Anna Clark (3)

Disclaimer: I received this book from GoodReads First Reads program.

This is the story of how mismanagement and cover ups led to the deadly water crisis in Flint Michigan. The author traces the problem from the very beginning, explaining how white flight after GM's plant closings had resulted in pockets of poor people, interspersed with small pockets of financially better off families. The city's tax base had fallen dramatically, the city had been placed under a management that had no accountability to the people, and choices were made based on fiscal policy rather than what was best for the populace. The people were told by their elected officials and by those in charge of the water distribution, that the water was safe to drink, so they drank it, bathed in it, made baby formula with it. Then their pets started to die, their children got sick and people were getting rashes. Those responsible tested the water using methods that were guaranteed to test with lower levels of pollutants, and assured everyone it wasn't the water. Only when independent tests were administered did they find out how how the lead levels in the water were - often exceeding levels used to indicate toxic waste. The author also gives a good history lesson on lead and it's use for pipes. Also a sobering look at how racism was applied to neighborhoods in Flint (and, I'm sure, many other cities in America).

This is a very interesting story, and one that everyone who lives in an urban environment should pay attention to. It's very likely your town also has lead pipes, and uses testing methods that will insure the water tests cleaner than it really is. I recommend this book highly.
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“The Flint water crisis illustrates how the challenges in America's shrinking cities are not a crisis of local leadership - or, at least, not solely that - but a crisis of systems. Paternalism, even if it is well meaning, cannot transcend the political, economic, and social obstacles that relegate places such as Flint to the bottom. The chronic under funding of American cities imperils the health of citizens. It also stunts their ability to become full participants in a democratic society, and it shatters their trust in the public realm. Communities that are poor and communities of color - and especially those that are both - are hurt worst of all.”
― Anna Clark, The Poisoned City: Flint's Water and the American Urban Tragedy

I remember when I first heard about the Flint water crisis. There was this feeling..and it has never really left me..that this couldn't have happened. Not in the United States. Not in this wonderful country where we look out for each other. And love each other. It was incomprehensible to me that an entire city in America could be poisoned, just like that.

Anna Clark takes us on the journey through the Flint water crisis and she does it amazingly. It is almost impossible to read this book and not be angry. An entire city was lied to, patronized, talked down to, ignored and made to feel like they were nothing.

This is not the first time we, as a nation, have screwed up. I remember reading about Enron and feeling anger. Of coarse there was the "Weapons of Mass destruction" lie, The Trayvon Martin case..I mean I could go on and on. So maybe it should not be such a shock..but it is.

This is a dense book and I will freely admit there were some parts I skimmed a bit but with that, I will also say, Anna Clark is a damn good writer. No, a great one. The research that went into telling this story must have been just..very deep. I applaud her for writing this.

There is an expression, "If you cannot imagine it, you can't believe it". I wish I could remember who that quote is by. The bottom line is..I could not imagine it..then. I remember listening to the coverage and just feeling incredulous. And angry. Sometimes evil knows no limits. I truly do not understand how some of these people can sleep at night.

So the book goes back and forth in time. Anna tells the reader so much about Flint's history, how successful they once were before urban blight came their way. She gets into the weeds on some of the people who were most affected in this shitstorm as well as introducing us to many good people who went all out to stop it. There are so many players in this story. Flint was let down by so many people.

I am a cynic. I wasn't always this way but as the years go by, don't we all become a bit more jaded? I still however, see some things through rose colored glasses. I know there was a time I would not have been able to comprehend this.

And not only is it a story of betrayal..at the highest levels..it is also a story of fear..if we cannot trust our elected officials, both at the local and national level..and .The EPA..who, for crying out loud can we trust? Can everything be bought, even death? Even the lead poisoning of little children?

I also cannot help thinking about the country's present circumstances, which came in to sharp focus as I read this. Right now, we as a country, are virtually locked in our houses trying to keep ourselves and the ones we love..safe..but we are also at the mercy of a Government, impatient to reopen, to get the economy on track, TO PROFIT..and it scares me..how far will they go? How many deaths will be acceptable? What corners will they cut, what rules will they break..in the name of money? And lawlessness.

I am not a conspiracy theorist. I do not believe that Elvis and Jim Morison are alive and secretly lounging around somewhere, (although it would be nice if they were). I do not believe 9/11 was an inside job. I am not a conspiracy theory person but I have come to believe in utter and complete ruthlessness and that some people ..for whatever a reason..lack of a soul, addiction to power, simply not having an ounce of humanity..I have come to believe in those things over the years and you will find much of that in this book.

I think this is an important book. I cannot say it's a fun read. My only negative is how dense it is and the constant back and forth in time. But I do not happen to like that format. It also made the book a bit confusing for me but regardless, I would strongly recommend this book and believe me, it is full of bravery, fearlessness and love as well. And God Bless Rachel Maddow. We need more journalists like her.

I hope this writer thinks seriously about getting in to the weeds of the Corona Virus and maybe writing a book on it. I thin k she would be the perfect person to do so. Highly, Highly recommended.… (more)