ICYMI: RICK SCOTT MISLEADING FLORIDIANS ABOUT STATE OVERSIGHT OF BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

Documents, Reports Contradict Scott’s Statements

In response to multiple reports revealing that Rick Scott misled Floridians about his administration’s role in the Miami bridge tragedy, Caroline Rowland of the Florida Democratic Party released the following statement:

“In response to this terrible tragedy Rick Scott did what he always does: mislead and deceive Floridians for the sake of his own self-serving political interests. Continuing a pattern that Floridians are now all too familiar with, his statements have been directly contradicted by officials, experts and independent media reports. It’s another sad reminder that Scott will do and say anything to try and advance his own interests and why Floridians don’t trust him to look out for anyone but himself.” 

See for yourself:

Miami Herald, 3/17/2018, State played key role on FIU bridge, despite efforts to distance itself after collapse

• “Since the accident that killed six, the department and Gov. Rick Scott have rushed to absolve the state from any liability in the cause of the collapse. But some of the facts the agency has released have been misleading.”
• “FDOT’s involvement on the design and construction of the bridge was much more significant…Industry experts who have worked closely with FDOT for years say that…their oversight role was significant and involved many layers of oversight.”
• FDOT was a member of the committee that approved the builder and was involved in selecting the engineer, “chosen to make sure the plan was followed and was carried out safely.”
• “FDOT staff attended weekly, bi-weekly, and then monthly meetings of the design-build team and FIU staff, and had input on the design and location of the bridge.”

Miami Herald, 3/16/2018, Bridge designer left state voice mail about cracks days before FIU bridge collapsed

• “Two days before a pedestrian bridge collapsed at Florida International University, killing at least six people, an engineer with the firm that designed the structure called the state and left a voicemail to report cracking in the concrete span. It went unheard for three days…. FDOT said the voicemail wasn’t heard by any of its employees until Friday, the day after the bridge fell.”

New York Times: 3/17/2018: Crack on Florida Bridge Was Discussed in Meeting Hours Before Collapse

• “Hours before the collapse of a pedestrian bridge at Florida International University on Thursday, the engineering company for the bridge held a meeting to discuss a crack on the structure.. The construction manager on the project and representatives from the university and the state Department of Transportation attended the two-hour meeting.”

Miami Herald Editorial Board, 3/18/2018: FDOT can’t shirk its role in the bridge-collapse deaths — or its responsibility to protect us

• “FDOT is the government agency where at least one of the bucks must stop. After all, an engineer with FIGG Bridge Design called FDOT alerting it to a crack on the bridge’s north side…. As the slow process to unearth cars under the bridge stretched into the weekend, and grieving families identified loved ones killed, satisfactory answers, unfortunately, will be even slower in coming. In the meantime, FDOT must confront, not run from, its role in preventing such tragedies in the future.”