Repeal of emergency manager law part of NAACP’s Flint plan

An entire city is now relying on donated bottled water for drinking, bathing and cooking.

Separately Wednesday, a coalition of environmental groups asked a federal judge to order quick replacement of all the lead pipes in the city’s water system.

MI officials say that water samples in Flint are “trending better”, but that it’s too soon to give the go-ahead to residents to resume drinking unfiltered water. “I just felt like if we’re going to donate some water, let’s donate some water”.

Rick Snyder overrode the rights of the people who live in Flint by appointing an “emergency manager” to run the city.

Fourth, and finally, Edwards says, “You have a population that has essentially been traumatized by what has occurred, and they no longer trust anything that the state or the federal government tells them, even if it’s important information that can protect their health”.

But Snyder has also sought to point the finger at his Department of Environmental Quality, Flint leaders and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “In doing so, they are exposing the people of Flint to lead, a powerful toxin that can be devastating to young children”.

But the trip this week was canceled once the Flint water crisis came to dominate the attention of the Snyder administration.

Lead can cause irreversible brain and developmental damage in children and infants who ingest it through water or lead-based paint.

The 17-member committee appointed by Snyder will recommend ways to help people exposed to lead, study Flint’s water infrastructure and determine possible upgrades, his office said in a statement.

The move was considered temporary while the city waited to connect to a new regional water system, but residents immediately complained about the smell, taste and appearance of the water.

In addition to the water donation, the companies are encouraging others to support the Flint community by working with Good360, where nonprofits operating in Flint are listing their needs online.

CrowdRise fundraising campaigns for Flint have raised more than $400,000.

But he stopped short of promising to replace the pipes, which began releasing lead after Flint switched to a cheaper but dangerously corrosive water supply. House Republican spokesman Gideon D’Assandro acknowledges “mistakes were made in Flint” but says there are no cities under emergency management for the first time in 15 years.

The case alleges the state and City of Flint repeatedly violated federal laws regarding water contamination and failed to ensure there is safe drinking water for the public.

The complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of MI was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of MI, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Concerned Pastors for Social Action and Flint resident Melissa Mays. At least three other cases have been filed over the last few months, one of which seeks to make the state and Gov. Snyder financially accountable for the crisis. His office also will defend the state against lawsuits brought by Flint residents.