Four indictments for “45.” What will it mean for 2024?
By Paul Rozycki Donald Trump is running for president next year. He’s also facing 91 felony charges in both federal and state jurisdictions. With the first Republican debate last month behind us, we are about to begin the 2024 presidential election campaign. It may be...
Education Beat: New school year starts with $156 million ESSER funding moves; new backpack policy in place, administrative changes announced; Washington demo delayed; MSU partnership renewed
By Harold C. Ford A new academic year at Flint Community Schools (FCS) began Aug. 9, as students reported back to school under a newly-adopted backpack policy. The day before, on Aug. 8, several changes in administration positions were announced by FCS Superintendent...
New library director, Taliah Abdullah, at welcome reception says, “I would just like for us to get to know each other and to explore ways to enhance the wellbeing of our community”
By Canisha Bell and Jan Worth-Nelson "We are in such good hands. I would just like for us to get to know each other and to explore ways to enhance the wellbeing of our community," Taliah Abdullah, new executive director of the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library (GCFPL)...
Every Flint pregnant mom to receive $1,500, no strings attached, plus $500 per month in “first of its kind” program
By Canisha Bell and Tom Travis Pregnant women in Flint will receive $1,500 each, no strings attached, through a new program called Rx Kids announced by the State of Michigan and other partners this week. The program aims to provide every pregnant person and infant...
The East Village Magazine – August 2023
The latest edition of The East Village Magazine is available for download and viewing here: [pdfjs-viewer url="https://www.eastvillagemagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/EVMAug23.pdf" attachment_id="39121" viewer_width=100% viewer_height=800px fullscreen=true...
Commentary: Indictments, recalls, demolitions, resignations, and more — 10 things to watch for in the dog days of summer
By Paul Rozycki We may be in the midst of record-breaking heat during these dog days of August, and the political future may be as hazy as the Michigan horizon on a humid summer evening, enveloped in Canadian forest fire smoke. But with all the risks, and in no...
Candice Mushatt elected to serve as Seventh Ward councilperson in a 5 to 2 vote
By Tom Travis City Council elected Candice Mushatt to represent Flint's Seventh Ward Wednesday night. According to the city's charter , the council had until July 30 to choose a successor for former Seventh Ward Councilperson Allie Herkenroder who resigned as of July...
Commentary: “The work of higher ed must continue” — Emeritus faculty voice concern, yet again, about UM – Flint upheaval
By Theodosia Robertson Theodosia Robertson is an associate professor emerita of history and an occasional columnist for East Village Magazine. She can be reached at teddyrob@umich.edu. In November, 2022, I composed a letter of concern addressed to President Santa J....
Education Beat Analysis: Upgrades proceed on Flint Schools’ same lineup of 11 buildings; fewer than 3,000 students to report back on Aug. 9; no decisions on building closures
By Harold C. Ford Fewer than 3,000 Flint Community Schools (FCS) students – based on last year’s enrollment data – are scheduled to start the 2023-2024 school year Aug. 9. The district moves into its fifth year on a “balanced calendar” schedule in which students and...
UM President Ono: Departing UM – Flint Chancellor Dutta “a strong advocate” for transformation at downtown campus
The following letter was posted earlier today by University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono about the departure of UM - Flint Chancellor Debasish Dutta -- Ed. July 18, 2023 To the U-M community: Great universities need great leaders to evolve and thrive. So, it is...
Dutta out at UM – Flint as UMF fall enrollment numbers disappoint; “Strategic Transformation” put on hold
By Jan Worth-Nelson Debasish Dutta, chancellor of the University of Michigan - Flint since 2019, is leaving for the University of Illinois as special assistant to the president beginning Sept. 16 for a salary of $425,000. University of Michigan President Santa J....
“Mindful and Motivated Youth Health Summit” Aug. 19 to offer “A pipeline and pathway for students to go into healthcare”
By Canisha Bell “I have really big plans to build the pipeline and pathway for students to go into healthcare. I’m not just looking for people to go into being a doctor or a nurse, but the hope is that people see all of the different options that exist." To help...
