×

Attention has faded, but not state’s duty to Flint

The Flint water crisis became the Flint water fatigue. The fear has been that everyone would forget Flint.

Too much of that worry has become reality. Celebrities aren’t delivering truckloads of bottled water. Outstate communities aren’t organizing collections. Parishioners aren’t carpooling to Flint to help with distribution.

The Flint water crisis hasn’t gone away. Thousands of the city’s residents are still as risk from the water supply. The city has switched back to Detroit water, but experts say the distribution system will never be the same.

One person who hasn’t forgot is U.S. District Judge David Lawson. He ruled last week last that the state of Michigan is still on the hook for the disaster. He ordered the state and the city of Flint to deliver four cases of bottled water per resident per week to every household that doesn’t have a proven, working filtration system.

If there is anyone who wants the Flint fiasco to go away, it is the governor’s office.

Despite that, its reaction to Lawson’s order was to dig in its heels. Calling the bottled water distribution too big and too complicated and a distraction from fixing the problem, the governor’s office has appealed the federal judge’s order.

We don’t see that the state has any other choice. The state of Michigan and its appointed emergency managers in Flint and in Detroit caused the lead poisoning of Flint’s citizens. The state of Michigan is responsible for both the near-term solution — bottled water for every household still at peril — and the long-term fix for the city’s water system.

Drop the appeal. Do what’s right.

At the same time, do what’s right for all Michigan children.

The Child Lead Poisoning Elimination Board, appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder, is recommending that all children between the ages of 1 and 3 be screened for lead. Currently, that is being done only for certain at-risk children.

It is also recommending stringent testing and cleanup requirements for both older and new homes to protect all of Michigan’s children.

Those precautions, even if they are complicated or expensive, must be taken. We can’t shirk from our duty.

— Times Herald (Port Huron)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today