1. Informative Article: How big data and algorithms are slashing the cost of fixing Flint’s water crisis
Authors Jacob Abernethy and Eric Schwartz state, “The water crisis in Flint, Michigan highlights a number of serious problems: a public health outbreak, inadequate urban infrastructure, environmental injustice and political failures. But when it comes to recovery, the central challenge, and one that has received relatively little attention, is our lack of useful information and understanding. Who is most at risk? Where are the harmful sources of lead? Where should resources be allocated? Using modern big-data tools, we can answer these questions and help inform the response to this crisis.”
Here’s the link to the article
2. Michigan Civil Rights Commission
The Michigan Civil Rights Commission is seeking written testimony on what, if any, role race may have played in creating and/or responding to the Flint water contamination crisis. Written testimony may be submitted by an individual or an organization, and will be accepted until September 30, 2016, via email to MDCRDirector@Michigan.gov or mailed to the following address:
Michigan Department of Civil Rights
Attn: Flint Water Crisis Testimony
110 West Michigan Avenue, Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933
The Commission is interested in hearing from you on any aspect of the water contamination crisis, but particularly anything that addresses:
- Housing or housing discrimination and its relationship to the water contamination crisis.
- Environmental justice and its relationship to the water contamination crisis
- Race, class, or wealth and its relationship to the water contamination crisis.
- Personal testimony from those affected by the water contamination crisis.
All testimony, whether submitted in person or in writing, will be considered by the Commission in preparation of the final report and recommendations it will issue in December 2016. To be considered, testimony must include personal contact information for the person who is offering it. Written testimony will be made available for public viewing and may be published as part of the Commission’s report, or on its website.