The ARPA meeting that wasn’t: City Deputy Chief of Staff shuts down council meeting, police help clear the room
By Tom Travis Editor's note: This article has been updated on Thursday, June 29, with a statement from the City's communication director concerning the ARPA Community Advisory Committee members. Flint's Deputy Chief of Staff bolted into a city council meeting...
Mott Community College: Celebrating 100 years of change and challenge
By Paul Rozycki In 1923, Calvin Coolidge became president after Harding’s death, Hitler was arrested in Germany for an attempted coup, Hemingway returned from Paris, publishing his first short stories including “Up in Michigan”, the first issue of Time magazine was...
Commentary: Allie Herkenroder’s words speak to all of us
By Paul Rozycki “I consider the abuse from council directly (related) to my mental and physical concerns.” Seventh Ward Councilwoman Allie Herkenroder, on her reasons for resigning from the Flint City Council Can the experience of one individual be a mirror and a...
Juneteenth organizers reflect on the national holiday and local effects in Beecher and Flint
By Canisha Bell As local Juneteenth events wrapped up, two community leaders actively involved in area celebrations reflected in interviews with East Village Magazine on what it all means. Community organizer April Cook-Hawkins said she believes that Juneteenth events...
Sports Beat: Flint City Bucks – men and women – undefeated, in first place at midseason
By Harold C. Ford An unprecedented winning season is unfolding for the Flint City Bucks franchise and its two entries in the United States League (USL): the Flint City Bucks (men’s entry in USL2 or United States League Two) and Flint City AFC (women’s entry in USL W...
Education Beat: Flint Schools — too many buildings, not enough students to fill them
By Harold C. Ford “It’s April; school closings should be announced today, May at the latest … I’m begging you to get focused.” – Bruce Jordan, teachers union official, Michigan Education Association; April 2023 “You only need half of the [existing] buildings.” --...
Review: “Call Them by Their True Names” by Rebecca Solnit
By Robert Thomas Subtitled American Crises (and Essays), Call Them by Their True Names is Rebecca Solnit's powerful 2018 collection of timely essays. The book's forward, "Politics and the American Language,” sets the author's course in sifting the wheat from the...
Review: Ragtime paints a picture of racial-tensions with tragic and hopeful ends
By Tom Travis Before a sold out opening night crowd, FIM The Flint Rep Friday night staged the last production of the season, with a rousing and relevant version of the musical Ragtime. The play, which runs through June 25, centers around the dilemmas of several...
Flint Council President Herkenroder resigns as of July 1, citing anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm following “abuse,” “vindictiveness and hatred”
By Tom Travis In the last moments of a contentious council meeting where the council passed a city budget one week after the deadline, Council President Allie Herkenroder (Ward 7) announced she was resigning as the Seventh Ward council person as of July 1. [gallery...
Parking meters are obvious but revenue is not
By Elizabeth Ireland-Curtis Parking in downtown Flint is contentious and confusing. City council regularly hears complaints about the meters, how to use them and the many unwarranted tickets residents receive. East Village Magazine (EVM) reached out multiple times to...
What is a story worth? Gift from an only son brings back rich family history
By Teddy Robertson The elders in my young life were storytellers. The dinner table, an oval oak dropleaf large enough for candlesticks and a centerpiece, was the usual setting for their mealtime yarns. But I was never shunted away during parties when adult...
“Social class, freedom, prejudice, hope and despair” come to life in the Flint Rep’s production of Ragtime opening June 9
By Tom Travis Ragtime, the musical, produced by FIM Flint Rep and appearing at Elgood Theatre from June 9 through 25, is set at the dawn of a new century. Everything is changing and anything is possible. Ragtime is an intimate, chamber-style telling of a 1998 Tony...
The East Village Magazine – June 2023
The latest edition of The East Village Magazine is available for download and viewing here: [pdfjs-viewer url="https://www.eastvillagemagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/EVM_June_2023.pdf" attachment_id="38213" viewer_width=100% viewer_height=800px fullscreen=true...
