Com 295 - the Failure to Act

The Failure to Act

Tyrone Jones

COM/295

26JAN2015

Mr. John Carter

The Failure to Act

        In an effort to save the city of Flint, Michigan some money throughout the next couple of years, while the city waits to connect to the new regional water system. Governor Rick Snyder of Flint, Michigan decided to stop pumping water from Detroit due to cost increase, and start to draw from the Flint River as they await the opening of the new regional water system. In April of 2014 when the city began to draw from the Flint River Residents immediately stated to complain about the water. The residents also raise health concerns due to the smell, taste and appearance of the water in which lead to reporting of rashes, hair loss and other problems. In this paper the following questions will be addressed: Did you find any evidence of communications to the general public. How effective was the communication in terms of establishing credibility? And if not, what approach would you suggest the company take to communicate to the public to gain credibility.

        The Governor and the Flint water company not only failed to provide the city Flint with clean water. After several complain to the Governor’s office about the water residents were receiving from the Flint River. An aide to GOV Snyder referred to people raising questions about the quality of the water as an “anti-everything” group, and the other critics that were turning complaints about the water into a “political football.” After local pediatricians voiced their concerned about the troublesome finding of lead in the water they were dismissed as “data” in quotes.

                In the summer of 2014 just 22 days after the water tested positive for coliform bacteria. The city issued three boil-water advisories for the city of Flint and surrounding areas that rely on the river for water. After several attempts were made by the residents and local business owner on trying to get a permanent solution to this problem from Governor Snyder has failed. Resident started to buy and use bottle water instead of the water from the river. In March of 2015, the city officials announced that the quality of its water has improved, and meet all federal and state safety standards. Several months later a group of Doctors led by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha of Hurley Medical Center urges Flint to stop using the water after finding high levels of lead in treated children blood. By now whatever credibility the governor was try to re-establish back with the community has shot to pieces.