UPDATE: The politics of power? Gillum pushes back on critics
In a late night post Saturday, Mayor Andrew Gillum had sharp words for critics of his handling of the restoration efforts after Hurricane Hermine devastated the city's power grid.
As many residents entered their 55th hour without power, Gillum told friends and followers on Facebook that "our #1 priority is to get power back to our residents and businesses as quickly as possible."
"It appears that the heat has driven some to speculate wildly about what help I have accepted or rejected on behalf of the City in our effort to recuperate from this storm. Some have suggested that I have refused help from any company that is not unionized. Others have stated that I have refused help offered by any Republicans. And still others have suggested a Machiavellian attempt by me to surrender residents to my will by prolonging suffering and delaying any power from being restored - rendering them utterly helpless to my liberal agenda."
He continued: "Let me be clear. We are happy to accept any help from any person or organization that is going to accelerate the speed at which we can safely restore power to our residents."
He noted that the city has accepted help from eight different utility companies from three different states. Other companies have assisted in supplying food, water, shelter, recharging stations and wi-fi.
"Our approach has been to accept every support that we need, when we need it. And the help that we don't need immediately, we put on hold until or unless we do need it. Coordination means everything in these kinds of recovery efforts. Too much help at one time may make us feel better, but it can actually slow down progress."
Robert L. Gould, chief communications officer with Florida Power & Light Company, said FPL offered the city 575 restoration personnel from the Lake City Service Center, but “the city's utilities director said the city could not accept the help at the time.”
“Mutual assistance is a normal course during these types of events. We made it very clear what resources were available to assist, and it is up to the Utility Director to assess the need and determine what outside resources should be brought in,” Gould said. “Our offer for assistance still stands, and we remain ready to lend a hand if the city determines it can use our help."
A source in city government tells the Democrat that it was Utilities Director Rob McGarrah that declined the offer by Florida Power and Light. The reason? For every out of town crew, a Tallahassee crewman must be embedded, the source said. This is for both local knowledge and safety.
"If you send 150 more trucks, we don't have 150 people to put on those trucks."
The source conceded that it might have been better to ask other companies to come assist with debris removal, etc.
The source also pointed out a long-simmering feud between investor-owned utilities and municipal-owned utilities could be leading to friction, mistrust and a politicization of the situation.
The source emphatically denied the claim that there was a "union/non-union" component to the decision-making.
"The City crews are NOT unionized and FPL crews are. How does that make sense?"
In his post, Gillum dismissed such criticism as “rumors.” He concluded the letter by thanking utility linemen and those in the community helping neighbors.
"The end is in sight," he said. "#TallyStrong."
