READ FULL EMAIL! Status Coup's Reporting DRAGS MI Government & Media to Act on TOXIC Paper Mill

"I really think if Jordan and Status Coup had not come down to Kalamazoo, this health study would have still been delayed," Kalamazoo activist Brandi Crawford says about our toxic paper mill reporting

Hey folks it’s Jordan. Obviously we cover a lot of shitty, horrible, corrupt stories and, if I’m being real, don’t often get a ton of wins. With that said, I’m glad to share what seems like a victory for our ON-THE-GROUND investigative reporting—and paying Status Coup members who directly fund us. Before I make a direct pitch for you to sign up as a member for $5-10 bucks a month, good news…

Recently, I went to Kalamazoo Michigan to cover Graphic Packaging International, a multi-billion dollar packaging company that has been releasing a toxic mix of gases into the predominately poor, Black Northside neighborhood of Kalamazoo. IMMEDIATELY upon arriving at the paper mill, Colin and I were overwhelmed by the horrible smell being emitted. The gases instantly traveled up my nose and down my throat. During an hour-long livestream speaking with residents, Colin and I both experienced intense headaches, sore throats, and, two weeks later, my left eye is still a little swollen. While reporting next to the plant the next day, the same thing occurred for both of us. But after days of reporting—and speaking with residents who are SICK and DYING from the toxic gases being dumped onto their community, our reporting started getting SERIOUS TRACTION.

Our in-depth video on Twitter drew 50,000 views and nearly 900 retweets. Our report published on Breaking Points YouTube channel—via our content partnership—already has 54,000 views (video below)

We left phone numbers under our videos for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office as well as Kalamazoo city officials. Then we started seeing Twitter users tagging those officials, as well as the Michigan health department, on the platform. And then, just a week after our reporting—and after 3 years of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services dragging its feet on releasing a health study of the gases Graphic Packaging has been releasing into the Kalamazoo community—the health department finally released the data.

Study: Graphic Packaging’s toxic gas levels may pose health risks, new data shows

"I really think if Jordan and Status Coup had not come down to Kalamazoo, this health study would have still been delayed," Kalamazoo activist Brandi Crawford told me in a follow-up interview Monday (video at the top of this post). “I believe it’s because you came down, and you reported on-the-ground, and you got sick yourself, and you got sick yourself, and that probably raised a red flag, like you don’t even live here, Colin doesn’t even live here, and they got sick too—I sent all your videos to the health department, I sent all your videos to the environmental department and everybody else—and that you continuously kept reporting it like that you were there for a few days doing this; I believe that that’s why the health consultation was released today because of you…so thank you for that.”

After the release of the 3-year health study by the state health department—which found Graphic Packaging has been releasing toxic levels of gas that exceed “allowable” regulatory levels—the state set up a meeting in Kalamazoo with residents. This is a HUGE victory for residents whose complaints, as they’ve told me, have been blown off and ignored by state and city officials for years.

After Status Coup’s reporting dragged the Michigan health department to FINALLY release the data showing sick residents are indeed being poisoned, ALL OF A SUDDEN city officials in Kalamazoo—who have been ignoring residents for years—came out calling the gases being emitted from Graphic Packaging a “top priority.” Interesting how that works, right?!??

Bottomline, we try and stay humble but, when it is clear our reporting caused government action, it’s important to let our audience know. Our ability to report ON-THE-GROUND in Kalamazoo, as well as Flint and East Palestine over the last two weeks, is as a result of us growing our paid membership. This recent 2-week reporting trip gave both Louis and I tips that are now leading us to investigate other major stories as far as the Flint water cover-up, the toxic gas poisoning in Kalamazoo, and the Norfolk Southern train derailment.

Our goal for the month of May is to add AT LEAST 100 new paid members. Right now, we’ve added 45. We thanks our existing members, our recent new members, and hope if you’re not yet a new member, you’ll sign up TODAY for $5 bucks a month (16 cents a day) or 10 bucks a month (33 cents a day).

Remember most people are not lacking compassion in this country—most people have no f**king idea what the hell is going on all around them.

-Jordan