Four years after Flint, Michigan, was hit with a local water crisis, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants to help eradicate the problem for good. The CEO spoke out on Twitter and said, “this a commitment that I will fund fixing the water in any house in Flint that has water contamination above FDA levels. No kidding.”
The Detroit News reported on Wednesday that around 90 sites in Flint still test below the federal 15 parts per billion action level. Flint has replaced 37 percent of its lead water pipes and expects the full amount will be replaced this year.
Musk’s response elicited a number of replies, including the mayor of Flint itself.
“Mr. Musk, I am the Mayor of Flint. I would like to have a conversation with you about Flint’s specific needs,” Mayor Karen Weaver replied.
Some questioned if residents are still affected by the water crisis four years later, to which Musk said most residents do have clean drinking water, but some homes remain outliers. He said he’d like to organize a weekend in Flint to install water filters in homes still affected. The Tesla CEO added many “lost faith in government test results.”
Several Flint residents have sued Governor Rick Snyder in the wake of the water crisis and allege government officials knew water from the Flint River would not be treatable when switching the city’s water source. GM took its Flint engine plant off of city water in 2014 after noticing corrosion in engine parts at the facility.
GM is expected to return to the city’s water service in the near future.
Comments
Elon will even try to walk on the water if it would deflect from the troubled car company issues.
This is just more publicity and deflection away from his increasing Tesla issues. Things are continuing to get worse over there and the challenges only greater.
Like the Submarine plan for the kids in the cave it is just more deflection. Anyone who had seen the news and saw the lay out of the cave knew his little cigar tube was not feasible due to conditions in the path.
The cave crews did a great job and got them out even without Elon’s help.
the lack of discounts. The quality issues. The staff that is turning on him, the canceled orders and the lack of cash to fund the production the 3 let alone future products and plans are all coming to a head. Anyone see the 3 presold customers are now being asked for another $2500 but no ETA can yet be given on the car they order several years ago. Imagine if GM had done this. The SEC would have been all over them.
I suspect the SEC is not far out from investigating Tesla in the near future.
I really don’t see Tesla as a manufacturing company. They have a sleek looking design on the S, but the company seems to tool for the social media celebrity CEO to help cultivate his brand. I’ll compliment Musk for getting people interested in science, engineering, cars, energy, etc. (Traditionally not a very attractive field to kids or mainstream public).
If I’m looking for the future of electric cars, I think GM, or Nissan, etc. If I’m looking for the future of electric trucks, I’d look to Cummins, Volvo or someone like that.
You are correct Tesla is not a MRG company and that is what has been hurting them.
Tesla was started as a tech and research company that decided to go into mfg. They are finding out that going into mfg is very expensive and not as easy as they thought.
Just look at Apple. They develop technology but they do not mfg it. They outsource the components and assembly to companies that are geared for it and can do it much more efficiently.
Musk needed to take Tesla to the Tech development level and sell the technology licenses to other MFGs to build in their own products.
The auto industry has few MFGs that can go it alone with EV vehicles and there will be a big market to sell this tech or share the cost just as Honda and GM is doing. Honda just can not do it alone and if GM can cut cost it make it better for both.
As for Musk he was well know for his ego and craving for attention long before the firet Tesla roller. He is far from Bill Gates who really keeps it low key.
Musk even makes Jobs look modest.
Hey if that is what he wants more power to him but that does not mean I have to like him.
As for the future it is a race to see who can develop the technology to make these vehicle to not be life style changers from what we enjoy today. Once that goal is made cheaper and more advanced will be the next goal.
The real sticking point is the battery’s. None are what we need but they are improving.
The one who creates the better battery will win the game with all battery reliant industries.
Odds are it will not be a automaker who comes up with the solution.
The other fight is who will set the standards for the future in charging and use.
Elon Musk is an idiot snake-oil salesman who will do anything to try and distract from the massive failure Tesla is. This is the same guy who tried to profit off the publicity of “helping” with his well-televised idiotic submarine idea.
Only a person like Sean Szymkowski would glorify such a dirtbag like this…
How cynical: a man trying to make a difference and all you can do is criticize?
What have you done to make the world better?
i think the cynicism is the natural result of musk lacking credibility.
True charity and making a difference generally comes without headlines and media focus.
Look at the many things many of the true leaders in industry have done to make the world a better place and you do not even hear about their involvement.
Musk is more focused on himself and his projects than he is on making the world a better place.
As for myself you had better know me before you judge me. Best you examine yourself first.
When was the last time you carried a wheel chair? I can count the days since I have can you?
If you’re not skeptical of anything, you’ll be credulous of anything.
Musk is a show-off, snakeoil salesman, and showboater who calls a “manufacturing” tent with dirt flying everywhere and cars coming off the line in drips with quality issues up the ying-yang while promising to create another universe everyday. If Musk really cared about the , he would fix his failing company that has sucked hundreds of millions of dollars of the American taxpaper, many who work long hours and hard to put food on the table of their families and pay the bills.
Tesla fanboy alert!
“Curious Observer”…You mean like the lefty “Observer7” on here earlier…AKA Sean Symkowski alias?
Just sayin’…