Current Events –
Flint Toxic Water Crisis Intensifies

The old saying “You get what you pay for” couldn’t be more relevant to the people of Flint, Michigan, as residents suffer through perhaps the worst toxic water crisis in U.S. history.

Current Events
Mayor Karen Weaver (who only took office 2 months ago) and Gov. Rick Snyder (who has been in office since 2011) have both declared states of emergency, with Mayor Snyder calling in the National Guard to help deliver clean water to the city’s 100,000 residents. In response, President Obama also declared a state of emergency in the local crisis that has now grown to national prominence.

The City of Flint has long received its fresh water supply from Lake Huron, which was provided via Detroit’s water utility. However, in an attempt to save a buck, local officials voted in 2014 to begin drawing its water from the Flint River instead. Soon after, residents began to complain about rashes and strange odors from the river water, but city and state officials insisted that it was safe to drink.  In fact, in a bold and desperate attempt to prove a point, former Mayor Dayne Walling appeared on live television and drank the water. “It’s your standard tap water,” the mayor said at the time.  “You can taste a little bit of the chlorine.”

Then late last year, elevated levels of lead were found in children’s blood, proving that the former mayor and city and state officials had lied to residents. In October, Flint switched back to Detroit’s water system, but by then it was too late.

After pumping the toxic Flint River through city pipelines since 2014, the lead content in the water has caused permanent damage to the pipes. This means that not only is the river water much too dangerous for residents to use, but the pipes are now much too damaged to pump the fresh Detroit water through. Turning on a kitchen faucet only provides tainted and toxic brown water.  The only option for each of the 100,000 residents is to consume bottled water.

The city is now providing around-the-clock bottled water to Flint residents at a cost that is millions beyond the paltry savings they originally sought. Entertainer Cher donated 180,000 bottles to the residents, but the bottled water is dwindling and the giveaway is only a short-term solution.

Engineers estimate that it will cost the city $100 million dollars and several years to replace the damaged pipes, which would allow a return to using Detroit as a water source. However, in a city plagued by poverty, aging infrastructure and a declining population, the people of Flint don’t have the money or time.

So, what now?

Current Events
President Obama’s emergency declaration has authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to “coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency” in Flint. FEMA can provide up to $5 million in federal aid to help provide water, filters, and other items for up to 90 days to stave off the contaminated water crisis. Although this will provide residents with fresh drinking water for a few months, it’s merely a band-aid on a gaping wound. Residents also need fresh water for bathing and brushing their teeth.   FEMA is a short-term solution, but what is the long-term solution?

Will residents continue to be given free bottled water for the next 3 years, which is how long it will take Flint to rebuild their now corroded city pipes? If so, who will pay for this free water?  With Flint already in a financial bind, 3 years of free bottled water combined with a multi-million dollar pipe rebuilding project will bankrupt the city.  So, what’s the solution?

So far, no one really knows what to do long-term. So far, the federal government is providing temporary assistance until a permanent plan is concocted.  Needless to say, the crisis is severe and will drain local and even federal resources for many years to come.

As for the people of Flint, every single city official who authorized using the toxic river as a water supply should resign.  In fact, most, if not all of them should be arrested and thrown in jail. Their incompetence from not taking the necessary precautions before making the switch, as well as lying to residents by insisting the water was safe to drink (when it clearly wasn’t) is beyond criminal.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who has called for Gov. Snyder’s resignation, said: “Because of the conduct by Governor Snyder’s administration and his refusal to take responsibility, families will suffer from lead poisoning for the rest of their lives. Children in Flint will be plagued with brain damage and other health problems. The people of Flint deserve more than an apology.”

Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson added: “All I know is Flint is a crime scene. It should have duct tape around it. And it is a disaster zone,”

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OK WASSUP! covers current events, including
the toxic water crisis in Flint, Michigan.