Flint Mayor: Settlement Marks ‘New Chapter’ In Water Crisis

“The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place,” says Karen Weaver.

This week marked a turning point in the response to the Flint Water Crisis. A federal judge has approved a court settlement that will send $87 million to the City of Flint to replace 18,000 lead and galvanized waters pipes over the next three years.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver tells Detroit Today producer Jake Neher she hopes it marks the beginning of the end of the crisis.

“This certainly helps us turn the page to a new chapter,” says Weaver.

“While we haven’t gotten everything all at one time, the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place and we’re making things happen for Flint.”

[Click here to hear ACLU Executive Director Kary Moss talk with Stephen Henderson about the historic settlement]

When asked why it took a lawsuit to get the state to commit the money needed to replace the city’s unsafe water lines, Weaver said the state would have to answer that question.

“Really, I can’t answer that question… I don’t know,” she says. “I just don’t know why we had to go this route to get that money.”

Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation.

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  • Detroit Today
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