I’m sipping my coffee and reading about the Lincoln Reflecting Pool renovation, and folks, it’s a mess. The Trump administration has hired yet another new company, American Ag Energy, to help clean and maintain the pool, adding more cost and more questions to the project. The Department of Interior will pay $2.7 million to the Massachusetts-based company, which specializes in renewable energy technology, for repairs and maintenance of sewage and water purification systems at the pool.
The one-year contract could be extended for five additional years and grow up to $8.8 million. I mean, who doesn’t love a good game of contract extension? It’s like a never-ending saga. The Department of Interior didn’t bother to follow up with CNN on questions about the new contract, because, you know, transparency is overrated.
Richard Rosen, the CEO of American Ag Energy, told CNN that he learned about the algae problem from one of the directors of his company and later read a news report about it. He said, “I realized that I actually knew how to solve this problem.” Bless their hearts, I hope he does, because the previous attempts at cleaning the pool have been, well, let’s just say less than successful.
But here’s the twist: Rosen was convicted of voter fraud in 2016, for casting ballots twice, once in Massachusetts and once in New Hampshire. The conviction was later overturned by the state supreme court, but still, it’s a bit of a red flag. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and now we have a full-blown drama on our hands.
The renovation project has been plagued with issues from the start, including a $1.7 million contract with Greenwater Services, an Ohio-based company whose co-owner is a longtime supporter and donor to Trump. The company used ozone nanobubbler technology to clean the reflecting pool water, but the problem remained. And to make matters worse, the blue material at the bottom of the pool began peeling shortly after, a setback the president claimed was caused by vandals.
The saga heated up this summer when multiple people were arrested and charged with damaging the pool, including Olympian canoeist David Hearn, who faced up to 10 years in prison. But the charges were later dropped, and now Rosen’s company is tasked with removing the algae. I’m no expert, but it seems like a bit of a challenge.
As I finish my coffee, I’m left wondering what’s next for the Lincoln Reflecting Pool. Will Rosen’s company succeed where others have failed? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure, this renovation project has been a wild ride, full of twists and turns. And who knows, maybe someday we’ll look back on this and laugh, thinking, “Well, that was a mess!” 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
