From the Editors: The American Federation of Teachers (AFT issued a resolution demanding no more Flints. Below are excerpts.
WHEREAS, an estimated 500,000 children in the U.S. have elevated blood lead levels . . . African-American and Hispanic children are overrepresented in the at-risk population . . .
WHEREAS, the CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program was stripped of funding in 2011, from $30 million to $2 million . . .
WHEREAS, the water crisis in Flint is the result of broader policies that include disinvestment in cities, [and] an emergency manager law that nullified local democracy . . .
WHEREAS, federal, state and local officials have yet to guarantee Flint residents—especially children—safe and clean drinking water . . .
WHEREAS, the technology and science have existed for several decades to guarantee every U.S. child and residents housing free of lead contamination . . .
RESOLVED: The AFT . . . will advocate for federal legislation that: provides funding . . . for local education agencies to test and remediate lead in school drinking water. . . to prepare all school personnel to support children at risk of and affected by lead exposure . . . [and] supports . . . mental health, maternal and child health, physical health and public health insurance programs . . .
RESOLVED, that the AFT will unequivocally support the repeal of Michigan’s emergency manager law, Public Act 436 (2012), and support the Flint community in its efforts to have Flint declared a federal disaster area.
See full resolution at http://www.aft.org/resolution/no-more-flints-stop-childhood-lead-poisoning-guarantee-all-us-children-lead
No more Flints!
“There should be a media outcry that only 33 houses with lead pipes have been replaced with lead free water service piping to this day. Shame on GOP government control in Lansing. They are not caring about the kids, seniors, all residents in Flint.” —Letter to the People’s Tribune from Percy L. Johnson.
“Flint’s about to find out what they are going to shoulder . . . the water system is threatened to be privatized . . . Two years ago United Water put in a bid [for Detroit’s water]. . . [But] this is our water system . . . our mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers paid for this and built this. If water is not a commons what is? If we can’t turn on the faucet and brush our teeth, or flush a toilet, then what are we doing? A common is everything we share.”
— Ominous comments made two years ago from beloved water warrior Charity Mahouna Hicks, who died in 2014.
Battle for clean water and democracy in Flint
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