Featured photo: Featured photo: Pastor Alfred Harris, president of Concerned Pastors for Social Action
Written by Pastor John McClane-Greater Destiny Ministries
On behalf of Rev. Alfred Harris, the President of the Concerned Pastors for Social Action, the membership body, and concerned citizens of Flint, we wanted to provided the citizens of Flint with an update on some of the recent actions that have been initiated on behalf of the Flint community.
During the last week of April, the Concerned Pastors for Social Action, in concert with other concerned citizens, sent a letter outlining our concerns regarding the Flint Water Crisis Settlement to Governor Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator Gary Peters, Representative Dan Kildee, Judge Judith Levy – the judge presiding over the Flint Water Crisis Settlement case and Governor Whitmer’s Faith Based & Urban Affairs Liaison, Dion Williams.
In our letter, the CPSA and concerned citizens delineated the following:
(1) That is has been nearly SEVEN YEARS since the Flint Water Crisis began – SEVEN YEARS of THIRD WORLD SUFFERING foisted upon 100,000 people – right here in the UNITED STATES – still arguably, the wealthiest country on the face of the earth.
(2) While some politicians in Lansing are complaining about ‘FLINT FATIGUE’, it is the CITIZENS OF FLINT who are suffering from the FATIGUE of this ongoing crisis.
(3) While some politicians in Lansing tout the ‘generosity’ and ‘landmark nature’ of the $641 million settlement, this dollar amount only works out to a MEASLY $6,373 dollars per person – based upon the 2014 population of Flint of 100,569 residents – AND thousands of these residents will not RECEIVE A PENNY.
(4) We compared the INEQUITY of the Flint Water Crisis Settlement to the MSU Sexual Assault Settlement, where 332 plaintiffs received 500 million dollars. This works out to an average of ONE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS per person. Sexual predation is HORRIBLE. So is the MASS-POISONING of an entire Michigan city…
(5) We reminded Governor Whitmer that this settlement is being decided ON HER WATCH, and will be part of HER LEGACY. We also reminded the governor that the people of Flint stood with her while she took a courageous stand during the outbreak of COVID-19, despite the political AND personal pressure. We now asked her to do the same for the citizens of Flint – STAND WITH FLINT – VALUE OUR LIVES – IN OUR MOMENT OF NEED.
(6) We clearly stated that the RIGHT THING to do, is to provide COMPENSATION FOR EVERYONE who was living in Flint between the years of 2014 – 2016. We also reminded the governor that she has increased access with the federal Government, with Democrat Joe Biden now serving as president. We suggested that she use this access to SECURE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS for the CITIZENS OF FLINT.
(7) We also mentioned to Governor Whitmer that she can remind the presiding judge over this Flint settlement, Judge Judith Levy, of the long-term gravity of this settlement.
(8) Since the availability, efficacy and safety of the bone-lead testing equipment has come into question, we addressed some of those concerns – and their potential ramifications to the overall settlement as well.
(9) Finally, we respectfully and firmly asserted that we are not going away. We will continue to address the issues surrounding the Flint Water Crisis Settlement until something TANGIBLE and EQUITABLE is done for the citizens of Flint.
We did not receive a direct response from the governor’s office. We did, however, receive a response in early May from Governor Whitmer’s Director for Faith Based & Urban Affairs, Mr. Dion Williams.
In the response, Mr. Williams did acknowledge that:
(1) “…the current, partial settlement is by itself not enough to compensate the children and families of Flint for what happened. It is but a single step towards achieving that result.”
(2) “…that the state of Michigan has been working diligently, and continues to work diligently, to engage other defendants… engineering consultants and the Environmental Protection Agency, to contribute additional sums in settlement.” Please note that there is no mention of the state of Michigan providing additional monies.
(3) We have to disagree with the next statement made in Mr. Williams’ letter which asserts: “…there is overwhelming support in the Flint community for the current, partial settlement by the state.” Overwhelming support? According to whom? Not when we talk to our parishioners and other members of the Flint community…
(4) Mr. Williams also cited the previous settlement for Flint, which was initiated by action from the Concerned Pastors for Social Action court case, in which the state was FORCED – by the courts – to admit culpability – and pay for a portion of it. It is our view that the state of Michigan should not ‘crow’ about the beginnings of redress – for a tragic situation that they presided over – in the first place.
(5) Re: the bone-lead testing scenario(s), Mr. Williams did provide to our group a letter dated March 5, 2021, that was sent to Judge Judith Levy, who is presiding over the Flint Water Crisis Settlement case. The letter originated from the law offices of Levy Konisberg LLP, Co-Liaison Counsel for some of the plaintiffs. In the letter, it was stated that, “Claimants have multiple opportunities to obtain compensation that do not involve the XRF (bone-lead) scan.” This may be true, BUT – what the attorneys failed to mention is that the compensation levels without the XRF (bone-lead) scan ARE NOT the same – the compensation levels are significantly LESS.
(6) Continuing with Mr. Williams’ response – in his response to the Concerned Pastors, he also indicated that, “…bone-lead scans are not required to obtain a monetary reward under the settlement.” Once again, this statement ignores the important fact that the monetary award will be MUCH LESS under the current compensation structure for the settlement, if a bone-lead test is not included. The exception to this scenario is if a resident of Flint had the foresight and was fortunate enough to have had a BLOOD-LEAD test administered during the Flint Water Crisis timeframe. Lead can only be detected in the bloodstream for 30-45 days.
(7) Which brings us to another important point that we stressed in the April letter to Governor Whitmer: All other claims of largesse, and gestures of compensation notwithstanding, it seems that the overwhelming BURDEN(S) OF PROOF have been placed upon the innocent victims – THE CITIZENS OF FLINT, and not the negligent government officials and agencies.
(8) A series of questions that we did not ask the governor in our April letter: If this Water Crisis had happened to Grand Blanc, or one of the Grosse Pointes, would the response have been the same? Would their citizens have had to jump through as many hoops to prove damages? Would more action have been taken? For that matter, would the crisis have transpired in the first place? Most of us – in our hearts – already know the answers to these questions.
In conclusion, the Concerned Pastors for Social Action, along with others in the community, are still FIGHTING for the Citizens of Flint. If you have information that would be helpful as we fight for you, please do not hesitate to contact The Flint Courier, and the information will be passed on to the CPSA. Thank you.
