Michigan’s governor is poised to give his State of the State Address Tuesday night but he’s expected to be greeted by throngs of protesters, enraged by the crisis.
They’re calling for the arrest of governor Rick Snyder, as residents cope with lead-contaminated water flowing into their homes. It started in April 2014, when the state temporarily switched the city’s water source to the notoriously dirty flint river. It was a cost-saving measure while officials built a new supply line to Lake Huron.
The water, found by Virginia Tech researchers to be highly corrosive, flowed through service lines made of lead, carrying the noxious element into homes. The water source was switched back in October, but the damage to the pipes was done.
With the state now using the National Guard to hand out clean water, President Obama declared a federal emergency Saturday but Flint City Councilman Wantwaz Davis says much more is needed and available.
“The state of emergency only gives us a $5 million cap, which the president has already signed for. If they would have submitted for a disaster declaration, we could have got the 96 million dollars, or more,” says Davis.
The crisis is sparking widespread outrage among celebrities, activists and presidential candidates.
“What I did, which I think is also right, is demanded the resignation of the governor. A man who acts that irresponsibly should not stay in power,” says Presidential Candidate, Bernie Sanders.
Snyder, responded tweeting: “finger pointing from political candidates only distracts from solving the flint water crisis.” this, as state officials face lawsuits alleging they knew about the contamination risk and broke federal laws by failing to avert it.
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