**This is just an utter balls-up because people took money for jobs they either were incapable of fulfilling or had no intention of doing to any degree of competence.**
IMO, what you're seeing is the combination of utter political correctness, and LAWSUIT AVOIDANCE!
NO City or state official seems to be able to make even the SIMPLEST of moves without consulting with higher authorities, and from what I've seen in the last few days, "PASS-THE-BUCK-Itis" seems to be in full effect...
Straight out of Atlas Shrugged, which becomes more true every day.