Rendell Abandoned Area Flood Victims
The Express Times- Sunday, March 30, 2008

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell broke his long, three-year silence on the predicament of repetitive Delaware River flooding in a Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed piece March 23.

Sadly, the governor in this article abandoned Pennsylvania flood victims. He sided with New York City's practice of running its Delaware River reservoirs at 100 percent capacity without "safety voids" for flood mitigation. Full reservoirs spill millions of gallons of water into the river during significant rain events, causing downstream flooding.

Delaware River communities have pleaded with Rendell to intercede by ensuring 20 percent "safety voids" are enacted. Rendell has ignored this outcry, even though he is one of five votes on the Delaware River Basin Commission that sets reservoir levels.

Rendell's voice is eclipsed by 14 members of Congress and countless state and local leaders who have asked him to stop New York City from keeping its reservoirs full, spilling and contributing to flooding. What possibly could motivate Rendell to abandon his constituents? Is he motivated by his need to cultivate New York politico relationships (read Hillary Clinton)? Rendell's practice of ingratiating himself with Clinton is no secret. Neither is his expressed interest (as reported in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette) in appointment to energy secretary or an ambassadorship in a second Clinton administration.

Rendell is a busy and vocal man when he chooses to surface on an issue. From the looks of it, he surfaces when his own enlightened self-interests are in play.

Amy AND Jon Carver
Belvidere