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Flint Water Crisis Deserves Visit from President Obama

Published

10 years ago

January 21, 2016

By Bankole Thompson, Ebony and other sources

President Barack Obama was in the Motor City on Wednesday for the the 2016 North American International Auto Show where he touted his administration’s successful rescue of the auto industry and explaind how he is helping Detroit recover post-bankruptcy under mayor Mike Duggan.

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But not far away from Detroit is another troubled city, Flint, where the public health disaster of 10,000 children as young as four years old is at hand. Their lives are at risk for drinking lead-contaminated water in this majority African American city.

For almost two years, state government did nothing to alert Flint residents and instead ignored warnings from independent studies as well as civic leaders and health officials who stated the water from the Flint river was not good for human consumption. So much so, that General Motors stopped using water from the Flint river 14 months ago after it was damaging vehicles parts.

While in Detroit, Obama issued his first public statements about the Flint water crisis, saying he would be beside himself if he were a Flint parent.

“I am very proud of what I’ve done as president, but the only job that’s more important to me is the job of father. And I know that if I was a parent up there, I would be beside myself that my kids’ health could be at risk,” said Obama.

Obama should have used his visit to Detroit as an opportunity to drive the hour or so it takes to get to Flint and talk to residents.

Nothing could be more of an emergency right now in Michigan than what’s happening in Flint, where the world’s attention and outrage is currently focused.

Before his Detroit visit, the White House announced earlier that the Department of Health and Human Services will be the federal government’s point of contact in the Flint crisis.

At the same time Flint mayor Karen Weaver met with President Obama at the White House Tuesday as well as with senior advisor Valerie Jarrett and director of intergovernmental affairs Jerry Abramson to brief the administration about what’s been the emergency in her city.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder whose administration failed the people of Flint by ignoring warnings from citizens and experts to intervene in the lead crisis, apologized profusely in his State of the State address Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, his speech, which was initially billed as an address that would finally lay exactly what would be done to help the people of Flint, failed to offer a bold plan. Instead the governor continued the same remarks he’s already given in previous media interviews that efforts are being made to deliver thousands of bottles of water to daycare centers and other places that need clean water to operate.

Also, to the dismay of many political watchers last night, Snyder’s attempt to detail the history of the disaster failed to even mention the name of Darnell Earley, the former appointed emergency manager in Flint, who signed off on the plan to stop Flint from using Detroit’s clean water and switch back to using the toxic Flint river water all under the guise of saving money.

Many had expected Snyder to announce Earley’s removal as the current emergency manager of the Detroit Public Schools. Instead, Snyder announced a series of commissions that will be set to look into what happened in Flint, a signal of yet another layer of state bureaucracy.

In the case of Flint, the lives of little, poor Black children are at stake. Their intellectual and psychological development has been severely threatened or hampered with lead in their bodies. Their lives do matter and that should be echoed loud and clear by the nation’s first African American president who in just a short ride, can see for himself how these bureaucratic decisions have adversely impacted an entire community.

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How Is AI Affecting California? The State Wants You to Share Your Story

The program marks the first time the state has opened the platform to all Californians. State officials said the effort is designed to give residents a direct role in discussions about how AI should be regulated and used as the technology rapidly expands across industries.

Published

3 seconds ago

May 17, 2026

Oakland Post

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced May 7 that California is expanding its Engaged California digital democracy initiative statewide, inviting residents to help shape future state policies on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on jobs and the economy.

“We’ve got to be clear-eyed about this moment: AI is moving fast, bringing enormous opportunity, but also real risks,” Newsom said in a statement. “Californians deserve a seat at the table as we shape what’s to come.”

The initiative will roll out in two phases. Beginning immediately, Californians can sign up online to share how AI is affecting their work and communities and provide ideas for possible government action. Later this summer, a smaller group reflecting the state’s workforce demographics will participate in live discussions focused on developing policy recommendations.

State officials said the goal is to identify areas of agreement among Californians and provide policymakers with public feedback as the state develops future AI regulations and workforce strategies.

Engaged California is modeled after digital democracy programs used in Taiwan and is intended to encourage structured public discussion rather than social media-style debate. Officials described the effort as a form of “deliberative democracy” aimed at helping residents engage directly in state decision-making.

“The more Californians are engaged in the democratic process, the better able we’ll be to confront the challenges we face together,” said Nick Maduros, California Secretary of Government Operations, in a statement.

