytical in Ridgeland showed low levels of lead in the water in seven of those locations.
All independent testing results by the CL and MCIR met allowable government standards for safe drinking. The microsampling by the CL and MCIR does not constitute a complete scientific testing but serves as an example for the challenges Jackson faces.
You are reading that correctly. Despite the front-page hysteria, the newspaper finally tells the truth on page 8A: the water is safe. Unfortunately, the damage was done as it named a restaurant that will not be named in this post:
Forest Hill High School, The Mississippi State Capitol Building, xxxxx xxxxxxx, a residence on Red Oak Drive in South Jackson and a residence on Normandy Dr. in Northeast Jackson also displayed elevated lead levels.
Well, guess what happened at the restaurant last night. You guessed it. Customers were suddenly requesting bottled water and asking the staff about the article. Keep in mind "All independent testing results by the CL and MCIR met allowable government standards for safe drinking." Unfortunately, the damage was done.
It is understandable why the newspaper would conduct such tests. Mayor Lumumba only said 16 meters had elevated levels of lead without providing more specific information. However, the do-gooders at the state newspaper just couldn't help themselves as they took a cheap shot at a Jackson business trying to survive.
Executive Editor Mark M. Konradi owes an apology but frankly, apologies mean little and provide nothing to the victim. He should take the whole staff to the restaurant for lunch. That would be a sincere apology.
20 comments:
LuDUMBa is doing enough to put restaurants out of business
Good thing no one reads this clarion ledger.
The only positive out if this is that it’s the Carrion Liar. No one reads it.
It's all about "clicks" on their website. Those headlines are click-bait.
More yellow journalism from the cage liner.
The restaurants and every business in Jackson need to sue the C/L.
@1:13PM
Agreed. So, He needs to write the Mayor and FBI, directly?
Thank you, sir.
1:13
The FBI? Ha!
I'd trust a salesman from Ludlow's Used Cars before I'd trust anyone from the FBI.
@3:04PM
Keep watching
Check the stock price of Gannett. Case study in reverse good management. It’s a penny stock. My three year old grandchild could have run it better.
And besides, it’s like a tree falling in the woods. Nobody reads it, so why get worked up over what they say?
I honestly thought the Clarion Ledger had folded a few years ago.
I had no idea they were still in operation.
When the Gannett family sold the company about 10 years ago in Augusta, GA, it started downhill from day one.
There is nothing factually wrong with the article though to be fair I think they need to take similar lead tests in suburban and rural communities throughout central Mississippi to see if the issue is unique to Jackson or more widespread. I suspect the latter.
Lumumba administration allowed OBC to degrade on such a wide scale that the entire system was on the verge of total collapse when the state stepped in.
So now we are to believe, solely based on their word, that the Lumumba squad is competent enough to detect lead when replacing water meters?
Sorry, not buying it for a moment.
KF, you're assuming someone reads the CL.
I think Kingfish is referring to the fact that Babalu in Fondren announced they were closing permanently effective immediately the day after this article came out.
Does CL even print their paper?
11:25 You can believe the EPA.
You are not helpless.
Since you found this site, you can find someone to test your water, you can find out on your search engine if YOUR neighborhood still has lead pipes and if that's too hard find numbers for the MS Environmental Dept and ask them. You can call a plumber to see if your house has lead pipes. If neither you nor your neighborhood does, you are fine.
If your neighborhood and house has corroded lead pipes, you shouldn't drink the water. You will never be able to safely drink it no matter how good the water treatment is.
Competent politicians and reporters will tell you these things, not inflame your fears.
Irrational fears based on sensationalism is a sign of poor judgement or worse... signs of mental illness or brain disease especially when you can take measures to inform and protect yourself.
And, lead poisoning works like other poisons. Too much over a continuous period of time can be fatal but a little can be stored in your fatty tissue and not overwhelm your organs.
You should be demanding that all our sources of water are protected from hazardous materials. The TRUTH is , even bottled water may not be a " safe" as you believe. It's only as safe as it's point of origin and standards for bottling.
Please, the world is bigger than your town or city and like it or not, it's interdependent. Covid should have been your hint to know what your city cannot do on its own!
@9:33 AM, you totally missed the point. You might want to check your water pipes for lead. Hope it isn't too late for you.
Google "safe levels of lead in drinking water" and let me know how much you are comfortable with your kids and grandkids drinking.
"I think Kingfish is referring to the fact that Babalu in Fondren announced they were closing permanently effective immediately the day after this article came out."
Ha. His arrogant ass would love to think he has that kind of influence.
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