Defendants in the suit include Michigan’s state treasurer, the Flint city administrator and the city itself.
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Melissa Mays, a resident who launched the local advocacy group Water You Fighting For, painted a bleak picture of life in Flint, where people are afraid to bathe their children and many residents have their water turned off-even though they’re still paying for it.
“His tone was one of remorse and regret and I took that to be genuine”, he said. The Republican governor and staff didn’t speak to reporters.
Brooks planned to present a list of 15 priorities drawn up by the organization during the meeting Tuesday evening.
This month, a group of community members and medical professionals created the Flint Child Health & Development Fund, established at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, that will help pay for “critical public health, medical, and community-based services” to mitigate the short- and long-term challenges the city’s children may face.
Calls for Snyder’s resignation have been growing as criticism mounts over the government’s handling of the crisis.
Among other activities, the EPA will be conducting water sampling and testing, evaluating the water treatment plant, performing community outreach and coordination and ensuring Flint’s water meets federal drinking standards.
Although Flint returned to Detroit water in October, the lead risk remains because of damage to the water distribution system. High lead levels have since been found in some children.
Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, the governor says the 17-member committee will make recommendations regarding the health of people exposed to lead, study Flint’s water infrastructure and determine potential upgrades, and establish ways to improve communication between local and state government.
Flint was under state oversight in 2014 when it switched from Detroit water to the Flint River to save money. More than 95 percent of the homes tested in Cincinnati have no or very low levels of lead. But a one-time infusion of gallons of fresh water doesn’t do much to address the systemic failures of government that led to the water crisis in the first place. It’s been known since then that toxic amounts of lead from these pipes could be released into soft water.
The lead-tainted water crisis in Flint has attracted the attention of the United Nations. Together they switched the city’s water source from the clean Lake Huron to the dirty Flint River.
Matt Hopper holds and comforts Nyla Hopper, age 5 of Flint, after she has her blood drawn to be tested for lead on January 26, 2016 at Eisenhower Elementary School in Flint, Michigan.
“For me, as a water educator, I thought it was important to get this conversation going for students so that this never happens again”, Roehre said. The prosecutor’s office does not have its own investigators on staff. His office also will defend the state against lawsuits brought by Flint residents.
Schuette issued an update on the investigation Monday morning, saying in a statement that all involved “will do our job thoroughly and let the chips fall where they may”.
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Leyton declined to comment on the proposal and investigation.
