Flint Water Crisis: Overview and Insights from "We the Poisoned"
Historical Context
Flint, Michigan, once a thriving city in the 1950s-60s due to the auto industry (GM), faced economic decline due to:
Offshoring of jobs
Deregulation and money in politics
White flight, redlining, and racist rezoning
By the 2000s, Flint was economically decayed.
Governance and Decision Making
Republican Governor Rick Snyder declared financial emergencies in predominantly Black cities like Flint and Detroit, appointing unelected emergency managers.
Democracy was undermined as these managers could override elected city councils.
The goal was to regionalize and privatize the water system, reducing dependency on Detroit, which provided water from the Great Lakes.
Water System Changes
Flint switched from Detroit's treated water to a proposed new system using Flint River water, historically polluted by industries like GM.
A financial scheme allowed Flint to borrow $100 million for this project, despite having no credit rating.
Warnings and Ignored Risks
Governor Snyder was warned by his environmental officials about the risks of using Flint River water, including bacterial and carcinogenic threats.
Flint's water plant workers also raised alarms about the plant's incapacity to properly treat the water.
Outcome and Impact
The switch to Flint River water led to complaints and health issues, including Legionnaires' disease, shortly after implementation.
Residents suffered from health problems like elevated lead levels, cancers, liver and kidney issues, and neurological damage.
A local pediatrician, Dr. Mona Hatisha, provided crucial evidence of increased lead levels in children, pushing authorities to acknowledge the crisis after 18 months.
Government and Institutional Response
Federal and state governments were complicit; the EPA did not adequately intervene despite being aware of the issues.
Obama’s visit and reassurance to Flint residents, suggesting the water was safe, was controversial and criticized.
Legal actions: Multiple state officials faced charges, yet the EPA has not settled or admitted guilt.
Broader Implications
The Flint crisis highlights systemic issues in governance, environmental justice, and socio-economic inequality.
The ongoing nature of the crisis, with unresolved health impacts and incomplete infrastructure repair, reflects broader failures at multiple governmental levels.
Call to Action
The conversation continues with talks and events, inviting public engagement and awareness through various platforms.