Nov. 18, 2024, 10:40 PM UTC SYRACUSE, New York — Residents and environmental activists are demanding city officials declare a state of emergency over what they say could be a worse lead contamination than the drinking water crisis that afflicted Flint, Michigan, a decade ago. The city of Syracuse has been at odds with residents since informing them in a letter over the summer that water samples from more than two dozen homes were found to have high lead levels.