Robert O’Conner

Lock Haven

The ongoing saga of the problem with the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has now been labeled as “vandalism” by President Trump.

After millions of taxpayer dollars spent to make the pool “big” and “beautiful” for our country’s 205th, the pool, now known as the Lincoln Lagoon, is full of algae with the recently applied liner peeling off the bottom, providing memorable tourist souvenirs.

Consider these facts when digesting the “vandalism” label:

Approximately 16 million dollars has been paid to two NO-BID contractors, one who has donated money to the Trump affiliates, and the other who has provided services to Trump’s golf courses;

ONE DAY after they finished spraying the liner on the pool bottom the pool was filled with water;

Paint, epoxy and/or glue needs to “cure,” not just be dry to the touch. Failure to “cure” will result in blistering or peeling;

Paint takes 2 to 3 weeks to fully cure on concrete. High humidity alone, like that in Washington D.C., significantly slows the process because moisture in the air prevents the paint solvent from evaporating properly. Here the pool was completely FILLED with water after 24 hours of final application;

The every-occurring algae appeared and the expedient knee-jerk measure of dumping God only knows how much Hydrogen Peroxide into the newly-painted lagoon;

Hydrogen Peroxide causes paint to bleach or fade in color (which it has) and destroys adhesion by weakening the bonder resulting in bubbling and peeling off. It has a similar effect upon epoxy and glue;

Here, Hydrogen Peroxide was untimely dumped into a pool with an uncured liner;

The Administration’s rationale of “vandalism” conveniently maintains the reputation of Trump’s contractor cronies, insulates them from liability and lays the basis for a bogus liability insurance claim.

Simply stated, the allegation of “vandalism” is yet another glaring example of the current administration’s systematic patter of denial, distortion, distraction and fraud. Unfortunately, Hydrogen Peroxide is not a “cure” for this.