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Sanders Visits Flint

Jake Neher, Michigan Public Radio Network

(MPRN-Flint) Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders brought his campaign for the Democratic nomination for president to Flint, and said the city’s drinking water crisis signals a national problem. 

“It is my hope the American people will look at Flint and say never again can we allow a community to undergo this,” he said. “And while Flint may be the canary in the coal mine, there are a lot of other canaries all over this country. Truth is our infrastructure is collapsing in many, many respects. You’re seeing it most strongly here in Flint.”

An enthusiastic crowd packed the pews of the Woodside Church in Flint for the town hall meeting. Sanders said the Flint water crisis is a tragedy, but said the city’s not alone. He says cities across the country face a “collapse” of their infrastructure and if a city and the state can’t handle it, then the federal government needs to step in.

Sanders also reiterated his call for Governor Rick Snyder to quit for “dereliction of duty.” Snyder’s office has said he’s ignoring the political aspects of the crisis to focus on solving the problem.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Flint on February 7th and her campaign highlights the Flint water crisis in a new TV ad.

Both Democratic candidates will debate each other in Flint on March 6th just two days before Michigan’s presidential primary.

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