NBC tech and culture reporter Kat Tenbarge tweeted how the ongoing water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, is the result of "environmental racism" but became upset when users pointed out Democrats have been in control for decades and it appears local politicians ignored warning signs.
"I’s the largest city in Mississippi. It’s 80% Black. Their water system is failing because of years of neglect. This is environmental racism," Tenbarge tweeted.
More people need to be talking about Jackson, Mississippi. The city ran out of bottled water to give residents yesterday. It’s the largest city in Mississippi. It’s 80% Black. Their water system is failing because of years of neglect. This is environmental racism.
— Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge) August 31, 2022
Ignoring this is unconscionable. Letting it become someone else’s problem isn’t an option. We ONLY have each other. When the climate crisis reaches your doorstep, will you look back on the people it affected first and wish you’d done something then?
— Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge) August 31, 2022
When conservative commentator Stephen L. Miller said Republicans haven't controlled the city for a long time, Tenbarge said, "Oh, that's where all the racists in my mentions came from."
Oh, that's where all the racists in my mentions came from. How is the city of Jackson supposed to come up with over $1 billion to fix their own water supply, or should people die from thirst in the Republican-led state of Mississipi while you play partisan politics? https://t.co/rW8dDaYhyc
— Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge) August 31, 2022
Local reports say the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed "the City of Jackson had provided no evidence of efforts to recruit critical operators, maintenance staff or implement an emergency alternative water plan."
Only days before the near-total collapse of Jackson's water system, EPA officials warned me that the City of Jackson had provided no evidence of efforts to recruit critical operators, maintenance staff or implement an emergency alternative water plan.https://t.co/8fRkkyhTuI
— Nick Judin (@nickjudin) August 30, 2022
“They could be reaching out to technical colleges ... holding recruitment events ... scheduling interviews ... putting in advertisements,” EPA Official Carol Kemker said. “(This is) what we do when we recruit. We’re not seeing those types of things.”https://t.co/8fRkkyhTuI
— Nick Judin (@nickjudin) August 30, 2022
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