With Federal Aid Set To End, Flint Mother Criticizes Water Efforts
With Federal Aid Set To End, Flint Mother Criticizes Water Efforts
Jeneyah and Earl McDonald sit with their sons Josiah (left), and Justice at their home in Flint, Mich. Jeneyah says she and her husband "don't see a future" in Flint and are considering moving. Laura McDermott for NPR hide caption
Jeneyah and Earl McDonald sit with their sons Josiah (left), and Justice at their home in Flint, Mich. Jeneyah says she and her husband "don't see a future" in Flint and are considering moving.
Laura McDermott for NPR
As of this Sunday, the federal government will no longer pay for water filters, bottles and other supplies to help the residents of Flint, Mich., who are still reeling from a water crisis.
The official state of emergency will end, although the city still has problems with the pipes that have carried lead-tainted water into people's homes. The state says it will pay the full cost of providing clean water after Sunday.
Throughout Flint's water crisis, NPR's Ari Shapiro has been checking in with Jeneyah McDonald, a substitute teacher and mother of two young children.
She says not much as changed since we first met her in January, and the situation appears to be worsening: trash pickup has stalled, people are losing their homes, and crime has increased. McDonald says she and her husband "don't see a future" in Flint and are considering moving.
"The election is here — Donald Trump gives you something new to talk about every day — so who's concerned with Flint?" she asks. "No one is concerned. We're a third world country right here in America. Even locally [there's] not much talk about what's the next step."
Use the audio player above to hear the full interview.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
As of this Sunday, the federal government will no longer pay for water filters, bottles and other supplies to help the people in Flint, Mich. The official state of emergency will end, although the city still has problems with pipes that have carried lead-tainted water into people's homes. Throughout Flint's water crisis, we have been checking in with Jeneyah McDonald. She's a substitute teacher and mother of two young children, and she's on the line with us again now. Hi, Jeneyah.
JENEYAH MCDONALD: Hi, Ari.
SHAPIRO: Now, the state says it will pay. Do you have confidence that when responsibility for providing all of these services transfers from the federal government to the state government, the state government will be able to step up and do what's required?
MCDONALD: No, I don't have any confidence whatsoever. I don't.
SHAPIRO: What has the financial impact been for you and your family having to take all these extra steps over the last nearly a year - even if the water is provided, just spending gas to drive around and pick it up and other associated expenses?
MCDONALD: It's hard. It's hard financially sometimes, like you said, just coming up with the gas money to go pick up water and to make sure you have enough to cook, to bathe with. It's sickening. At first, Justice used to think it was fun to open these water bottles. He's asking me daily, when are we going to be done with this?
SHAPIRO: This is your son, Justice?
MCDONALD: Yeah. It's not fair. It's not right. And to top it off, things are getting worse here.
SHAPIRO: How are things getting worse?
MCDONALD: As of the last two weeks, we've been having problems with weekly trash pickup. And just within the last month, a neighbor of mine who's been in her house for 40 years - she lost her house due to a foreclosure on her house because of a old water bill.
The crime - it's not a night went by we haven't heard gunshots. You know, there's a lot of things that's still going on here in this community that no one's talking about. Jobs are non-existent, and water is non-existent.
SHAPIRO: You and I first met seven months ago in January, and it doesn't sound like anything has improved or dramatically changed since all that time ago.
MCDONALD: Nope. The election is here. Donald Trump gives you something new to talk about every day, so who's concerned with Flint? No one is concerned. We're a third-world country right here in America. Even locally, it's not much talk about what's the next step. You know, even when the charges were brought out with the couple officials, it was kind of brushed over. There wasn't much time put into it for me. To me, it doesn't seem like no one cares anymore.
SHAPIRO: I know I've asked you this every time we've talked, but what are your thoughts about whether your family will stay in Flint or go somewhere else?
MCDONALD: Actually, Earl and I have really been discussing it.
SHAPIRO: Earl is your husband.
MCDONALD: Yes, my husband. And we don't see a future here in Flint. We do foresee a move coming. Not sure how soon, but we do foresee a move coming. It's hard to try and plan a future with two young boys looking at what you see living daily here in Flint.
SHAPIRO: Well, Jeneyah McDonald, we are going to keep checking in with you and your family. I wish you all the best. And it's good to talk to you again.
MCDONALD: Thank you so much.
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