By Nick Hawkins
For many years, (click here) WT Stevens supplemented his Detroit autoworker income with a small construction business. But there was nothing small about his impact on the people of Flint, Michigan.
When Stevens, a father of eight, died in February 2002, his daughter Rhonda Grayer realized that the "nice, non-confrontational guy" she had known had another side. "I was just amazed at his funeral, how many people's lives he'd impacted," she says. Many mourners told Grayer that her dad had trained them for free, given them a chance when nobody else would, and in some cases inspired them to start their own businesses. Those stories changed Grayer's life: To carry on her father's legacy, she registered his side business as a corporation, launching WT Stevens Construction in April 2002. By 2019, the company had made the Inc. 5000, at No. 79.
But that success took years of hardship--and a willingness to learn. For 10 years, Grayer kept working in corporate America while building up WT Stevens: "Sometimes you're the one who doesn't get paid," she says. "You pay your vendors and your employees and get what's left over."
So she asked for help. Grayer credits the National Small Business Association and the Michigan Department of Transportation's small-business certification program for providing valuable training--and the National Association of Black Women in Construction for a network of peers.
Those connections and training prepared Grayer for the biggest opportunity--and challenge--of her career, when in 2016 WT Stevens landed a spot in a pilot program to replace the lead pipes in 50 of Flint's houses. The WT Stevens crew had the excavation experience. But they didn't know how to install new pipes....
But that success took years of hardship--and a willingness to learn. For 10 years, Grayer kept working in corporate America while building up WT Stevens: "Sometimes you're the one who doesn't get paid," she says. "You pay your vendors and your employees and get what's left over."
So she asked for help. Grayer credits the National Small Business Association and the Michigan Department of Transportation's small-business certification program for providing valuable training--and the National Association of Black Women in Construction for a network of peers.
Those connections and training prepared Grayer for the biggest opportunity--and challenge--of her career, when in 2016 WT Stevens landed a spot in a pilot program to replace the lead pipes in 50 of Flint's houses. The WT Stevens crew had the excavation experience. But they didn't know how to install new pipes....
So, this is it then with the poisoning of the people in Flint. There has been no word about further criminal or civil litigation regarding the poisoning of so many people in Flint, Michigan. The last time any of this was being litigated was June and July of this year.
Snyder's attorney general, Bill Schuette, skirted the prosecution long enough for everyone to get away with the crime and the deaths of Flint residents and the poisoning of so many.
That is nothing short of pure corruption of a legal system in Michigan that exonerates the wealthy and the powerful.
As a result of the 2014 switch, the Flint Water Crisis has become an ongoing public health crisis that has left a lasting effect on so many who call Flint home.
In early 2016, then Governor Rick Snyder declared a State of Emergency in Genesee County and an investigation was launched by the former Office of Special Counsel— appointed by then Attorney General Bill Schuette.
In late 2018, Attorney General Dana Nessel was elected and upon taking office in 2019, she made decisions to put a conflict wall in place that allowed her to lead the civil litigation into the Flint Water Crisis. The Office of Special Counsel was no longer needed, and Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy were tapped to lead the criminal investigation.
See below for more information regarding both the civil litigation and criminal investigation into the Flint Water Crisis....
The former Attorney General of Michigan has a son, with the same name, running for the Representative of 95th District encompassing Midland County and parts of Gladwin County.
...He is the son of Bill Schuette (click here) -- former U.S. Representative from 1985-1991, state senator, Michigan attorney general and 2018 Republican gubernatorial candidate. Bill G. Schuette looks to carry on the family legacy of representing Midland County's interests....
To bring scrutiny to the senior Schuette in regard to Flint is probably in order. He brought charges against all those under Snyder, but, never Snyder himself. This is a miscarriage of justice. No one diverts water and allows contaminated water to be administered to the people of Flint causing deaths and maiming to the people of Flint without being held for the crimes they committed.
Perhaps, as soon as the misdeeds of Trump are settled the DOJ can review the issues that mounted after Snyder took away the election results of Flint only to poison the people.
There is this.
By Russ McNamara
Governor Rick Snyder's Men (click here) Originally Rejected Using Flint's Toxic River
The Flint Water Crisis (click here) began with government mismanagement. As a result, tens of thousands of people and thousands of children in Genesee County were exposed to lead. The overall impact is not yet known. Lead does not leave the body and can lead to a loss of cognitive function and developmental delays.
Civil settlements have put a small price to the suffering of Flint residents, but justice and accountability have lagged far behind.
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled last week that the use of one-man grand juries violates the state constitution. The prosecution of former state health officials – and former Gov. Rick Snyder – headed by the Michigan Attorney General’s office will essentially have to start over....
So there is a ruling to begin the prosecution over again with a formal grand jury and not a one man circus.WHEN DOES THIS HAPPEN?
IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN OR SHOULD EVERYONE JUST EXPECT THIS TO BE SWEPT UNDER ANOTHER RUG IN THE CONTINUED CORRUPT SAGA OF RICK SNYDER?
June 13, 2022By Mitch Smith
...After Mr. Schuette (click here) left office in January and was replaced by Dana Nessel, a Democrat, there were signs of a change in course. Todd Flood, the lead prosecutor appointed by Mr. Schuette, was dismissed. New prosecutors assigned by Ms. Nessel expressed concern about evidence collection and took steps to seize Mr. Snyder’s phone. Then, most drastically, Ms. Nessel’s team dropped all charges on Thursday and pledged to investigate more, saying “all evidence was not pursued” by their predecessors....
What is going on? How much more investigation needs to be conducted? When is a Grand Jury going to convene?
