Flint Residents Upset About Water Bills

Описание: (29 Jan 2016) (NATS: Aaron Seymour carries a case of water for a Flint resident.)
AARON SEYMOUR WORKS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY …
(NATS: More water transport.)
WHERE HE HELPS FELLOW FLINT RESIDENTS GET THE BOTTLED WATER THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.
RESIDENTS ARE WARNED TO DRINK ONLY FILTERED OR BOTTLED WATER BECAUSE OF LEAD CONTAMINATION IN THE CITY'S SUPPLY.
(NATS: Water flows out of a kitchen faucet.)
BUT LIKE THEM, SEYMOUR STILL IS EXPECTED TO PAY FOR WATER THAT HE DOESN'T DRINK.
SOUNDBITE: Aaron Seymour, Flint Resident:
"They want us to trust them, but they're still charging us for water."
WATER THAT HAS HARMED HIS FAMILY.
SOUNDBITE: Aaron Seymour, Flint Resident:
"My nephews have lead poisoning. My kids don't got it, but there's no telling what the next five years is going to bring for them."
MELISSA MAYS DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT EFFECTS THE WATER WILL HAVE ON HER KIDS.
SOUNDBITE: Melissa Mays, Flint Resident:
"All three of my sons are suffering the side effects of heavy metals poisoning."
SO, PAYING A MONTHLY BILL ISN'T AT THE TOP OF HER LIST.
SOUNDBITE: Melissa Mays, Flint Resident:
"It seems unreal that they're still billing us for water that we cannot use and they've told us not to use."
THE IDEA OF PLACING A MORATORIUM ON WATER BILLS IN FLINT HAS SOME HIGH-PROFILE SUPPORTERS …
INCLUDING THE STATE'S TOP LAWYER …
BILL SCHUETTE (SHOO'-dee) SAYS THAT IF YOU CAN'T DRINK THE WATER …
SOUNDBITE: Attorney General Bill Schuette, (R) Michigan:
"You shouldn't pay for it."
MAYOR KAREN WEAVER AGREES…BUT ALSO NOTES THAT THE CITY HAS A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO BILL FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY ITS UTILITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SOUNDBITE: Mayor Karen Weaver, (D) Flint:
"Some people have not been paying their bills. The people that are, we thank them, because we know we need money coming in."
HELP IS ON THE WAY.
(NATS: Snyder speaks at a meeting of a Flint water committee.)
GOVERNOR RICK SNYDER TODAY SIGNED A BILL THAT SETS ASIDE THREE MILLION DOLLARS TO ASSIST FLINT WITH UNPAID BILLS.
(NATS: National Guard members place recycling bags and cases of water in residents' cars at a downtown fire station.)
ONE ITEM RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IS RECYCLING.
(NATS: National Guard members move pallets of water.)
A JUST-ANNOUNCED PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR RESIDENTS TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF THE UNTOLD NUMBER OF WATER BOTTLES THEY'LL BE USING IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS.
SOUNDBITE: Matt Flechter, State of Michigan Recycling:
"I've been getting calls from all over the country, from all over the world really, from recycling partners that want to support this effort. They see the number of bottles that are being donated, and we all know that they need to go somewhere."
WHERE THEY'LL BE GOING IS A SERIES OF SITES BEING SET UP ACROSS THE CITY WHERE RESIDENTS CAN DROP OFF RECYCLABLES.
(NATS: Beyond some barren bushes, the Flint River flows with the city skyline in the background.)
FLINT ISN'T OUT OF THE WOODS YET …
(NATS: A Flint resident briskly walks to her car while carrying a case of water.)
BUT STATE MONEY AND A NEW RECYCLING PROGRAM …
ARE STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
(NATS: More water distribution.)
MIKE HOUSEHOLDER, ASSOCIATED PRESS, FLINT, MICHIGAN.

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