After months of downplaying concerns, including warnings from researchers about high lead levels in both the drinking water and in the blood of Flint children, the administration of Gov. Rick Snyder acknowledged around October 1 a problem that is now a full-blown public health crisis garnering worldwide headlines.
Advertisement
Caleb Buhs, a spokesman for the agency that manages state buildings, said water coolers were introduced at the State Office Building after Flint flunked some drinking water standards that weren’t related to lead. He says the water coolers still are supplied to the state building in Flint. In January of a year ago, the Snyder administration told Flint residents their water was safe to drink.
Just how many lead pipes are there in Flint, Michigan, where the water has been undrinkable because of high lead levels?
Instead, he said, the state is focusing on using phosphates in the water to coat the corroded pipes and keep the lead from leaching out.
The allocation of the money – but not the amount – changed a bit from the House-passed version of the bill because of the huge amount of bottled water donated to the city from all over the country.
Barnhill said the residents’ immediate needs are important but that long-term opportunities in Flint will also be explored, such as small business assistance.
The woes of Flint residents have led to increased scrutiny of the state-appointed emergency manager system, which is being implemented by Gov. Snyder to take over predominantly black municipalities such as Flint and Detroit.
For Asheville’s Water Resources Department, what happened in Flint is the worst-case scenario and something they’ve had an eye on.
“This will provide upwards of $20 million in relief to Flint and allowing them to direct new funds for investment in water infrastructure and not interest payments”.
It’s the second round of state aid for the city since the crisis was confirmed in the fall.
There also was language added to the bill to make sure that every Flint child up to age 3 gets a health assessment, and that there is more opportunity for additional nurses – money for nine nurses is included in the supplemental bill – to help mothers and children.
Rachel asked on the show, “If you lived in Flint, would you trust the state government to fix the problem there?”
The federal Safe Drinking Water Act requires water systems and state regulators to monitor lead levels coming out of people’s faucets, and if 10 percent of samples have more than 15 parts per billion of lead, then the state has to evaluate its corrosion controls.
The Michigan senators and other Democrats were expected to offer the measure as an amendment to a Senate energy bill.
Gores, who is chairman of Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity, also will contribute.
Rather, citing the “disastrous consequences of late-20th century, neo-conservative, trickle down public policy” and how “actual water” has been used to promote “twisted economic beliefs” that have destroyed the lives of Black and poor people, Moore called for a nonviolent revolt.
Advertisement
Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem and Platinum Equity partner Mark Barnhill will lead the effort. It’s “very personal when, in fact, you’re trying to get drinking water or cook or bathe and the water looks like that”.
