http://bactra.org/weblog/algae-2022-06.html#clark-on-flint ( )

“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. ( )

An in-depth look at the series of water crises that afflicted Flint, Michigan in the early to mid 2010s, inclusive of illnesses and lead poisoning. I generally thought it was a pretty fair and cogent exposition, though I didn't agree completely with the emphasis on the racial issue; the actual problems seem to have been due more to bureaucratic bungling than anything else. Still and all, a good read on the subject. ( )

This is a more traditional, politics-oriented book about the Flint water crisis. It's better structured than Mona Hanna-Attisha's, but lacks the intimate feel and personality. Still, the wider view of the politics surrounding Flint makes this one a good read as well--in fact, it could have been longer. Having read Dr. Hanna-Attisha's book first, I recognized the players and the events, but wished that Clark had gone into more depth. ( )

Spoiler alert: It was BRILLIANT. Anna Clark gives readers an in-depth look at the water crisis in Flint, Michigan that resulted from a breakdown in infrastructure as well as many years of disinvestment from the rest of the state (one could argue the country). I appreciated how much history Clark gave on the creation of the town from a trading post to an industrial powerhouse (General Motors was a big deal there). She also explained how the infrastructure of pipelines across the country has severe flaws like being lead lined and poorly documented so that if they were to be replaced it would be nearly impossible to locate them. However, the biggest impediment to upgrades is the cost and time it would take to make these large-scale changes. Towns like Flint (which was already under emergency management due to debt) found themselves facing a public threat for which they seemingly had no recourse. Of course, the most infuriating and heartbreaking thing about Flint's case is that the townspeople were being thwarted at every turn by the very people that were tasked with their welfare and safety. When the water coming out of their taps was brown, oily, and smelly they complained. When people started to develop rashes and their hair started falling out they complained. But the government agencies tasked with monitoring environmental issues (in this case an absolute emergency) insisted that the water was safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing. When some of the residents had independent water tests conducted at their own expense they were pooh-poohed. This went on for over a year.

I cannot begin to express the outrage that I felt while reading this book. I had of course heard about the Flint Water Crisis but I wasn't fully aware of the duplicitousness of the local and state authorities or of the steady decline and disinvestment of the city. (And learning about water infrastructure is a lot more interesting than I'm probably making it sound. Trust me, it's fascinating.) Learning about how certain laws, statues, and ordinances have been finagled so that decisions that have far-reaching ramifications and consequences get made and justified...y'all it had me livid. But it serves as a powerful reminder that citizen scientists like the ones in Flint (who got almost no credit) are willing and perfectly able to advocate for their town. So this book serves as a warning and a testament to the strength of Flint's people. I'll never take my water for granted again. 10/10 ( )