“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.” — Benjamin Franklin
“Flint, Mi
ch. — The World Health Organization’s “action level” for lead contamination in drinking water — indicating the need for intervention — is 10 parts per billion. The Environmental Protection Agency’s action level is 15 parts per billion.
“In tests of tap water in Flint over the last six months, some 1,300 homes exceeded the EPA action level. Thirty-two had levels above 1,000 parts per billion. And just this month, a sample showed a concentration as high as 11,846 parts per billion.
“To understand the contamination of this city, think about drinking water through a straw coated in lead. As you sip, lead particles flake off into the water and are ingested. For almost two years, Flint’s children have been drinking water through lead-coated straws.” — From the New York Times, 3-27-16
This poisoning of the people of Flint is getting a great deal of attention throughout the country and around the world. Lead poisoning is a leading cause of mental retardation among children. Flint’s change to drinking water from the Flint River was seen as a cost cutting measure by the emergency manager appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder. The taxpayers of Michigan and/or the United States will see unimaginable financial costs as a result of this catastrophic blunder.
The human costs are far more incalculable. The answer to questions about who knew what, and when, may lead to some accountability – perhaps even criminal prosecution. But the people, and especially the children, will suffer in ways unlikely to be remedied.
At one time Flint was a wealthy town. Manufacturing has diminished and now it is impoverished. The water in Flint was deemed unsatisfactory for use in manufacturing – but the people of Flint were told it was safe. State employees in Flint had bottled water provided to them – but meanwhile the residents were told they could safely drink the tap water.
Gov. Snyder was cheered when he appeared this month at the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. Shame on them. Snyder is an embarrassment to this state. People in Alabama are calling for the resignation of Governor Robert Bentley because of an alleged affair (he admits to some of the elements, but denies it was a “physical affair”). Our state has bigger problems. On Snyder’s watch, the drinking water of a major city was unsafe.
Many are calling for Snyder’s resignation. Others wish him recalled. My inclination has to do with torches and pitchforks. He must know he is not to be cheered. His apologies strain credibility. Major news sources report that he had enough foreknowledge of the depth and breadth of the problem to have acted months sooner, despite his protestations to the contrary. His appointees took action that caused incredible harm.
In Japan, he would declare he could not live with the shame, and commit seppuku. I don’t expect that, but still, some level of sincere contrition might be appropriate. What I see from Gov. Snyder is persistent efforts to shift the blame. If he really didn’t know, unlikely as that seems, why didn’t he? Did he choose not to know? Why are we to believe the flow of critical information stopped just before it got to him?
Time magazine reports that in 2011, Gov. Snyder appointed an emergency manager for Flint. In 2013, Flint made a decision to stop buying Lake Huron water from the Detroit pipeline in order to save $19 million over eight years. Water would be taken temporarily from the Flint River. What followed:
• In the spring of 2014, Flint residents report strange smells and colors in the water.
• In summer 2014, doctors in Flint report a rise in skin rashes, hair loss, and other ailments.
• On Oct. 13, 2014, GM announces it will stop using the water at its Flint plant because it is eroding engine parts.
• On Jan. 2, 2015, the City of Flint notifies residents of elevated levels of TTHM, in violation of federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
• On March 23, 2015, the Flint City Council votes to reconnect to the Detroit/Lake Huron. The new emergency manager appointed by Gov. Snyder overrides the vote and keeps the city using Flint River water.
• On Aug. 24, 2015, researchers from Virginia Tech release reports that show elevated lead levels in Flint’s drinking water.
• On September 24, 2015 Hurley Medical Center reports that since the switch to Flint River water, the incidence of children with elevated blood levels of lead has doubled. One day later, Flint issues a lead advisory.
• On Oct. 16, 2015 Flint switches back to Detroit water.
• On Jan. 5, 2016, a federal investigation is opened on the water crisis. The same day, Snyder declares a state of emergency.
• On Jan. 19, 2016 Gov. Snyder requests $28 million in funding for Flint, and says he’s sorry (but he really didn’t know).
This failure of Snyder and his staff is tragic. It is disastrous. It is catastrophic. It is also enormously bad business and bad government. To save the taxpayers an estimated 19 million dollars, a situation has resulted that will cost taxpayers many, many times more than the projected savings.
What was done to the people of Flint is a national and international tale of governmental malfeasance of shocking consequences. Where is the outrage? Why is shameless man still in the governor’s office?
I can understand the author’s assertions, whether true or not. If getting rid of a Gov. over a water switch, which he probably knew nothing about at the time (that is the DEQ’s jurisdiction – both state and feds), in comparison, the millions of gallons of sludge from a dam holding back mine water pollutants that ended up in the feeder streams and rivers and eventually the Colorado River, then in comparison, President Obama should be impeached?
All the communities drawing water from all those tributaries and rivers had no choice but draw from that water. We only have Flint to worry about as a state, the tragedy that it was.
I think people have to think before they start asking for firing the governor. I’m sure if it happened on Granholm’s watch, there wouldn’t be a peep, just business as usual.