Anytime there’s a tragedy or devastating event that happens in this country, the first order of business for Democrats is not to offer thoughts and prayers; it’s to figure out a way to blame Republicans.
The Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh that happened Friday morning is no exception to that rule.
Before we get into the particulars about who said what, the good news is that there was no loss of life in the collapse. Ten people were injured, four of whom were taken to the hospital. One was released while the others are reported to be in fair condition.
Here are some photos of the collapse:
The collapse happened on the same day President Biden was set to visit the city to tout the passage of the infrastructure bill, and it didn’t take long for the Usual Suspects on the left and in the media to start blaming Republicans.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf also got in on the action, playing politics with the bridge’s collapse by trying to shame Republicans who voted against the infrastructure package:
One of the big problems with Wolf’s claims is that the bridge was “not targeted for improvements under the federal infrastructure bill, state records show,” according to a report from NBC News-Washington:
The Pittsburgh bridge that collapsed early Friday, injuring 10 people, was in poor condition and not targeted for improvements under the federal infrastructure bill, state records show.[…]Pennsylvania is set to receive more than $327 million in federal funding for bridge repair and replacement under the infrastructure plan, with about $49 million going to “off-system,” or local, bridges like the Forbes Avenue bridge.But the bridge is not among the highway and bridge projects targeted for federal funding in the state’s 2021 transportation improvement program. City officials haven’t said why the bridge, built in 1970, wasn’t placed on the list for federal infrastructure funding.
Further, CBS News-Pittsburgh reported that the bridge had had a “poor” rating since 2011 and that an overhaul recommended in 2017 by inspectors was “never funded”:
Inspectors have listed the Fern Hollow Bridge in poor condition for more than a decade, although they said other local bridges are actually in worse condition.The bridge, about 450 feet long, near Frick Park was built in 1970 but in recent years had shown signs of deterioration.Inspectors began listing the bridge in poor condition as far back as 2011, and as recently as last September.In 2017, inspectors recommended it be overhauled “because of general structure deterioration and inadequate strength,” and recommended a restoration project estimated at $1.5 million. That project was never funded.
As to the funding issues for repairing/rebuilding the bridge, that apparently was diverted into other projects:
As always when these things happen, there is more to the story than what Democrats are willing to tell you, and that’s because at least some if not all of the blame can usually be placed at the feet of Democrat “leaders” who are quick to blame everyone else.
— Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via Twitter. —
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