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Feb 20, 2024

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Article : Promises to Solve Water Woes Brought Even More Problems Written By : Sarah Fowler, Rory Doyle Date Written : 6 February 2024 Summary : In the winter of 2021 and again in August 2022, Jackson, Mississippi faced severe water crises, leaving over 150,000 residents without running water. The root of the problem traces back to Siemens, a German corporation that promised to modernize Jackson's water meters and enhance the city's water system. However, Siemens failed to deliver, leaving the city with dysfunctional meters, inaccurate bills, and a loss of over $450 million in fees and revenue. Siemens returned $90 million but couldn't undo the damage, leading to a federal takeover of the water system. A yearlong investigation by The New York Times reveals how Siemens, along with other companies like McNeil Rhoads and Mueller, exploited financially struggling Mississippi cities by making grand promises to modernize water systems. The companies targeted cities with little expertise in water meters, offering cost-saving algorithms, cash-back guarantees, and installations at no cost to taxpayers. The water crisis underscores how corporations took advantage of vulnerable communities, leading to financial losses and compromised water systems across the state. In chapter one of In Social policy and social programs: A method for the practical public policy analyst, the authors analyze the nature of social problems by delving into the root of its existence. This week’s article relates to the text through the concepts of policy evaluation and community values. The article highlights the failure of a public-private partnership in delivering essential services, which aligns with the process of policy evaluation. It emphasizes the need for assessing the effectiveness and impact of policies and programs. This can be seen as a “casual chain” that “consists of a set of events (or variables or factors) arranged in a time sequence that shows the social problem event that is to be explained (Chambers, D. E. & Bonk, J. F. 2012).” The emphasis on community involvement in decision-making reflects a participatory approach often advocated in social policy. Engaging communities in the policy process is consistent with promoting inclusivity and democratic governance. Which is said to be “another crucial aspect of social problem analysis (Chambers, D. E. & Bonk, J. F. 2012).” The article highlights implications for social welfare policy, by indicating a need for reforms to prevent corporations from exploiting vulnerable communities and ensure the delivery of essential services. This can be avoided through, community empowerment and education, legislative reform, and evaluations. By enhancing community involvement through decision-making processes related to public services can prevent exploitation. State governments could implement educational programs to empower communities, providing them with the knowledge and skills to evaluate and negotiate contracts with corporations. Additionally, state governments can revise and update relevant legislation to reflect changing circumstances, technological advancements, and lessons learned from past projects, ensuring that the regulatory framework remains robust and adaptable. Lastly, state/city wide programs or initiatives can continuously monitor and evaluate projects post-implementation, enabling prompt identification of issues and the initiation of corrective measures.
References: Chambers, D. E. & Bonk, J. F. (2012). Analyzing the social problem background of social policies and social programs. Chapter 1. In Social policy and social programs: A method for the practical public policy analyst (6th). Boston: Pearson Fowler, S., & Doyle, R. (2024, February 5). Big companies cashed in on Mississippi’s water. small towns paid the price. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/05/us/jackson-mississippi-water-crisis.html
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