Pistons owner Gores to raise $10M for Flint crisis

[Siwsan]

Flint native Tom Gores is going to do his part to help his hometown.

Tom Gores, chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity and owner of the Detroit Pistons, announced today a campaign to raise at least $10 million and deploy operational resources to help with the water crisis in Flint.

Gores said he would rally support from business and civic leaders for immediate relief efforts and long-term programs focused on economic development, nutrition and health care for Flint residents.

“The issues facing Flint won’t be solved solely through government intervention and emergency support,” Gores said in a released statement. “The private sector needs to play role here, and I am committed to helping drive that effort. I grew up in Flint, my family has strong roots there, and I believe in the people who live there.”

The campaign will have three goals, he said:

• Immediate support to help ensure safe drinking water.

• Funding for nutrition programs for children.

• Long-term support for economic revitalization efforts.

More at:
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2016/01/28/flint-water-crisis-tom-gores/79452146/

[mythology]

1. Good Flint needs the help

especially as long as somebody as incompetent and villainous as Snyder is in charge of fixing it.

[sarcasmo]

2. Right on.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Philanthropy is OK and can do some good, but we really need public infrastructure funding

I don't doubt that these little contributions (don't kid yourself - they are little in the scope of things) can do some good. Fine, yes, accepted.

But if they promote the idea that private charity is the route to social and infrastructural work, they are distracting and self-defeating.

We need BIG infrastructure projects, funded by the only entity that can raise and manage that much money effectively: GOVERNMENT.

Enough with the illusion that amalgamated non-profits are up to the task (not saying the OP is promoting that illusion). They are not. They are not. They are not. We need big government to fix big problems. PERIOD.

[Siwsan]

4. 1000% agree.

Just imagine how many jobs that would create.