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Howes: Suspicion of state motives holds up new water source decision in Flint

University of Michigan Professor Rosina Bierbaum says scandals like Flint's water crisis have eroded public trust in the safety of drinking water
Courtesy of Raiz Up
“It seems only logical that the only real stable choice that brings in treated water that does not have to be treated by the Flint plant is the Great Lakes Authority," Howes said, but the council still hasn't made a choice.";

There's a political and legal battle happening over Flint's drinking water.

U.S. District Judge David Lawson ordered Flint's City Council to choose a long-term source of drinking water, scolding the council for taking so long to green light the city's deal with the Great Lakes Water Authority.

The Council punted this week, okaying a short-term deal with the GLWA. But the tug of war between Flint's Mayor Karen Weaver, the council, the state, and Judge Lawson continues.

Daniel Howes, Detroit News business columnist, joined Stateside to share his take on Flint’s water options.

“The people really pushing the city of Flint to do this, to go to Great Lakes, is the state of Michigan,” Howes said, “And naturally, in Flint, there is suspicion of anything that the state is trying to push them to do.”

However, making a deal with the state’s choice, the GLWA, seems to be the smartest choice to Howes.

“Given the choices,” Howes said, “It seems only logical that the only real stable choice that brings in treated water that does not have to be treated by the Flint plant is the Great Lakes Authority.”

Listen above for the full conversation.

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