Hillary Clinton Says Flint Water Crisis Is a 'Civil Rights Issue'

[ProudToBeLiberal]

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told a predominantly black audience in Iowa Sunday that she viewed lead contamination in water in Flint, Michigan, "not just as an environmental disaster and a health crisis."

"This is a civil rights issue," Clinton said at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids. "If it had been a rich white suburb where the water was brown and smelly, people would have come immediately to the rescue of those families."

Clinton, who has worked to whip up enthusiasm for her campaign among black voters, also said she had made the situation a national issue, months after the community became aware of it.

"I started talking about it and pointing it out, and created some additional political pressure," Clinton said, adding that she had called it "outrageous" that Michigan Governor Rick Snyder had refused to ask President Barack Obama for federal help. "Within two hours, he made that request."

More at http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/trackers/2016-01-24/hillary-clinton-says-flint-water-crisis-is-a-civil-rights-issue-

[Skwmom]

1. What about Chicago? n/t

[ProudToBeLiberal]

4. Hillary Clinton meets with families of Trayvon Martin, other gun violence victims

Hillary Clinton held a private meeting in Chicago on Monday with the family members of victims of gun violence, including Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice.

According to a campaign aide, Clinton and the family members discussed their personal stories of loss and the need for gun safety reform, as well as a restoration of trust between communities and law enforcement agencies.

Among the family members who attended were Sabrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, Samaria Rice, mother of Tamir Rice, Lesley McSpadden, mother of Michael Brown, Maria Hamilton, mother of Dontre Hamilton and Joy McCormack, mother of Francisco "Frankie" Valencia.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-meets-with-families-of-trayvon-martin-other-gun-violence-victims/

[Skwmom]

5. It did not answer the question. n/t

[ProudToBeLiberal]

6. Your question was vague. nt

[Vinca]

2. While I agree with her on this point, I think it's also a Constitutional issue.

How is a governor allowed to usurp the power of democratically-elected officials and hand pick a manager to make decisions for the city? Of course, now he's trying to blame the whole crisis on those same powerless officials.

[MeNMyVolt]

7. +1. And K&R.

[dsc]

12. In many states, I can't speak for Michigan but NC is one, local governments are considered

creations of the state and can be altered as the state sees fit. Michigan passed a law giving the governor that power.

[Vinca]

13. I realize they passed the law, but how can they?

It negates the citizens' votes.

[dsc]

14. they can basically nullify the part of government is what it gets down to

Here they have redrawn districts in Greensboro, and Wake County in the case of Wake County they increased the terms for the people they liked and shorted those of the ones they didn't at the same time.

[Vinca]

15. It's not right and people in Flint will be suffering for the rest of their lives.

[MineralMan]

3. Thanks, Hillary.

You're absolutely right, and that's why you'll get the AA vote.

[orpupilofnature57]

8. It's a $$$$$ Issue first and foremost, and the same victims of this will be the same victims of the

crumbling infrastructure, pay as you play world SHE promotes, while being a civil rights advocate, Sure .

[nc4bo]

9. Human rights issue.

with a side order of Racial Injustice and extra helping of greedy.

Some of those people, I read somewhere, STILL had to pay huge water utility bills while all this was happening.

This is the same city that was shutting off residents for non-payment of bills?

Why yes, yes it is! Check it out.

Using Google's cache as I receive some sort of weird browser message when I went directly to the link.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:YuoOMeWslh0J:https://www.cityofflint.com/2015/11/05/city-of-flint-to-resume-water-shutoffs-for-nonpayment-under-new-rate-structure/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

The City of Flint Treasury Division has announced that water shutoffs for 30 days of nonpayment under recently adjusted water and sewer rates have resumed. Customers with outstanding bills due on September 11, 2015 will be the first to receive shutoff notices. Customers in the first cycle of overdue bills with the adjusted rates will be issued notices first.

After the preliminary injunction order issued by Circuit Court Judge Hayman in the case of Shears vs. the City of Flint, the City was required to reduce water rates and discontinue shutoffs on previously owed balances. The City then immediately ceased performing water shutoffs and began restructuring the water and sewer unit charges for all billing after the injunction. Per the orders of the preliminary injunction, the City now has the ability to resume shutoffs.

The first bills reflecting the adjusted rate were mailed to customers in September. Unpaid balances prior to the new bills being mailed in September have effectively been frozen and payments made on balances due before the injunction have been applied to the new billing table. In some cases, this has resulted in a credit being applied to customers’ bills.

The first bills issued with the reduced rates were due on September 11, 2015 and were 30 days past due on October 11. The City’s policy is to issue shutoff notices when accounts are more than 30 days past due. Customers are then given 10 days to remit payment to avoid disconnect. Over 60% of the total accounts in the first two cycles are delinquent (1,819 out of 2,993 accounts).

http://www.abc12.com/news/headlines/Flint-leaders-hold-briefing-on-water-issues-340924312.html

There are about 3,000 accounts in Flint that are delinquent. Starting this week, shutoff notices will be mailed to 1,800 water customers citywide.

The city's CFO, Jody Lundquist, delivered the news Thursday morning.

Because of a court ruling made earlier this summer, the city was to halt all shutoff notices, but that temporary injunction is over. Now, the city is once again able to turn off the water for unpaid water bills.

These notices come as the whole city is now switched completely over to the Detroit Water System.

Many people living in Flint have boycotted paying their water bill after a water emergency was declared, but the city says people have to keep paying their water bills no matter what.

Now ain't that some shit!?

[book_worm]

10. In large part she is correct.

[riversedge]

11. K and R--and thanks

[mcar]

16. She is correct