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FLINT WATER: Schuette's Charges Don't Absolve Snyder, Free Press States

April 21, 2016       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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Snyder pilloried in cartoon in Daily Kos liberal blog.
 

If you are really into the Flint Water Crisis, you wouldn't be alone as the infamous blunder's notoriety has captivated the press nationally and even internationally.

As with any complicated crisis, a committee has been convened, perhaps to sooth the ruffled feathers of an environmentally and health conscious public. Wait for the flames to die out and perhaps we'll forget, is probably the intent.

The Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee, created by Gov. Rick Snyder's Executive Order 2016-1, is bringing together a wide range of experts to work on long-term solutions to the Flint water situation and ongoing public health concerns affecting residents.

In the strangest twist of media management and a transparently opaque bow to transparency, the committee meetings are closed to the public. You can't attend the meetings, but you can watch them live streamed on WNEM-TV or on the governor's YouTube site.

Committee members include Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, both of whom have been named to Time Magazine's annual list of 100 most influential people in the world for their roles in exposing lead contamination of Flint's drinking water.

Edwards, a water engineering expert whose team independently investigated Flint's contamination issues, has been credited for his efforts bringing attention to the lead-poisoned water, months before a state of emergency was declared, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Meanwhile, Snyder is manfully gulping what could be lead poisoned water from Flint and was shown by the media lugging gallon containers of the suspect liquid to his car to take home to Lansing. Try to find a parallel to that PR effort in history!

Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Midland native and rumored candidate for governor, is walking a fine line by bringing criminal charges against three lower level managers. Whether he will slay the biggest dragon in the den, Gov. Snyder, is problematic in that such a move by a fellow Republican would no doubt put the final sword thrust in the "One Tough Nerd's" punctured hide and cremate his scorched career.

The Freep editorialized today: "Snyder has accepted responsibility for Flint. But he continues to dodge blame, which he'd prefer to see land at the feet of those career bureaucrats.

"What happened in Flint is complicated, a series of disastrous decisions made and OK'd by numerous government officials, set against the backdrop of decades of urban disinvestment and regional racism.

"But here's the thing: All of those decisions, made on Snyder's watch, are on the governor's account. Like any CEO, the governor is responsible for the culture of the organization he helms, for the leadership he displays and -- should -- require from those below him. And so Wednesday's charges offer no absolution for the governor.

"All three men are mid-level managers, the folks who sign off on treatment plans or water sample collections, and for blame to stop at their feet would be a tragic misread of this public health catastrophe."

FWICC's membership also includes Karen Weaver, Mayor of the City of Flint, three experts from the state, three members representing Genesee County who are recommended by the Genesee County Board of Commissioners, three representatives from the city of Flint who are recommended by the office of the Mayor of the City of Flint, and three subject matter experts. The group will analyze any long-term effects of high lead levels in Flint residents and recommend action.

Members, who will serve three-year terms, also include Jim Koski, former Saginaw County Public Works Director, now a consultant, considered one of the area's leading authorities on water line installations and water quality issues.

The committee's first action was to adopt a resolution on March 16 supporting the state's request for extension of the federal emergency status involving the water crisis.

Meetings are not open to public attendance but are available via live stream provided by WNEM-TV each week and on YouTube after the original meeting date.

Friday, April 22

Friday, April 29

Friday, May 6

Friday, May 13

Friday, May 20

***Previous FWICC meetings can be watched on the Governor's YouTube channel: www.YouTube.com/GovSnyder

###

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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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