A federal judge has held the city of Flint, Michigan in contempt for missing vital deadlines to replace lead-contaminated water lines. U.S. District Judge David Lawson's decision stems from the city's failure to complete the mandated replacements and related work promised by early 2020, according to a report by The Detroit News. Lawson's order reveals the city did not meet the requirements set by a February 2023 court order under a 2017 settlement.
In a damning testament to the ongoing crisis, the city has yet to complete outreach to several dozen homes. As per USA TODAY, a recent survey suggests at least 275 homes still have lead service lines. Moreover, as reported by the Detroit Free Press, nearly 2,000 homes are waiting for repairs to property damage from the lead line replacement efforts, including damage to curbs, sidewalks, and lawns.
Flown in response to a city that maintained an unfinished task long overdue, the contempt finding was triggered by a lawsuit from Concerned Pastors for Social Action and other plaintiffs. Despite the contempt ruling, Judge Lawson opted not to impose specific penalties on the city, citing its strained finances, according to USA TODAY. In a statement obtained by the Detroit Free Press, Flint City Attorney William Kim declared the city's commitment to continuing the pipe replacements "as long as funds are available."
Describing the legal decision, Melissa Mays, a plaintiff in the case and operations manager for the nonprofit Flint Rising, told The Detroit News, "The court’s decision to hold the city of Flint in contempt reflects the depths of disgust and despair felt by Flint residents." Complicating matters further, no resident has received payment from a separate $626.25 million settlement intended to compensate for lead poisoning as administrative delays persist. This ongoing saga serves as a grim reminder of the disastrous decision in 2014 to switch Flint's water supply without appropriate corrosion control, which led to the contamination crisis engulfing the city.
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