Flint, Mich

[57Brave]

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/docume...SFA-4214-F.pdf

If we can get our minds off of Bill Clintons dick and President Obama giving federal employees the day after Christmas off there is this.

Let's use this as a starting point of conversation on how exactly we repair this city.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde..._deserves.html
///

Haven't heard from Trump,Cruz,Carson or Rubio. I am sure Rand Paul is all over this and Gary Johnson is aghast

[57Brave]

Think about that. This was supposed to be an event with dancing kids with cat whiskers drawn on their faces, eating healthy food, and winning a damn raffle. Now, it's being used as a chance for parents in one of the poorest cities in the country to see if their state has permanently damaged their kids because that's better than spending a little extra money on water tests or, you know, water safety. And what are they raffling now? Aquafina twelve-packs?


Freeman Elementary School in Flint, Michigan: A Demonstration of Heartbreaking Urban Disregard


If you go looking for information or updates on the crisis of lead poisoning the water of Flint, Michigan, you'll come across so many stories that make you despair for the treatment of the urban, industrial population in this greatest nation in the history of everything ever. If you're not up on this insane story about the criminal neglect and outright damnation of a poor city, especially its children, by cost-cutting Republicans, Rachel Maddow and her staff have been doing the kind of investigative reporting work that used to be a regular part of our media. If it's too much work to watch Maddow, you can read a quick summary to get up to speed.


- See more at: http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2016/....PLaJkocE.dpuf

[57Brave]

Which gets us to Freeman Elementary School, a pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade public school in Flint and its family fun day, which will be held tomorrow at the school. Of course, it's not going to be just family fun, as a headline from the local paper reveals:


Yes, as the article says, "Children will be able to get their blood tested for lead during a family fun night this week at Freeman Elementary School in Flint." And then, heartbreakingly, "Lead testing is planned for infants up to children six years old, along with water filter giveaways, dance fitness for children, face painting, balloon artist, a free healthy meal, refreshments and raffles." -
.....

[57Brave]

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...isis/78634678/

[57Brave]

Imagine if you lived in a city where the drinking water supply had been poisoned by lead after cost-saving measures were enacted by an unelected, appointed official. Now imagine you were being billed for that “privilege”.

http://www.eclectablog.com/2016/01/w...-they-are.html

'''''

can we now put notions of austerity as the guiding political principle in the grave ?
Of course it must be considered but at what cost ?

How does the old saying go "Payz me now or Payz me later "

[57Brave]

Heard this was in the works. States response vs federal response red tape was an issue

In another thread an incurious poster wondered Obama's response. Was traveling and could not respond in time
found this though and a partial explanation to the whys and wherefores of the delayed federal response.

Also heard there is Justice Department investigation


President Obama declares emergency in Flint
"... under federal law, only natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods are eligible for disaster declarations, federal and state officials said. The lead contamination of Flint's drinking water is a man-made catastrophe."


http://www.freep.com/story/news/loca...lint/78898604/

[Krgrecw]

Nice to see that it only took a few months for Obama to do something about this.

[57Brave]

Nice to see that it only took a few months for Obama to do something about this.

As explained above , since this wasn't a natural disaster the Feds were bound by law to wait for the states request

[cajunrevenge]

Not surprised. Hell hole of a city elects democrats to run the city every time and they wonder why they live in a hell hole. But go on, keep electing that guy handing out free 20$ bills. If he ****s up too bad we can just guilt trip the rest of the state/country to help.

[57Brave]

Not surprised. Hell hole of a city elects democrats to run the city every time and they wonder why they live in a hell hole. But go on, keep electing that guy handing out free 20$ bills. If he ****s up too bad we can just guilt trip the rest of the state/country to help.

This decision was not made by and was out of the hands of elected city officials.
They (elected city representatives) fought the change.

This info is linked above

[cajunrevenge]

This decision was not made by and was out of the hands of elected city officials.
They (elected city representatives) fought the change.

This info is linked above

My understanding is the change was made to save money because the city was bankrupt. I blame the ones who bankrupted the city. Like the one mayor who claimed a big surplus when facing reelection then immediately after being reelected said it was actually in huge debt.

[57Brave]

My understanding is the change was made to save money because the city was bankrupt. I blame the ones who bankrupted the city. Like the one mayor who claimed a big surplus when facing reelection then immediately after being reelected said it was actually in huge debt.

Yeah, it is fair to say that.
Again once you scratch the surface it goes a little deeper. Actually, a lot deeper
snyder and the (R) legislature legally set up the de facto city governments to manage the cities. (forget the term)
To act as the grown ups in the room -- if you will
Not poison the pipes - which is what they did

there was a 1989 documentary on the demise of Flint

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_%26_Me
................................

[BedellBrave]

My understanding is the change was made to save money because the city was bankrupt. I blame the ones who bankrupted the city. Like the one mayor who claimed a big surplus when facing reelection then immediately after being reelected said it was actually in huge debt.

As I read more and more about it (and 57, honestly I was avoiding doing so just because your were the one beating the drum), there looks to be blame to be shared from the bottom (local government), to middle (state), to the top (feds EPA), and including business and the political spectrum Rs and Ds. Now, to address the problem. The Emergency Manager, Water Plant officials, Governor and others must face the music. And 57 - you make a good point - there is a role - significant role for responsible government to play. Yes, let's do things efficiently, but public safety is the responsibility of government - and to provide it does cost money. But there are also non-governmental charities - right now -doing great service. See the WSJ article 57 gives and the subsequent link I provide below. So, besides criticizing the ones who were behind this (rightfully so) and waiting for the government (and paying your taxes), you can give directly to help.

[57Brave]

"The Environmental Protection Agency boss for the Midwest resigned Thursday amid ongoing fallout over the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...b076aadcc601a4

........................

That is the regional head of the EPA. The fed responsible - reading the article and from reports I heard this morning (she was still employed in that report) she tried to brush this under the rug. For reasons I'm not sure I understand
The Emergency Manager Governor Snyder appointed that oversaw this disaster is still employed.
As an Emergency Manager of Detroit School System

[Krgrecw]

As explained above , since this wasn't a natural disaster the Feds were bound by law to wait for the states request

And you don't think the Feds could had done something about that? Like tell the governor to ask for help?

[57Brave]

And you don't think the Feds could had done something about that? Like tell the governor to ask for help?

Obviously - but the Feds, by law - can't do anything without the states request.
My understanding is the Jsutice Department began their investigation before last week.
That info is in the links above - somewhere.

The Feds don't tell Governors to do anything, let alone admit they screwed up

[57Brave]

Flint and Katrina: Poor People, Poor Treatment and Water

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/benjam...b_9001928.html

[57Brave]

Rubio says he hasn't followed the Flint water crisis. "It's just not an issue we've quite frankly followed or been briefed on"

[The Chosen One]

Must have been a little preoccupied with his own water bottle since his version of Watergate.

[Krgrecw]

My understanding is the change was made to save money because the city was bankrupt. I blame the ones who bankrupted the city. Like the one mayor who claimed a big surplus when facing reelection then immediately after being reelected said it was actually in huge debt.

You have to see if from 57's viewpoint; find the nearest republican to the situation and put all the blame on them.