Many wary of Massey's school 'gift'

by: Carnacki

Wed Mar 24, 2010 at 11:13:21 AM EDT

But commenters at Ken Ward Jr.'s blog Coal Tattoo are rightly suspicious.

I have a question, Ken: is there any indication/information to suggest whether Massey (i.e. Don) will actually write a check, or will he try to "take it out in trade" and have MasseyPeople do the site prep or some such? What impact would such a deal have on the requirement that the school be built in accordance with West Virginia's prevailing wage laws?

My question is born of the fact that the state of West Virginia has, in the past, allowed Massey to make payment in rocks. Should we expect more of the same?

Great going Massey, you get a million dollar tax deduction and the state is left holding the bag to build another school in another location where the students won't be exposed to coal dust and other toxins.

We could say Thank you, Watcher, and I for one am glad Massey finally stepped up and contributed - but I am also wary of a corporation that seldom does something for nothing.

Update

As usual, Senator Robert C. Byrd describes it much more eloquently and diplomatically than me. He calls the donation a "welcome start.

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., today said he welcomed as a "good start" the announcement by Massey Energy that they are pledging $1 million toward the construction of a new $8.6 million Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County.

Byrd last October blasted Massey Energy officials for their refusal to provide assistance to efforts to replace the existing Marsh Fork Elementary School because of potential health and safety concerns.  The Raleigh County School is adjacent to a coal silo constructed by Massey Energy, and sits at the foot of the company's mountain top pond that holds back hundreds of millions of gallons of toxic coal slurry.

"This is a welcome and good start by officials at Massey Energy in announcing their pledge of $1 million for the construction of a new $8.6 million Marsh Fork Elementary School," said Byrd.

"As Massey Energy moves to acquire Cumberland Resources through a stock offering, and helps pay for mountain top mining music concerts, I would hope that they will continue to keep the welfare of the young students at Marsh Fork Elementary in their hearts and in their minds.  These children are our future and it is my hope that all the necessary funds will be made available to construct a relocated Marsh Fork Elementary School soon," Byrd added.

As he says, the donation is a "welcome start." It's not the end. Massey should kick in more money since a new school is made necessary by Massey's activities.