Flint consequences continue to roll in. On Wednesday, it was announced that several officials would be facing charges for the ongoing Water Crisis gripping the city. The officials can either be fined or jailed when all is said and done. That won't be enough to restore the lives of those affected and improve confidence in the city's systems, however. That process will probably take years, if it ever happens.
Charges for Flint officials
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced the charges on Wednesday morning. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon is the most prominent name on the list of officials charged.
Several other prominent officials make the list, including two departed officials: former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Earley and former City of Flint Water Department Manager Howard Croft. Water Supervisor Steven Busch and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's Drinking Water Chief Liane Shekter-Smith round out the list of those facing charges for the city's water crisis.
All five will face involuntary manslaughter charges stemming from their alleged failure to report and respond to the Flint water crisis. The charges stem from the death of Robert Skidmore, who died of Legionnaires' disease on December 13, 2015. If convicted, the felony charges can lead to a $7,500 fine and/or a prison sentence that can last up to 15 years.
Flint water crisis rages on
The water crisis in Flint began way back in 2014, when the Flint River became the primary source of drinking water for the city. The river was not treated properly, exposing hundreds of thousands to high levels of lead, especially dangerous for children. Since a federal state of emergency was declared at the beginning of 2016, residents have been instructed to only use bottled water for all purposes.
Water quality has since improved, but the lead pipe issue causing the problem won't be resolved until 2020, at the earliest.
The eyes of the world have been on Flint since the start, wondering how an American city can fail their people in terms of one of the most basic resources. At least 14 deaths have been connected to the water crisis, which is 14 too many.
Public officials who had an opportunity to stop the tragedies from unfolding need to be held accountable by the population of the city; Wednesday is the first step in making sure that accountability is met.
