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As the Flint water crisis grows, we must demand more emails from Rick Snyder As the Flint water crisis grows, we must demand more emails from Rick Snyder
(7 months later)
Governor Rick Snyder wants Michigan’s citizens to believe he is being transparent and honest. After his administration shamefully mishandled the Flint water crisis and betrayed the public’s trust, the desire now is to repair that relationship. But the steps he has taken thus far are woefully inadequate.Governor Rick Snyder wants Michigan’s citizens to believe he is being transparent and honest. After his administration shamefully mishandled the Flint water crisis and betrayed the public’s trust, the desire now is to repair that relationship. But the steps he has taken thus far are woefully inadequate.
Snyder, following through on a promise made on Tuesday, has released emails from 2014 and 2015. That, however, is not nearly enough. If he truly does desire to be transparent – in a state where the governor (and legislature) are exempt from the state’s Freedom of Information Act law that other officials and state employees are subject to – he must release all of the emails.Snyder, following through on a promise made on Tuesday, has released emails from 2014 and 2015. That, however, is not nearly enough. If he truly does desire to be transparent – in a state where the governor (and legislature) are exempt from the state’s Freedom of Information Act law that other officials and state employees are subject to – he must release all of the emails.
The public needs to know what his office’s role, if any, was in the decision to use the dangerously corrosive Flint river in 2014 as the sole water supply for a city of 100,000 people, a majority of whom are African American, and many of whom are desperately poor.The public needs to know what his office’s role, if any, was in the decision to use the dangerously corrosive Flint river in 2014 as the sole water supply for a city of 100,000 people, a majority of whom are African American, and many of whom are desperately poor.
Related: Flint water crisis: emails reveal governor Snyder informed of problems a year ago
Every time the administration is asked about that role, Snyder’s people keep trying to sidestep it. The question is, why?Every time the administration is asked about that role, Snyder’s people keep trying to sidestep it. The question is, why?
In a videotaped interview with the ACLU of Michigan on 15 September, Howard Croft, who has since resigned from his job as Flint’s director of public works, asserted that the decision to use the river came directly from the governor’s office.In a videotaped interview with the ACLU of Michigan on 15 September, Howard Croft, who has since resigned from his job as Flint’s director of public works, asserted that the decision to use the river came directly from the governor’s office.
If true, it is a damning indictment.If true, it is a damning indictment.
It is one thing to admit, as Snyder does now, that he was slow to address the lead crisis because he didn’t have accurate information when the disaster began to unfold in 2015. It is something else entirely to fully own responsibility by confessing that the tragedy would never have occurred had his administration done due diligence on the Flint river beforehand.It is one thing to admit, as Snyder does now, that he was slow to address the lead crisis because he didn’t have accurate information when the disaster began to unfold in 2015. It is something else entirely to fully own responsibility by confessing that the tragedy would never have occurred had his administration done due diligence on the Flint river beforehand.
Until now, much of the media’s focus – a focus that is embarrassingly late in coming for the most part – has been on when Snyder first knew that Flint’s water supply was contaminated by lead.Until now, much of the media’s focus – a focus that is embarrassingly late in coming for the most part – has been on when Snyder first knew that Flint’s water supply was contaminated by lead.
Related: Flint water crisis: governor's brand of corporate politics set stage for disaster
As the result of Foia documents obtained by the ACLU of Michigan and Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards, we already know much of what was going on over the nearly two years since the fateful switch to the river was made.As the result of Foia documents obtained by the ACLU of Michigan and Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards, we already know much of what was going on over the nearly two years since the fateful switch to the river was made.
We know, for example, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began raising concerns about lead in Flint’s water in February 2015. EPA whistleblower Miguel Del Toral leaked an internal memo, published by the ACLU and reported on by Michigan Radio in early July 2015, sounding the alarm about the potential for widespread lead contamination.We know, for example, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began raising concerns about lead in Flint’s water in February 2015. EPA whistleblower Miguel Del Toral leaked an internal memo, published by the ACLU and reported on by Michigan Radio in early July 2015, sounding the alarm about the potential for widespread lead contamination.
The extent of that poisoning was largely established by a research team led by Virginia Tech’s professor Edwards. The scientist, who played a pivotal role in exposing the crisis, worked with Flint residents to conduct an independent test of the city’s water last summer. They began posting on a newly-created website test results of disturbingly high lead levels in water throughout the city at the end of August 2015.The extent of that poisoning was largely established by a research team led by Virginia Tech’s professor Edwards. The scientist, who played a pivotal role in exposing the crisis, worked with Flint residents to conduct an independent test of the city’s water last summer. They began posting on a newly-created website test results of disturbingly high lead levels in water throughout the city at the end of August 2015.
Related: Obama addresses 'terrible tragedy' of Flint water crisis while in Michigan
Industry was also aware that there were problems with the water. It was reported in October 2014 that a General Motors plant in Flint received special dispensation to stop using river water and return to the Detroit system in October 2014. The reason was that water coming from Flint was corroding the engines being manufactured before they could make it out the door.Industry was also aware that there were problems with the water. It was reported in October 2014 that a General Motors plant in Flint received special dispensation to stop using river water and return to the Detroit system in October 2014. The reason was that water coming from Flint was corroding the engines being manufactured before they could make it out the door.
Many residents were aware that the water was not safe. In 2014, people were instructed by city officials to boil their water because of the E coli that was in it; they were also exposed to dangerously high levels of a carcinogenic byproduct of the chlorine used in high amounts to try and kill bacteria in the water. The people of Flint began complaining about the color, smell and taste of their water as soon as the switch occurred nearly two years ago.Many residents were aware that the water was not safe. In 2014, people were instructed by city officials to boil their water because of the E coli that was in it; they were also exposed to dangerously high levels of a carcinogenic byproduct of the chlorine used in high amounts to try and kill bacteria in the water. The people of Flint began complaining about the color, smell and taste of their water as soon as the switch occurred nearly two years ago.
Unless Snyder and his people were inhabiting caves for the past two years, they too should have known all of this as the scandal continued to unravel. At this point, all he is doing is admitting, finally, to the obvious.Unless Snyder and his people were inhabiting caves for the past two years, they too should have known all of this as the scandal continued to unravel. At this point, all he is doing is admitting, finally, to the obvious.
Which is why he needs to provide more information than he has offered so far. It is fine that Snyder shared his 2014 and 2015 emails. It will be interesting to see, what, if anything, they will reveal about events during that time frame.Which is why he needs to provide more information than he has offered so far. It is fine that Snyder shared his 2014 and 2015 emails. It will be interesting to see, what, if anything, they will reveal about events during that time frame.
But what’s crucial at this point is that people be allowed to see what was going on in his office in 2013, when the catastrophic decision to begin using the river was apparently being made. Until Snyder does that, any attempts to regain the public’s trust are bound to fail.But what’s crucial at this point is that people be allowed to see what was going on in his office in 2013, when the catastrophic decision to begin using the river was apparently being made. Until Snyder does that, any attempts to regain the public’s trust are bound to fail.