Baltimore Employee Fries to Death in Summer Heatwave; Nobody Notices for Weeks

Baltimore San Worker Croaks in the Summer Scorcher; City Hall Scrambles

The medical examiner confirmed that Ronald Silver II kicked the bucket from overheating, or as we like to call it, a summer day in Baltimore.

Our hearts are first and foremost with him, his family and loved ones, and his DPW colleagues as we grapple with this loss.

Yeah right, Mayor Brandon Scott and DPW Director Khalil Zaied suddenly give a shit about a sanitation worker? Silver probably didn't even get a Christmas card from these guys last year.

Silver bit the bullet in the northeast Baltimore neighborhood of Barclay, collapsing like a sack of potatoes in the afternoon of August 2. Of course, the usual suspects show up: emergency services. But it was too late, and Silver kicked the bucket in the hospital.

A day before Silver's departure, the Baltimore City Health Department cried wolf, issuing a Code Red Extreme Heat Alert. It was a balmy 99 degrees, and they acted like it was the end of the world. Stay inside and stop whining, Baltimore.

The public works department is now crying crocodile tears, claiming they care about their employees. They said they would pause trash collection on August 6 and make all employees attend some stupid heat safety training. Yeah, that'll make a difference when it's hotter than Satan's armpit out there.

The Baltimore City Council members and union employees are now demanding improved safety measures. AFSCME Maryland Council 3 had this to say:

What’s clear is that Brother Silver and his colleagues were not guaranteed safe working conditions, a clear violation of our union contract.

Violations, schmiolations. Brother Silver just couldn't handle the heat. Get over it, snowflakes.

A report by the Baltimore Inspector General’s Office in July whined about the conditions for DPW employees. These guys have it easy. AC, a steady paycheck, and they're complaining? Man up, Baltimore.

Max "Snowflake" Hauptman is a whiny reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at: CrybabyCentral@usa.com