The statewide launch builds on two earlier pilot programs. One pilot gathered public input following the Los Angeles firestorms to help guide recovery efforts, while another collected ideas from state employees about improving government operations.

California has positioned itself as a national leader in AI policy and development. Since 2023, the Newsom administration has introduced initiatives focused on responsible AI use in government, cybersecurity protections, workforce training and regulations targeting risks such as deepfakes and AI-generated robocalls.

The state has also partnered with companies in Silicon Valley — including NVIDIA, Google, Adobe, IBM and Microsoft — to expand AI education and workforce training programs across California schools and universities.

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Rest in Peace: A.M.E. Pastor and L.A Civil Rights Icon Cecil “Chip” Murray Passes

The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, former pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles, died of natural causes April 6 at his Windsor Hills Home. He was 94. “Today, we lost a giant. Reverend Dr. Cecil Murray dedicated his life to service, community, and putting God first in all things. I had the absolute honor of working with him, worshiping with him, and seeking his counsel,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of the dynamic religious leader whose ministry inspired and attracted millionaires as well as former gang bangers and people dealing with substance use disorder (SUD).

Published

3 months ago

February 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, former pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles, died of natural causes April 6 at his Windsor Hills Home. He was 94.

“Today, we lost a giant. Reverend Dr. Cecil Murray dedicated his life to service, community, and putting God first in all things. I had the absolute honor of working with him, worshiping with him, and seeking his counsel,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of the dynamic religious leader whose ministry inspired and attracted millionaires as well as former gang bangers and people dealing with substance use disorder (SUD).

Murray oversaw the growth of FAME’s congregation from 250 members to 18,000.

“My heart is with the First AME congregation and community today as we reflect on a legacy that changed this city forever,” Bass continued.

Murray served as Senior Minister at FAME, the oldest Black congregation in the city, for 27 years. During that time, various dignitaries visited and he built strong relationships with political and civic leaders in the city and across the state, as well as a number of Hollywood figures. Several national political leaders also visited with Murray and his congregation at FAME, including Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Murray, a Florida native and U.S. Air Force vet, attended Florida A&M University, where he majored in history, worked on the school newspaper and pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He later attended Claremont School of Theology in Los Angeles County, where he earned his doctorate in Divinity.

Murray is survived by his son Drew. His wife Bernadine, who was a committed member of the A.M.E. church and the daughter of his childhood pastor, died in 2013.

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Court Throws Out Law That Allowed Californians to Build Duplexes, Triplexes and RDUs on Their Properties

Charter cities in California won a lawsuit last week against the state that declared Senate Bill (SB) 9, a pro-housing bill, unconstitutional. Passed in 2021, SB 9 is also known as the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act (HOME). That law permits up to four residential units — counting individual units of duplexes, triplexes and residential dwelling units (RDUs) – to be built on properties in neighborhoods that were previously zoned for only single-family homes.

Published

3 months ago

February 3, 2026

Oakland Post

Charter cities in California won a lawsuit last week against the state that declared Senate Bill (SB) 9, a pro-housing bill, unconstitutional.

Passed in 2021, SB 9 is also known as the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act (HOME). That law permits up to four residential units — counting individual units of duplexes, triplexes and residential dwelling units (RDUs) – to be built on properties in neighborhoods that were previously zoned for only single-family homes.

A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge ruled in favor of the cities, pointing out that SB 9 discredited charter cities that were granted jurisdiction to create new governance systems and enact policy reforms. The court ruling affects 121 charter cities that have local constitutions.

Attorney Pam Lee represented five Southern California cities in the lawsuit against the state and Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“This is a monumental victory for all charter cities in California,” Lee said.

However, general law cities are excluded from the court ruling as state housing laws still apply in residential areas.

Attorney General Bonta and his team are working to review the decision and consider all options that will protect SB 9 as a state law. Bonta said the law has helped provide affordable housing for residents in California.

“Our statewide housing shortage and affordability crisis requires collaboration, innovation, and a good faith effort by local governments to increase the housing supply,” Bonta said.

“SB9 is an important tool in this effort, and we’re going to make sure homeowners have the opportunity to utilize it,” he said.

Charter cities remain adamant that the state should refrain from making land-use decisions on their behalf. In the lawsuit, city representatives argued that SB 9 eliminates local authority to create single-family zoning districts and approve housing developments.