Columnist Dan Rodricks commendably summarizes a report from the American Society of Civil Engineers that "nationwide, spending on infrastructure — roads, bridges, airports, water and power systems — is falling trillions of dollars short and the results in many areas are devastating ("Politics takes toll on infrastructure investment," May 14).
Equally tragically, several recent Sun reports indicate that Baltimore's political and educational superstructures are so congenitally deformed that after a generation of inefficiency, stupidity and occasional outright corruption, any and all proposed repairs are throwing more time, morale and money away.
Where do we start? City elections in which votes aren't counted, voters are given four or more ballots, precincts open late or not at all, election judges disappear, computer and numerous other technological glitches are routine — these are just some things that sabotaged the election last month.
The city water system is in shambles. Although water and sewer charges have doubled recently, tons of waste, including feces from toilets throughout the city, is pouring into homes and flooding basements, bathrooms, kitchens and other areas. The sludge not only destroys hapless residents' furniture, carpets and medical supplies but presents a host of germs and smells. Meanwhile, Baltimore's administrators at all levels remain paralyzed.
These are the same charmers who a few years ago, as reported by The Sun's Luke Broadwater, were issuing water bills of $10,000 or more to residents who never had a bill higher than $200 for any quarter! Initially, the city instructed owners to pay the bill then write an appeal. Say what?
Possibly the most horrific of all the city's administrative travesties of common sense and decency is Baltimore City's school board's unanimous and totally clandestine decision to appoint a former crony, Sonja Santelises, as school CEO for the next four years. The former superintendent, who had two years left on his contract, was fired and paid off, also surreptitiously.
It boggles the mind that any educator, no matter how desperate for a job or ambitious, would be part of such shenanigans. This is the way organized criminals and mildly deodorized thugs behave, not academic administrators and civilized folks.
You are right, Mr. Rodricks, we badly need serious work on our infrastructure. However, it may be necessary for Baltimore to be placed in receivership first.
R. C. Monk, Towson