Ah, here we go again: another shining example of what happens when woke ideology collides with real-world competence. Richmond, Virginia, found itself in a full-blown water crisis, leaving thousands of residents without clean water for days. And at the center of this fiasco? April Bingham, the now-former director of the Department of Public Utilities, whose background in engineering was... oh wait, she didn’t have one. But hey, she checked all the DEI boxes, and apparently, that’s what mattered most when she was handed the job.
Let’s start with the facts: Richmond’s water infrastructure didn’t just fail overnight. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had already flagged serious issues under Bingham’s leadership, citing poor maintenance, corroded pumps, cracked filters, and outdated emergency response plans. But instead of focusing on fixing these glaring problems, Bingham was busy serving on a DEI committee that aimed to “ingrain DEI as a cultural norm” in the water management industry. Because, of course, what’s more important than ensuring equitable representation when your city’s water systems are falling apart?
Bingham’s appointment itself speaks volumes about how far we’ve veered from prioritizing qualifications and experience. She was hired by former Democrat Mayor Levar Stoney, who proudly touted her as “the first woman to serve in this critically important role.” That’s great and all, but perhaps the “critically important” part should have come with a requirement for, you know, engineering expertise. Richmond residents didn’t need a DEI advocate at the helm of their water department; they needed someone who could keep the water running. But instead, they got a customer service manager turned utilities director whose leadership turned into a disaster—literally.
Now let’s look at the aftermath. The city’s water infrastructure was so neglected that fail-safe and redundant systems didn’t even activate during the crisis. Dwayne Roadcap, head of Virginia’s Office of Drinking Water, pointed out the obvious: regulations were ignored, and the resulting boil-water advisories and pressure failures were entirely preventable. But instead of accountability, we got platitudes and deflections. Bingham refused to say whether the EPA’s warnings contributed to the crisis—because admitting that might undermine the narrative of her tenure as a DEI trailblazer.
The irony here is painful. While Richmond residents were boiling water and wondering when basic services would be restored, Bingham’s DEI committee was busy hosting talks on “equitable decision-making” and “building an inclusive workforce.” Important topics? Sure, in theory. But they don’t do much for a city when its pumps are corroded, filters are cracked, and water pressure is nonexistent. This is what happens when ideology trumps competence: real people suffer the consequences.
Now, with Bingham’s resignation, the city is finally doing what it should have done in the first place: hiring someone who actually knows what they’re doing. Anthony “Scott” Morris, a professional engineer with experience in water management, has been named interim director. What a concept—putting someone qualified in charge of a critical system! It’s almost as if water infrastructure requires actual expertise and not just a résumé filled with DEI committee memberships.
And let’s not ignore the salary here. Bingham was making $217,000 a year while running the city’s water department into the ground. That’s a hefty paycheck for someone whose leadership left thousands of residents without access to clean water. Maybe Richmond taxpayers should demand a refund. Or at least an explanation as to why qualifications were an afterthought when this appointment was made.
This story isn’t just about Richmond—it’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing optics over outcomes. Sure, it’s great to celebrate “firsts” and push for diversity in leadership. But when those appointments come at the expense of competence, the results can be disastrous. Clean water isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a basic necessity. And yet, here we are, cleaning up another mess created by people more interested in advancing agendas than doing their jobs.
Bingham’s resignation is too little, too late for the residents of Richmond who’ve been dealing with the fallout of her failed leadership. Hopefully, her departure marks the beginning of a return to common sense: hire people based on their ability to do the job, not on how well they fit a narrative. Because when the water stops running, the buzzwords don’t matter. Competence does.
