Hackel blasted for not declaring a snow day for Macomb County workers

 

 

 

 

 

With southeast Michigan experiencing what some would call a winter wonderland, Mark Hackel is bearing the label of the Grinch who stole a snow day from some county employees.

County Executive Hackel declined to declare a snow day for county employees this morning, though most government offices and virtually all schools were shut down.

Hackel told WWJ-AM 950 that he didn’t expect many county workers to be able to make it into the office due to piles of snow on neighborhood streets. That meant workers who couldn’t get to work, or felt it was unsafe to attempt a commute, were forced to use a sick/personal day, though they weren’t sick and didn’t personally dump 17 inches of snow on county roads.

Donna Cangemi, president of county government’s largest labor union, AFSCME Local 411, took to Facebook to express her outrage:

“… The bigger question is this: Why isn't he paying us for staying home??? Obviously, very few are going to make it into work. As a matter of fact, it is dangerous to try to drive to work.”

Cangemi was cheered on by others online as she added this:

“Can't believe Macomb County offices are open today. How much snow will it take??? I guess all the poor workers will have to use their annual leave to stay home. Shameful.”

On a separate matter, here’s a bit of irony reported by WWJ. The folks in charge of telling the world what a great place Detroit is were among the victims of a city nearly ground to a halt by snow drifts and brutal wind chills.

Due to the unbearable conditions, the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau cancelled its annual membership meeting that was scheduled to take place at the Detroit Opera House.