Is Smitherman Inducing Panic With Conspiracy Talk?

Most of you, my faithful readers, probably don't waste your Saturday afternoons listening to Cincinnati NAACP president Christopher Smitherman's radio show on WDBZ. I usually don't. That's why I'm grateful that someone else listens to the show every week and sends me a link (sometimes with a transcript) on Monday or Tuesday. Here's a link to last Saturday's show. What follows is a partial transcript.

(:40) Community, this is one of the most important issues that our community is facing. Very important that we not allow the transfer of our water system to a private entity. Think about that. Not even the numbers, the lack of transparency. And I’m not really a broad conspiracy person, but I do know and I’m well-read around the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. And those of you who have not read the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, read it. And it would open your mind to the possibilities of someone else controlling your water. Not because the Tuskegee Syphilis Study had anything to do with water, but it’s the extent that government is willing to go. I cannot believe that city council, the mayor, the city manager are even entertaining transferring our water system to a private entity. (May 23, 2009)

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(4:05) My quarterly (water) bill is $250 a quarter. I don’t want to get a $500 bill from this private company and then I can’t write them and ask them, “Why did my bill just double? What happened? What are you all doing? Who are you selling water to? Are you selling water to Africa? Are you selling water to Florida? Are you…?” Right now they’re providing water to Indian Hill, I know. They’re providing water to Norwood. I know Butler County. I know that they’re providing water to St. Bernard. I know where they’re providing water because the public entity must provide that information to the public. That we’re selling water to all of those different municipalities. But once it goes private, you lose that visibili… You don’t know who they’re selling it to and you don’t know how they’re treating your water. And I have a little conspiracy in my head related to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. So don’t tell me that they can’t and won’t send different water to different zip codes. Oooh! Don’t tell me, you know, that that’s an impossibility that they won’t send different water to different zip codes. Because the government has engaged in this kind of behavior before.

The people want to know if the government is engaged in some sort of nefarious behavior!!! Don't fear. The Cincinnati Black Blog is on the case. We are doing a little investigation of our own. Earlier today, I sent an email to the City demanding some basic answers to some simple questions.

[Names and email addresses of recipients redacted]

As you know, I publish the Cincinnati Black Blog. I am researching a story on the Cincinnati Water Works and its possible transfer to a private corporation or Water District. Last Saturday, the president of the Cincinnati NAACP, Christopher Smitherman, made a number of alarming statements on his weekly radio show (which I'm sure is listened to by everyone at City Hall) that I believe might have scared a number of listeners. Since Saturday, I've heard the things stated by Mr. Smitherman repeated to me. This suggests to me that some people believe the things said by Mr. Smitherman are true. I have yet to hear anyone with the City respond to Mr. Smitherman's statements, even if only to deny them. The City's silence may cause some people to believe that what Mr. Smitherman said was true. (And for all I know he may be telling the truth. I won't know until the research is compiled and the investigation completed.)

Although I realize you are the City of Cincinnati's Chief Propagandist and any information you provide me may be tainted and unbelievable, I feel compelled to ask a few questions. I ask you to provide me with any public records to support your responses. My faithful readers will ultimately decide if they believe the information supplied by the City. I apologize in advance for asking these questions, but my readers have a right to have basic questions about their water answered.

That said, the following quote was made by Mr. Smitherman on his radio show last Saturday:

"My quarterly (water) bill is $250 a quarter. I don’t want to get a $500 bill from this private company and then I can’t write them and ask them, 'Why did my bill just double? What happened? What are you all doing? Who are you selling water to? Are you selling water to Africa? Are you selling water to Florida? Are you…?' Right now they’re providing water to Indian Hill, I know. They’re providing water to Norwood. I know Butler County. I know that they’re providing water to St. Bernard. I know where they’re providing water because the public entity must provide that information to the public. That we’re selling water to all of those different municipalities. But once it goes private, you lose that visibili… You don’t know who they’re selling it to and you don’t know how they’re treating your water. And I have a little conspiracy in my head related to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. So don’t tell me that they can’t and won’t send different water to different zip codes. Oooh! Don’t tell me, you know, that that’s an impossibility that they won’t send different water to different zip codes. Because the government has engaged in this kind of behavior before."

1. Can the Cincinnati Water Works send different water to different zip codes? Do they currently send different water to different zip codes? Does the technology exist to allow them to send different water to different zip codes? If the Cincinnati Water Works is sold to a private corporation or a Water District, what guarantee is there that the new owner won't purchase the equipment and technology allowing them to overcome any current limitations on the system (assuming there are currently any such limitations) and send different water to different zip codes?

2. Is the Cincinnati Water Works selling water to Africa or Florida? If the Cincinnati Water Works is sold to a private corporation or a Water District do you know of any plans to enter into an agreement with the continent of Africa or any country in Africa to sell them water? How about the State of Florida or any subdivision in Florida? Does the Water Works have the capability to send water to Africa or Florida? To your knowledge, does technology exists that would allow the Cincinnati Water Works to sell water to Africa or Florida? If the Cincinnati Water Works is sold to a private corporation or Water District is there anything to prevent the new owner from selling water to Africa or Florida?

3. The Village of Indian Hill claims to own and operate their own Water Works. They pretend they've owned and operated their Water Works since 1949. Are they lying? Mr. Smitherman stated on his radio show Saturday that he knows the Cincinnati Water Works is providing water to Indian Hill. He said he knows this to be true because the Water Works is a public entity that must provide information to the public. His comments imply that he has some public information from Water Works confirming his believe that the Cincinnati Water Works sells or provides water to the Village of Indian Hill. The Black community trusts and believes Mr. Smitherman. Is it possible that the Cincinnati Water Works is secretly selling or providing water to Indian Hill and Indian Hill is lying about this on their website?

4. On treatment... does the Cincinnati Water Works currently add anything to the water that is sent to zip codes with large numbers of Black residents? Chlorine? Fluoride? Zinc Orthophosphate? Syphilis?! HIV? Novel influenza A (H1N1 flu virus)? Anything not listed? (Please don't bother telling me that Syphilis, HIV and Swine Flu can't survive being transmitted through water. Just answer the question.)

5. How can you assure Black Cincinnatians that the City of Cincinnati is not now engaged, and will not in the future engage, in any act of domestic terrorism on them? Assuming you don't deny that the United States government participated in the syphilis study at Tuskegee, what can you say, or what document can you provide, that will make Black people feel comfortable knowing that when they turn on their tap and pour a glass of water that the water will be the same water being sent to non-Black communities; it is safe to drink and give to their children; and it won't contain any additives, contaminants, pesticides, poisons, viruses, or germs intended to harm or kill them?

6. In the interest of avoiding mass hysteria in the Black community from people afraid to drink the water because they think it may be poisoned, do you know if the Mayor of Cincinnati and/or the City Manager would be willing to sign a sworn affidavit attesting to the responses you provide to the questions above? Would they be willing to make a public statement declaring that the water is safe and will be safe if the Water Works is sold to a private corporation or Water District?

7. Is there a reason why no one from the City or Cincinnati Water Works has, to date, sought to calm any fears in the Black community about the things stated on Mr. Smitherman's radio show?

8. Are you aware of any prohibitions against using radio airwaves to Induce Panic?

Thank you for your time and attention.

Nathaniel Livingston, Jr.

I'll let you know what kind of response I get from the City.