Harvey, Janis and Rob
Eisman live outside Flint,
but own a business in the
city. Janis says Flint’s water
problem is “everybody’s
problem.”

Myra White lived in Flint for 50
should be tested for lead in her system.
years and was a member of Temple
The answer was yes, and she will do
Beth El before moving to West
that.
Bloomfield several months ago. While
William Bernard, a retired fam-
the water did not motivate the move,
ily practice physician who has been
she feels lucky that she relocated before a board member of the Flint Jewish
the water situation was known to be
Federation, had an office along the
so dire.
boundary of Flint and Flint Township.
“I bought the bottled water even
He saw many patients from the city,
when we were told the water was
and his concern for their families has
acceptable,” says White, a retired
not retired. He hopes the damaged
English teacher who worked at Mott
pipes will be replaced as soon as pos-
Community College in Flint.
sible, regardless of cost.
“I never saw discoloration
If Bernard still were in
at my home, but I was a little
practice, he would advise par-
skeptical. If I had stayed in the
ents to have youngsters tested
city instead of moving to be
for lead and then undergo
closer to relatives and friends,
available detox therapy as
I may not have been able to
appropriate.
sell my house.”
“Children affected by lead
Since moving and establish-
can have a drop in IQ and
ing herself with a new doctor, Dr. William
increased risks of vascular and
White recently asked if she
kidney disease,” he says. “The
Bernard

Working To Help

agencies that the tap water was safe,
One person working at the govern-
Dickinson eventually went to experts
mental level to ease the water crisis
doing their own testing.
has ties to that area’s Jewish com-
Part of the congressional team
munity. Jordan Dickinson, a legislative
since 2013, Dickinson has responsibili-
assistant in the office of Democratic
ties for looking into issues involving
Congressman Dan Kildee, grew up
environment, infrastructure, health
in Grand Blanc and has joined family
care and water safety. He is a public
during activities at Temple Beth El in
policy graduate of Michigan
Flint Township.
State University.
Dickinson has been
Dickinson’s interest in the
researching the lead issues
people of Flint, especially
since last September, when
those in low-income sec-
individuals outside the gov-
tions, falls in line with the
ernment began calling atten-
interests of his grandmother,
tion to the dangerous levels
Peppy Rosenthal, a social
of lead.
worker now living in Florida
“I feel I’m helping people
Jordan
and once active in the Flint
who really need help, but it’s
Dickinson
community. A humanitarian
also a personal issue because
award was named after her.
of where I was raised,” says
“Our office is trying to work with
Dickinson, 25, who first was asked
federal agencies to help people
to look into problems raised by the
congressman’s constituents when dis- on the ground in Flint,” Dickinson
says. “The Environmental Protection
coloration, bad tastes and odors were
Agency doesn’t know when the water
experienced in home water supplies.
will be safe.”
Although told by environmental

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January 28 • 2016

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