It was a done deal, or so they thought in Benwood.
As Benwood’s public works director David McLaughlin explained recently on River Talk radio, he and Police Chief Frank Longwell attended a meeting back in late winter 2023 during which a $3 million deal was struck with the Governor’s Office. The money was to come out of the Governor’s contingency fund, and finally, the people of Benwood would be rid of the nightmare that’s haunted them for decades.
No more falling concrete. No more threat of collapse. No more disappointment.
But nope. Jimmy Wriston, the secretary of the state’s Department of Transportation, nixed it. Said he did his own study (without producing it). Said McLaughlin’s experts weren’t experts (despite the company working on the bridge 30 years ago). Said the real price was $10 million (and it will be in like 2030).
And Wriston said the state was out of it, just like that (and that’s how a promise is broken … just like that).
But if Gov. Jim Justice is the West Virginian he claims to be, he should circle back quickly, admit a mistake was made, bring Babydog to Benwood, and make it right.
Why? To avoid giving his opponent for the U.S. Senate a chance to take another social media shot at him? Because his English bulldog would enjoy the trip? Because it would be a solid and positive move for his campaign?
No. No. And no.
Because it would be the right thing to do.
