It’s hard to imagine the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, being handled any worse that it already has been. But, sadly, it does get worse. More than three years after officials decided to save money by getting lead-tainted water from the Flint River, we are still learning about the impact of contaminated water on the city’s residents. A number of people have already died from an outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease, and we now know that fetal deaths increased by more than 50 percent and fewer children were born than in previous years.
While several city officials have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and misconduct, justice has been ridiculously slow. Adding to the situation is Republican Gov. Rick Snyder who just can’t seem to do right. On Monday, Snyder created a new public health council to improve how the state prepares for and responds to public health emergencies—like the water crisis in Flint.
Gov. Rick Snyder on Monday created a new Public Health Advisory Council by issuing an executive order.
"The Public Health Advisory Commission laid the groundwork for a more responsive and cohesive public health system in Michigan. The new council will continue this important task by turning recommendations into actions and improving the state's response to public health threats," Snyder said in a press release.
Sounds good, right? This would be one thing the state can do to make sure what happened in Flint never happens again. Except there’s one small problem. Look at who has been placed in charge of leading the council:
The council will be lead by Eden Wells, the state's chief medical executive. Wells is currently facing criminal charges as part of Attorney General Bill Schuette's probe into the Flint water crisis.
Wells said in a statement, "The creation of this new Public Health Advisory Council is a vital step forward for Michigan in preparing for and responding to emerging public health issues."
Hello? How on earth does this make sense to anyone? Wells has been charged with obstruction of justice and lying to a peace officer in terms of what she knew about the water crisis. Prosecutors say that she even threatened researchers who were trying to looking into what caused the Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak.
But since she’s not been on trial yet or convicted of any crime, let’s say we were to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume her innocence. She is still a part of an administration that completely failed to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the people of Flint. They have eroded any level of trust that the community might have had in them. It’s not only nonsensical to have these same people involved with this new council, it’s downright negligent and monstrous.
Snyder’s entire handling of this crisis has been shameful and corrupt. This should be grounds for impeachment. If Rod Blagojevich could be impeached in Illinois for corruption and bribery and was not actually responsible for deaths and the poisoning of an entire city of people, Snyder should also be impeached. Blagojevich is currently in federal prison. Maybe that should be Snyder’s next stop as well.
Republicans have proven again and again how much disdain they have for poor people and people of color—and this is yet another glaring example. This is absolutely criminal. But with Republicans continuing to be elected and creating their own self-serving laws and rules by which to govern, it feels impossible to stop them. And it’s guaranteed that the people of Flint will continue to suffer.