Flint Woman Says She Can't Find Love Due To Water Crisis: 'They Think You're Diseased'
DETROIT (WWJ) - "People find out you're from Flint — they won't even talk to you. They think you're diseased."
Veronica Kelly, who has lived in Flint for 40 years, says she can't get a date since news about the city's water crisis made headlines across the nation.
"I don't have another half in my life," she told WWJ Newsradio 950's Charlie Langton. "After 14 years, the better half left...and it's time for me to date again."
Kelly (who opted not to be pictured) said no one wants to go out with her once they find out where she lives.
"And that hurts," she said. "So now I tell people, if they ask me, I'm from Grand Rapids or another city or something like that...but that's sad that I have to lie."
While Kelly's been looking for love, Gov. Rick Snyder has been getting into the blame game in connection with the crisis. Appearing before a U.S. Congressional committee this week, Snyder testified that the state Department of Environmental Quality repeatedly assured him and other officials that water from the Flint River was safe — when in reality it had dangerous levels of lead.
Snyder was in Flint Friday morning to meet with a group working on solutions.
Meantime, Kelly — like those who've called for the governor's resignation — continues to hold him accountable.
"Governor Snyder, thank you very much, but I wish you would come over and take a bath or a shower at my house for a while, see all the rashes and stuff that's on me or the hair that I've lost. My teeth are falling out," she said, through tears. "I am just breaking down. I was thinking it's from age, but no it's from the water."
"Maybe you'd have the same feelings that I have: hurt, despair, and want to know — what's the next thing in my life, what's the next turn?"
Kelly, who said she's otherwise been in great health, is asking that Snyder admit his fault in the matter.
"Stand up to the plate. Tell everybody, yeah, you made a mistake," Kelly said. "But the mistake is now going to help you save our lives. What you have to do now is get the government to get some monies, come here, and straighten the thing out."
