Powers Facing Media Storm

Jason Sandefur

Powers has found itself at the center of the storm over the Big Dig. Company descriptions used by the media range from “glue maker” to “epoxy firm.”
Powers retained Karen Schwartzman of communications consulting firm Polaris PR to handle the media blitz. According to Polaris” website, the firm specializes in handling communications for companies “forced to defend against negative public exposure associated with unusual events or circumstances.”
Some editorials have called for much stiffer fines than the $1,000 fine the current manslaughter charge carries. The law dates to 1819.
One New York lawmaker introduced legislation that would allow the fine to be as much as $50 million, though such a move would not impact the Powers case.
A recent editorial used a baking analogy to describe Powers” predicament.
“If you bake a yellow layer cake and you substitute a quarter cup of rat poison for unsalted butter, are the police going to arrest Duncan Hynes for not telling you rat poison ain”t the same as butter?”
The editorial went on to claim that “the attorney general has thrown in with the bandits the owner (of the Big Dig) Massachusetts in setting up Powers Fasteners as the patsy for a job the state screwed up.” \ �2007 FastenerNews.com