The race to turn the reflecting pool blue for Trump's 250th birthday celebration may be putting workers at risk, warns a union monitoring the site. The pool, a Washington landmark since 1922, is currently under renovation, with its usual watery surface replaced by vehicle and work equipment. This frenzy of repair activity has obscured the view for tourists with black tarpaulin. Leaks and algae blooms have long plagued the pool, despite previous expensive repair schemes. The Trump administration awarded a no-bid contract to waterproof and repaint the pool to a Virginia-based company, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, despite concerns over the company's work and the true cost of the contract being revealed as $13.1 million, drastically higher than the initial $1.8 million estimate. The union is concerned for the safety of workers, who are rushing to complete the project on an unrealistic timeline, and the use of hazardous chemicals. This raises questions about the safety measures in place and the potential risks to both workers and the public. The situation highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in government contracting, especially when it comes to historical landmarks and public safety.
