- Thomas Jefferson
I was going to wait on this, but when I read something a bit back, I thought Holy Hannah, it starts again? Two issues will be covered in this posting.
The first one is the usual panicky throw doo-doo all over. On the 18th, it was to put out her "expose" after the Holidays so as to not "depress anyone". It is bad enough that so many go straight through from Labor Day to Xmas and forget much if not all in between. Now we do it for a special agenda and it is NOT truthfully the people of Vienna. But it needs to be done but is NOT anymore important now than those damn plume(s) from the Drycleaners that she keeps going after plus getting Mr. Conley wrapped around too. What is happening is her efforts to distract as many of you as possible from what is important HERE in Vienna and Boaz specifically and that is the need for us to be involved in the C8 and maybe all of the PFOA/PFOS family of chemicals from the DuPont/ Chemour/ and even it seems the 3M company over the decades that seem to be showing up everywhere? Some, many need to be involved in this and to be tested if one wants?
People here in Vienna and probably Boaz (I am not sure on BOAZ, as I have not spoke to anyone who got a settlement?), but do know there are several here who got settlements, those that are sicker than all get out and sadly, but don't know those statistics yet on how many may have passed from the C8 contamination over the decades? We may never know?
So when I see comments like "Let us address our issues we are facing in Vienna first and then we will see what needs to be done on other levels that affect our community and address them next", what in truth is happening is the far too often approach of the head in the sand or where ever it is being stored and ignore where our problems are from?
We are trying to be distracted from the Truth on the C8 and the need to test whomever wants it? The Water Filtration Systems are like the Caboose on a Train. The Engine and Cars are the Air, Rain, the very dirt that that is the gateway to the water in the wells that are finally cleaned. The testing that I pursue is not the end by any means. It is a final brick in a wall to where we finish up one process and begin the new one. That being the Filtration Systems. Testing will only give some closure, comfort and possibly notice of needed and necessary Medical Care. We will have C8 issues for decades to say the least. While it is said to have various half lives, we need understand that while our atmosphere is said to be totally contaminated, it is not going to get better soon as Countries like India and China are manufacturing C8 for their uses? And for those who do not remember, the wind blows West to East. Each time you walk in the rain, mist, dew, fog, you are getting an exposure in some degree? When you garden or the kids play in the dirt anywhere in the City confines, you/ they are getting exposure to a degree. How this plays out, I don't know? It is possible that this problem is far different to provide answers for now than the 13 year Water Testing processes that resulted in that $670 Million dollar settlement? But it needs to be addressed.
Can anyone say that the need for the testing for C8 is NOT a Vienna first issue? Had Mr. Rapp being doing his job and not cozying up to DuPont/ Chemour in 2016, testing would have been put on the table as people chose to be tested or not. While maybe a thousand or less will want testing now, of that there will be those who are found to have some of the diseases attributed to the C8. And sadly, without knowledge and treatment, some will become quite ill and some will die unnecessarily. It is a simple fact of life, don't bother to find out, avoid treatment, pay consequences for negligence of oneself. Why do you think it is a push to get Women Mammograms? Just so another Woman can squeeze their breasts? B.S. too that, it is to help detect Cancer.
But again, that is NOT why the "expose" is on the way? It is because of my posting some days back on the Ms. Lyons article on the entire C8 family of chemicals and its potential dangers? It is sadly about ego, image, one up man ship and now the infamous camera/ microphone exposure. Where do we see this all the time? How about the Randi Rapp Handbook om damage control?
The second is when the Transite Pipe issue came up some months back, I said then and will again now that I agree with Brenda on the Transite Pipe issue. I did some Research on it after Mr. Rapp put down her efforts as there was limited information available.
What I found, was that while there was testing being done, it was being down played by the Pipe Mfg./ EPA/ DEP/ City because the test groups were either to small, not enough in a certain age grouping, not enough of various sexes and or Racial Mixes and so on and so forth. BUT, this is in "Truth", the "Canary in the Mine" concept. Many of those pipes that have been installed in the past 100 years are or beginning to fail. They are allowing fibers to go into the water daily and subsequently into us as we use the water daily. I don't know about her position on the lint traps, as we use the water more than smelling our lint traps? The asbestos in question is going to go into your skin just like the C8 through absorption. But the C8 is everywhere on the ground, plants, clothing when one is outside gardening or playing. So do not lose focus on what is the more immediate problem.
For those who may not remember that while downplaying the problem to the Public, the VUB immediately scheduled and conducted training for nine (9), employees on how to handle those pipes when one ran into one on the job. Is it really that much of an issue for them versus what is going into the water system as they deteriorate slowly but surely? Ms. Powell is right, but in self interest, willing to divert, change people's attention from the more serious and immediate danger to Vienna- the C8 and/ or GenX as a minimum.
Remember, she has protected Mr. Rapp and his crew for over a year. Diverting everyone from the C8 etc., will allow more time to pass before anything could possibly be done and letting him slide out of office without being held accountable/ responsible for what he did as much as what he has not tried to do? There is a lot more needing money besides that JM site.
I for one will be interested in what she presents? The likelihood of her doing much if any of the actual research is a bit questionable? The tendency she has shown to sadly misstate the Truth to divert from the actual Truth has been shown often. So read, think and be cautious in accepting information not supported by sources that YOU can research also. She wants to stick to Vienna issues and than comes out with "to collect information that those that live in Vienna AND IN THE STATE OF WV would be interested in hearing" (17 November 2018). It seems she is now trying to expand her base? Imitation as I have said is the greatest form of flattery. So I will again thank her.
She is correct that something needs to be done about the pipes. But when a chance came up to change the direction of the City/ VUB, you folks did not want any part of it. You got what you voted for and now are again seeing how badly you as Residents/ Businesses of Vienna have been used. But so many who were ticked about the Sewer/Water Rate increases have turned back to kiss up to Mr. Rapp again/ still? And I need ask- WHY?
Remember, "Once Shame on You, Twice shame on Me". Look in any mirror at any time and you will see who is mostly to blame for the additional two wasted years on infrastructure repair/ replacement, be it Water/ Sewer/ Streets/ Safety issues.
I encourage one and all to read what is out there, but be so careful on what the true Agenda is being pursued? You do not have to agree with me on anything, but I do ask you read, think, talk to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers on what is affecting you and yours? 'nuff said'.