A cornucopia of history and responsibly researched deta. The water is now testing at 6 parts per billion ppb which is much lower than the federal requirement of 15 ppb. Flints water and the american urban tragedy by anna clark. Intimate portraits of flint show frustration, fear, perseverance.
The problem was compounded with the fact that anticorrosive measures were not implemented. Flints water and the american urban tragedy next city contributor anna clark recounts how a brave professor and determined activist tirelessly worked to expose government negligence and bring national coverage to a population of people poisoned by their own water supply. Jan 24, 2016 flint switched from detroits water supply to the flint river in 2014, in part to save money. As part of a plan to save money, government officials decided that flint would temporarily switch its water supply from lake. A bottle of water taken from flints contaminated municipal supply, held by a protester. There is considerable overlap in these books as they trace flints rise and fall. Pediatrician who spotlighted lead in flint water weighs in on. Anna edited a detroit anthology, a michigan notable book, and she had been a. Pediatricians book on flint water crisis selected as great michigan read. The first comprehensive book on the flint water crisis.
Flints water and the american urban tragedy, which. She is the author of the 2018 book what the eyes dont see, which the new york times. Recounts the gripping story of flints poisoned water through the people who caused it. This book does a lot to explain the history of city planning in the area and how flint, michigan. Normally presiding over genesee countys infant and toddler treatment court, newblatt has sat on michigan s seventh judicial circuit court since he was first elected in 2004. It is 300 pages, but 100 of those pages are notes, and there are about 50 pages worth of flint city history, which i didnt find all that interesting. Clarks experience as a journalist really lends a helping hand to this book. The first full account of the flint, michigan, water scandal, an. Jul 20, 2018 in her new book the poisoned city, author anna clark offers a compelling account of how the flint water crisis happened.
Based on original reporting by a pulitzer prize finalist and an industry veteran, the first book for young adults about the flint water crisis in 2014, flint, michigan, was a cashstrapped city that had been built up, then abandoned by general motors. The flint water crisis began in april 2014, when the state chose to save money by switching flint s water supply from lake huron to the flint river, a source. Based on original reporting by a pulitzer prize finalist and an industry veteran, the first book for young adults about the flint water crisisin 2014, flint, michigan, was a cashstrapped city that had been built up, then abandoned by general motors. Anna clarks book, the poisoned city recounts the gripping story of flints poisoned water through the people who. The water crisis in flint, michigan kids news article. As the former governor of michigan and eight other public officials are indicted for alleged crimes related to the flint water contamination crisis, wayne state law professor peter j. May 19, 2020 based on original reporting by a pulitzer prize finalist and an industry veteran, the first book for young adults about the flint water crisis in 2014, flint, michigan, was a cashstrapped city that had been built up, then abandoned by general motors. But the city did not use corrosion control to prevent lead from entering the water. A new york times notable book the dramatic story of the flint water crisis, by a relentless physician who stood up to power. But such is not the case for the residents of flint, michigan. As the michigan citys water emergency lurches on, pipes are still being replacedand public trust remains low.
Through a series of disastrous decisions, the state government had switched the citys water supply to a source that corroded flint s aging lead pipes. My thoughts on the flint water crisis stem from a personal perspective, as well as my academic interests in deindustrialization, african american history, and heritage tourism. The flint water crisis is an ongoing public health crisis that began in 2014 when the city of flint in michigan which has a population of roughly 100,000changed its water supply from lake huron. I bought the book to learn about lead in the water, not about hunting and trading in the 1700s. Throw the book at rick snyder for poisoning flints water. On january 4, 2016, citing the flint water crisis, michigan representative phil phelps, democrat of flushing, announced plans to introduce a bill to the michigan house of representatives that would make it a felony for state officials to intentionally manipulate or falsify information in official reports, punishable by up to five years. Former michigan governor rick snyder exits after video arraignment on two counts of willful neglect of duty over the leadpoisoning of drinking water in flint at the genesee county jail in flint. She edited a detroit anthology, a michigan notable book, and is a contributing. A federal state of emergency has been declared in flint due to dangerous. Dec 22, 2020 the new rules come six years after the flint, michigan, water crisis highlighted ongoing, dangerous exposure of children and others in the city to the neurotoxin in drinking water, and the failures of officials on all levels to adequately protect local families at the time. When the people of flint, michigan, turned on their faucets in april 2014, the water pouring. Throughout the book, clark slowly reveals the history of flin.
Flint michigan residents are still fighting for clean water. Flint s water is one of the most monitored and testing the same as similar cities across the state and country. Flint switches back to the detroit water supplier, which is now called the great lakes water authority. Reveals the true story of flint, michigans poisoned water supply, describing how. Clark has written a marvelous study of the labor, racial, and environmental history leading to the flint water crisis, as well as. Environmental protection agency notified michigan in early 2015 that there were dangerous levels of lead in flint s water, its residents had complained for months of. Did a coverup of who caused flint michigans contaminated. Read anna clarks empathetic yet emphatic history and you will understand how. In april 2014, flint switched its water supply from lake huron via detroit to the flint river. Oct 10, 2016 the water in laura macintyres home still comes out murky.
