News and Notes: 35W Bridge Collapse

An interfaith prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Mark’s Cathedral.  The service is sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Churches and the Jewish Community Relations Council, among others.  St. Mark’s Cathedral is at 519 Oak Grove St., in Minneapolis.

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Steve Rhodes of the Beechwood Reporter in Chicago offers his thoughts on the bridge collapse, and watching the news coverage in the aftermath:

There is no natural justice in this world, just the laws of physics. Bad things happen to good people, bad people, and people in-between. Atoms don’t discriminate. And maybe that, too, is why we latch on to these stories – or turn away; because they force us to face the indisputable facts of our lives and the human condition. Bridges collapse in horrible, mangled ways, and people die.

It’s beyond heartbreaking; it’s unanswerable. And then we go on.

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State Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-Lindstrom, has posted a diary at Daily Kos describing his reaction to the disaster:

I was on the scene with the Water Patrol yesterday afternoon. The divers are working in 20-30 minute shifts, in very difficult conditions. The operation is a recovery operation, as opposed to a search and rescue mission. With the mangled mess of re-bar, concrete, broken steel, and other debris, the hazards are severe for divers, and they are exercising great care.

The coordinated incident response has been phenomenal. With multiple agencies and jurisdictions involved, this tragedy has been a good test for a post-9/11 emergency response. I was very impressed with the calm demeanor and professionalism exhibited by the Sheriff’s office, the volunteer Radio team, and all of the First Responders. Their extensive planning and drills worked nearly perfectly.

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A “cause” site has been set up at Facebook for those wishing to donate to or support the Twin Cities Red Cross.  To join, log into Facebook and follow this link.  If you are not a member of Facebook, you can either sign up, or simply donate to the Red Cross at redcrosstc.org.

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Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL-Minn., made a statement today on the House floor regarding the bridge collapse:

Minnesotans are facing the pain, the loss, and the immense transportation challenges resulting from this bridge collapse.

But every American in every state now feels an unavoidable fear about everyday risks.

This week, the phrase “structurally deficient” became a part of our nation’s vocabulary. This week, millions of Americans use bridges that have been deemed structurally deficient or, even worse, “functionally obsolete.”

Imagine trusting your family’s safety and well-being to a bridge that is “functionally obsolete.”

American families have enough to worry about. Congress must choose to remove the burden of justifiable fear.