E8 Final Review

How and why did government fail the people of Flint? 1. Clarify and simplify the narrative regarding the roles of the parties involved, and assign accountability clearly and unambiguously. 2. Highlight the causes for the failures of government that precipitated the crisis and suggest measures to prevent such failures in the future. 3. Prescribe recommendations to care for the Flint community and to use the lessons of Flint’s experience to better safeguard Michigan residents. Flint Water Advisory Task Force Final Report 3/2016

The Flint water crisis is a story of government failure, intransigence, unpreparedness, delay, inaction, and environmental injustice. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) failed in its fundamental responsibility to effectively enforce drinking water regulations. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) failed to adequately and promptly act to protect public health. Both agencies, but principally the MDEQ, stubbornly worked to discredit and dismiss others’ attempts to bring the issues of unsafe water, lead contamination, and increased cases of Legionellosis (Legionnaires’ disease) to light. With the City of Flint under emergency management, the Flint Water Department rushed unprepared into full-time operation of the Flint Water Treatment Plant, drawing water from a highly corrosive source without the use of corrosion control.

Though MDEQ was delegated primacy (authority to enforce federal law), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)delayed enforcement of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and Lead and Copper Rule(LCR), there by prolonging the calamity. Neither the Governor nor the Governor’s office took steps to reverse poor decisions by MDEQ and state - appointed emergency managers until October 2015, in spite of mounting problems and suggestions to do so by senior staff members in the Governor’s office, in part because of continued reassurances from MDEQ that the water was safe. The significant consequences of these failure s for Flint will be long - lasting. They have deeply affected Flint’s public health, its economic future, 1 and residents’ trust in government Flint Water Advisory Task Force Final Report 3/2016

The Flint water crisis occurred when state-appointed emergency managers replaced local representative decision-making in Flint , removing the checks and balances and public accountability that come with public decision-making . Emergency managers made key decisions that contributed to the crisis, from the use of the Flint River to delays in reconnecting to DWSD once water quality problems were encountered. Given the demographics of Flint, the implications for environmental injustice cannot be ignored or dismissed. Flint Water Advisory Task Force Final Report 3/2016

The Flint water crisis is also a story, however, of something that did work: the critical role played by engaged Flint citizens , by individuals both inside and outside of government who had the expertise and willingness to question and challenge government leadership, and by members of a free press who used the tools that enable investigative journalism. Without their courage and persistence, this crisis likely never would have been brought to light and mitigation efforts never begun. Flint Water Advisory Task Force Final Report 3/2016

Do you blame General Motors for downsizing jobs from 80,000 to 8,000? A. Yes B. No

Do you blame the Michigan Emergency Manager Law? A. Yes B. No

Is incompetent government service possibly criminal behavior? A. Yes B. No

Assessing Bruce Lourie Do you believe people will not act because our friends for cultural group aren’t acting or don’t believe? A. Yes B. No

Do you believe people will not act because acting contradicts a fundamental belief or value? A. Yes B. No

Do you believe people will not act because it costs too much? A. Yes B. No

Do you believe people will not act because it will be inconvenient? A. Yes B. No

Do you believe people will not act because it will not affect us personally? A. Yes B. No

Do you believe people will not act because it will not happen for a long time? A. Yes B. No

Do you believe people will not act because the solution is unclear? A. Yes B. No

Jared Diamond- what should stewards of Southern California learn from Easter Island, the Maya, and Angkor? How could a society that was once so mighty end up collapsing? What were the fates of its individual citizens? — did they move away and(if so) why, or did they die there in some unpleasant way? Lurking behind this romantic mystery is the nagging thought might such a fate eventually befall our own wealthy society?

The essay question: What would you do to solve the problems of So The essay question: What would you do to solve the problems of So. California in your lifetime using insights from Diamond’s work? On pages 499-503 Jared Diamond applies the insights contained in the book to thinking about the challenges facing the city in which he lives, Los Angeles, California.  It is a valuable exercise to compare your own insights with those of Professor Diamond.