Throughout the book, clark slowly reveals the history of flint, which at times i. The flint water crisis and how lead got in the water time. Books about the past, present, and future of american cities if youre looking for the heart, humor, and, at times, horror of flint, michigan and cities like it all over the country look no further than these five nonfiction books. The 26th of june 20 was when the actual decision by the city signed by the stateappointed emergency manager, ed kurtz was made to hire an engineering firm to put flint s water plant into fulltime operation, thus switching flint s water supply from detroit to the flint river. Or sometimes, likely thanks to cityinstalled tap filters, it doesnt come out at all. Macintyre, a university of michigan flint sociology professor, was born and raised in flint and moved back in 2008. April 1, 2021 mona hannaattisha, the michigan doctor who was responsible for uncovering the water crisis in flint, michigan, which began in 2014, will give the keynote address at the university of rhode islands 2021 commencement. Brittany greeson a story of environmental injustice and bad decision making, the water crisis in flint, michigan, began in 2014, when the city switched its drinking water supply from detroits. This massively increased the water bills of some of flints poorest residents. Shes lived through recessions and subsequent proclamations of the citys return from. A pair of scientific studies confirmed that lead contamination was present in the water supply. The disaster that unfolded wasnt something that happened just with the turn of a switch from the detroit water supply to the contaminated flint river. The city switched back to the detroit water system on october 16.
The return of the crisis in the national news, however, gives us a time to reflect. Rick snyder has been charged in the flint water crisis. Flints water and the american urban tragedy clark, anna on. Flint s water and the american urban tragedy, anna clark briskly outlines how a series of decisions made by gm and public officials before and after. Mona hannaattisha is a pediatrician, professor, and public health advocate whose research. Flint, michigan, is approximately 70 miles away from the largest body of fresh water in the world, the great lakes. Candy cooper and marc aronson explore the long history of redlining, the role that general. The public history of the flint water crisis part 2. How the citizens of flint, michigan, fought for their lives and warned the nation.
Critics say epa allowing more time to fix leadtainted water. Study confirms how lead got into flints water pbs newshour. When the people of flint, michigan, turned on their faucets in april 2014, the water pouring out was poisoned with lead and other toxins. After two independent studies, lead poisoning caused by the water was found in the areas population. A cornucopia of history and responsibly researched details. Apr 25, 2019 five years on, the flint water crisis is nowhere near over. Hammer writes that systems of spatialstructural racism underlie the event and must be addressed. Jan 14, 2021 on her 1142021 show rachel maddow said that the very tragic contamination of the flint, michigan water supply was due to somebody i guess governor snyder giving up on democracy. As part of a plan to save money, government officials decided that flint would temporarily switch its water supply from lake huron to the flint. According to amazon, the book tells the story of how. Feb 09, 2016 the water contamination crisis in flint, michigan, has forced the citys residents to dramatically change how they live. Anna clarks book on the flint water crisis rises to a great challenge.
Ironically, its residents cannot access clean water from their taps. The flint water crisis begins on april 25, 2014 officials from flint, michigan switched the citys water supply to the flint river as a costcutting measure for the struggling city. Jun 17, 2019 the water problem began when flint had to switch its water supply from lake huron to the flint river to lower its costs and government agencies were not properly checking for lead in the water supply. Jan 20, 2016 thanks to strict regulations imposed by the us environmental and protection agency, clean tap water is something americans take for granted. In 2014, the city of flint, michigan switched the source of the water supply to save money. Anna edited a detroit anthology, a michigan notable book, and she had. Everyday tasks like bathing, toothbrushing, and cooking have become. When i was two years old, my dad was offered a job as a reference librarian at the university of michigan flint. In 2014, flint, michigan, was a cashstrapped city that had been built up, then abandoned by general motors.
The new lead and copper rule in michigan requires that all lead contaminated pipes be replaced within the next twenty years. Written for young adults, poisoned water gives a harrowing account of the flint water crisis. Nprs rachel martin talks to mona hannaattisha, the pediatrician who nearly seven years ago, noticed something was wrong. Michigan judge charging republicans in flint water crisis has. Flint water crisis, manmade public health crisis april 2014june 2016 involving the municipal water supply system of flint, michigan. And by etching this storys outlines in decades of racist neglect, it is not just a splendid work of journalism. The water was so bad that gm stopped using flint s water in its nearby factories because it was permanently damaging the companys heavy industrial equipment. Five years on, the flint water crisis is nowhere near over. Tens of thousands of flint residents were exposed to dangerous levels of lead, and outbreaks of legionnaire disease killed at least 12 people and sickened dozens more. Flint water crisis becomes crystal clear in powerful new book, the. The city of flint water plant is illuminated by moonlight on january 23, 2016 in flint, michigan. When the people of flint, michigan, complained that their tap water smelled bad and made children sick, it took officials 18 months to accept there was a problem podcast published.
The water from the flint river quickly corroded the citys old lead pipes, putting dangerous amounts of lead and other chemicals into the water supply. Aug 01, 2017 the absence of a water treatment called orthophosphate was a major contributor to lead contamination of flint, michigan s water supply, scientists confirmed recently in environmental. Jul 03, 2018 from the start, the people of flint, mich. Based on original reporting by a pulitzer prize finalist and an industry veteran, the first book for young adults about the flint water crisis. Did free markets cause the flint, michigan water disaster. Newblatt, who approved multiple charges for michigan republicans related to the flint water crisis, has a history of donating to genesee county democrats.
The water crisis in flint, michigan has made it apparent that reform needs to be made nationwide to improve water infrastructure. Pediatricians book on flint water crisis selected as great michigan. Immediately, there were complaints about the taste and the smell. The trauma of the flint water crisis, one of the greatest preventable humanitarian crises in american history, has never receded from the lives of the residents of flint, mich. Michigan, as the center of the water crisis, has since strengthened its lead and copper rule, making it the strongest advocate against lead contaminated water in the country. Nov 19, 2020 in 2014, flint, michigan, was a cashstrapped city that had been built up, then abandoned by general motors. As part of a plan to save money, government officials decided that flint would temporarily switch its water supply from lake huron to the flint river.
891 1443 978 862 897 1481 438 1174 978 1159 897 856 1136 1011 185 742 1244 1446 1707 556 1099 76 1028 482 120 1578 1383 154 1761 929 1448 791 1291 1045 590 1483 1523 594