President Barack Obama visited Flint, Michigan, on Wednesday and drank a glass of water to assure residents their taps are safe as long as they use filters.
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Obama’s visit underscores the need for cooperation at all levels of government to make Flint’s water safe to drink, but also highlights ongoing tensions between Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and the Democratic president and between Snyder and the city’s Democratic Karen Weaver.
Flint resident Mona Munroe-Younis, who was pregnant when the lead contamination of Flint’s drinking water began and now has a 5-month-old son Sebastian who has skin problems, said Wednesday, “This has been a nightmare”.
Mr Obama declared a state of emergency in Flint in January following a request from Michigan Governor Snyder, who has faced calls to stand down over the state’s response to the crisis.
According to the Washington Post, Obama specifically stated that Flint water was fine only if filtered: “It confirms what we know scientifically that if you use a filter… then Flint water at this point is drinkable”. When officials switched the water supply from the Detroit system to the Flint River in 2014, the water wasn’t treated properly and lead from old pipes leached into system.
In addition to the charges against state officials, a group of Flint residents filed a complaint against the Environmental Protection Agency claiming it was negligent in its response to the crisis.
“That’s not what Michiganders do, when you have a problem like this”, he said in an interview with Michigan Live in early April”.
“You didn’t create this problem, government failed you”, Snyder attempted to say over the vocal crowd that shouted back, “You did”.
He says clean water is a basic responsibility of government in the US and says what happened in Flint was a manmade disaster that didn’t have to happen.
“The water around this table was Flint water that was filtered”, Obama said during a meeting with regulators as he drank some himself.
The prez assured the Flint community that free water and filters will be provided to them, as well as expanded Medicaid to treat exposed children, and job training programs.
“I would love for a chance to meet you or your wife”, Mari wrote.
As this crisis continues to unfold with new details almost every day, Northern Michigan’s News Leader has worked to keep you updated. The unsafe drinking and washing water came from corroded iron pipes and lead plumbing that couldn’t withstand the increased levels of chloride flowing through them.
Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker and Flint native Michael Moore disputed Obama’s assurances about the quality of the water.
At a high school gymnasium where Mr. Obama spoke later, the audience of about 1,000 loudly booed Mr. Snyder when he was introduced for brief remarks.
The move sparked a national controversy after blood samples taken from children showed high levels of lead, which can damage the nervous system.
Obama on Wednesday repeatedly referred to the situation as a “screw up” but said he wasn’t in the city to assign blame.
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“And how lead interacts with any particular child is going to be different, and what each child needs is going to be different”, he said.
