As Flint residents continue to battle the city’s lead-poisoned water, the Flint Water Advisory Task Force has issued a report finding that city leaders and politicians grossly mishandled the situation.
Michigan Governor Testifies at Congressional Hearing for Flint Water Crisis
According to The Grio, the report finds that the city’s emergency managers, who were appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, exhibited “unpreparedness, delay, inaction and environmental injustice.” The water crisis, which has exposed upwards of 8,000 children to lead poisoning, has been ongoing for two years, when the city switched its water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River.
“Emergency managers made key decisions that contributed to the crisis, from the use of the Flint River to delays in reconnection to Detroit Water and Sewerage Department once water quality problems were encountered,” reads the report.
Seven Families in Flint File Class-Action Lawsuit Over Lead-Poisoned Water
In situations such as these, Michigan law permits state politicians to elect representatives who serve in place of local leaders. However, the system eliminates the checks and balance system, which the report says that the city desperately needs.
Last week, Gov. Snyder appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he admitted that the crisis was “a failure of government at all levels.” No one has been indicted for the water crisis.
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