Low-interest homeowner loans, residential water sampling, resumed rental inspections among topics covered at FNU
By Coner Segren A low-interest loan program for homeowners, lab testing for residential water, and announcement of resumed inspection for rental properties were among items presented to participants at the monthly gathering of Flint Neighborhoods United (FNU). The...
City Council Beat: Councilperson’s life threatened; hardship property tax exemption approved; “decorum” training scheduled
By Tom Travis The Flint city council Monday night heard details of threats against the life of Councilperson Maurice Davis (2nd Ward), and in addition approved a property tax exemption, filled out appointments to two key city panels, and agreed to a training aiming...
The East Village Magazine – February 2021
The latest edition of The East Village Magazine is available for download here: [pdfjs-viewer url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eastvillagemagazine.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F02%2FEVMFebruary21_web.pdf" viewer_width=100% viewer_height=800px fullscreen=true download=true...
“At no time have we been absent a plan” to fight crime in Flint, Mayor Neeley tells city council
By Tom Travis Pressed at last week's council meeting by several residents and City Councilperson Monica Galloway (7th Ward) on the city's response to fight a recent uptick in violent crimes, Mayor Sheldon Neeley reiterated a three-point plan he and former Police Chief...
New program provides Flint homeowners with low- or no-interest loans to renovate, improve homes
Flint homeowners looking to make repairs or improvements to their homes can now apply for low- or no-interest loans of up to $20,000 through the Flint Home Improvement Fund (Flint HIF), according to a press release from Genesee County Habitat for Humanity. To be...
From inspiration to independence, The Disability Network service is built on “consumer control”
By Madeleine Graham Even within the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, Genesee County's Disability Network (TDN) is continuing to provide services to the county's disabled population. That includes creating Zoom substitute activities for high school participants,...
Genesee County Land Bank accepting applications for 2021 Clean & Green season
Applications for community groups to participate in the 2021 Clean & Green program are being accepted now through Feb. 26, according to a press release from the Genesee County Land Bank (GCLB). Clean & Green supports community-based groups in cleaning,...
Building cultural literacy highlight of Black History Month – Flint & Genesee Literacy Network
During February, the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network (FGLN) will continue efforts to build cultural literacy by sharing social media content highlighting accomplishments of persons from the African Diaspora, according to an email from executive director Angela...
Nominating petitions available for 2021 Flint City Council seats
Nominating petitions are available now in the City Clerk's office (2nd floor of Flint City Hall, 1101 S. Saginaw St., Flint) for the upcoming election for city council, City Clerk Inez Brown has announced in a press release. Deadline and requirements for filing...
Flint Symphony Orchestra 2021 season opener goes virtual, livestreaming Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella” Suite & Prokofiev’s “Peter and The Wolf”
The Flint Symphony Orchestra (FSO) kicks off the 2021 season COVID-style Saturday, Feb. 6, with Igor Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella” Suite and Sergei Prokofiev’s most popular performed work, “Peter and the Wolf," according to a press release from the FSO. Under...
Flint Public Library re-opens for browsing and computer services at Courtland Center
The Flint Public Library (FPL) at Courtland Center is reopening Tuesday, Feb. 2 for computer and genealogy services and one-hour browsing visits, the library announced in a press release issued Friday. Due to elevated rates of COVID-19, patrons had been limited to...
Registration begins for the $641.25 million water crisis settlement
By Tom Travis Flint residents can begin to register for a piece of the $641.25 million water crisis settlement (WCS). According to attorneys in the settlement, registration began Jan. 27 and ends March 29. Adults must opt-in by March 29 and all objections must be...
City Council hears report on budget, neighborhood policing, city parks and water main breaks
By Tom Travis City's acting-Chief Financial Officer, Amanda Trujillo, gives a budget report to council Amanda Trujillo, the city's acting-Chief Financial Officer and City Treasurer, was on the line to take questions from council concerning the city budget at Monday's...
200 seasonal jobs opening now at Genesee County Parks
More than 200 jobs are opening at the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission, Director Barry June announced in a press release. “These seasonal positions are perfect for high school and college students, retirees or those looking for a second income,” June...
Flint Institute of Arts opening Art School for spring session; registration begins Feb. 2
Art classes at the Flint Institute of Arts (FIA) will resume for spring term if encouraging Covid-19 trends continue. Spring classes begin March 8, 2021. “We have been closely monitoring our region's infection rates and trends. The numbers continue to fall and unless...
Book Review: Edward McClelland’s Midnight in Vehicle City, General Motors, Flint, and the Strike that Created the Middle Class
By Harold C. Ford “You are a scoundrel and a skunk…You’ll go to hell when you die if you do things like that.” --Frances Perkins, U.S. Secretary of Labor, to Alfred Sloan, CEO, General Motors, Jan. 1937 “You can’t talk to me like that…I’ve got seventy million and I...
Flint water crisis led to “anxiety, fear, distrust and anger over the events of the last seven years,” Judge Levy states as she hands down ruling to proceed with settlement
By Tom Travis Preliminary approval to allow the $641 million Flint water crisis settlement to move forward was granted Thursday by U.S. Federal Judge Judith Levy. The ruling comes one week after nine state and local officials were indicted, including former Gov. Rick...
Fifteen days in January: The nation faces insurrection, impeachment, and inauguration.
By Paul Rozycki In the early 1960s, at the height of the cold war, there was a best-selling novel, and a movie, that told a story of a potential military coup in the U.S. and possible nuclear conflict with Soviet Union. The book was “Seven Days in May” by Charles...
Education Beat Flint Community Schools board approves plan for return to buildings in unsteady start of new era
By Harold C. Ford “I’m sure looking forward to great things from the board.” --David Guinn, Judge, 67th District Court, Genesee County, comment at start of Jan. 20 meeting “This meeting has been very, very confusing…If you’re confused, then you know the general...
“Defiantly Hopeful” concert celebrates Flint, benefits East Village Magazine Saturday at 7 p.m
A concert by the well-known folk duo Mustard's Retreat, long beloved performers in the Flint music scene, will live stream on Zoom, YouTube and Facebook at 7 p.m. Saturday night. The concert will equally benefit East Village Magazine (EVM) and Mustard's Retreat...
Small, spirit-filled MLK celebration led by local Baha’i group shines light on Peace Garden and new mural
By Harold C. Ford “The quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important.” reads a quote on the banner hung at the entrance to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Garden, MLK Day event, Jan. 18, 2021 On Jan. 18, a small but spirited group, led by local...
Village Life: “Among Us,” but Not Us — video game brings up painful American truths
By Vivian Kao My older son is eight years old, and like most eight-year-olds, he goes through phases in which he gets obsessed with certain things. About a year ago, it was professional wrestling. He had a group of friends at school who watched WWE, and through them,...
Michigan food assistance payments increase 15 percent by end of January – Gov. Whitmer/MDHHS
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced 15 percent increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits beginning by the end of January and lasting until June, 2021, as detailed in a Thursday...
Education Beat: Adrian Walker picked to fill vacancy on Flint Community Schools Board
By Harold C. Ford “We (millennials) want to be a part of meaningful change.”—Adrian Walker, YouTube statement, June 28, 2017 Adrian Walker, director of community and government affairs for the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, emerged from two rounds of...
COVID, water crisis exacerbating mental illness in Genesee County, health systems rep warns
By Coner Segren COVID-19 is exacerbating a mental health crisis in Genesee County, according Lisa Bruder of the Genesee Health System (GHS) in a presentation to the January meeting of Flint Neighborhoods United (FNU). “It would be impossible to live through COVID and...
