Flint City Council’s “failure to act” jeopardizes completion of service line replacement project, Mayor Neeley says
By Tom Travis On Wednesday Mayor Sheldon Neeley released a statement scolding the council for a "failure to act" on a resolution that would allow for additional $500,000 in funding towards the "Fast Start" water line replacement. Neeley added that the council's...
U.S. District Court judge throws out Eric Mays’ lawsuit against the City of Flint – taxpayers foot $24,000 bill
A lawsuit filed by Flint City Councilman Eric Mays (1st Ward) was thrown out by the judge overseeing the case, who ruled it had no merit, according to a press release from Mayor Sheldon Neeley. Mays announced Wednesday evening that he would appeal. Mays sued the City...
Forty-three Flint residents so far vie for a seat on the tumultuous city council
By Tom Travis As the Flint City Council falls further from decorum and civility, a weary community can look forward to a Fall 2021 election with all nine council members up for re-election. Nominating petitions became available in February, with candidates required...
The East Village Magazine – March 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%2F03%2FEVM-03.21_web.pdf" viewer_width=100% viewer_height=800px fullscreen=true download=true...
Health Coalition launches “Commit to Fit” challenge, with cash incentives, to get Genesee County students moving
The 6th annual Commit to Fit Active Schools Challenge is now open through March 31 to all Genesee County school districts to promote physical activity among their students, according to a press release from the Greater Flint Health Coalition (GFHC). Students and...
State Rep. John Cherry to host “virtual community conversation” with MDOT; neighbors urged to call for I-69 sound walls
State Representative John Cherry will host a virtual community conversation at 6 p.m. Monday, March 8 to focus on transportation in Genesee County, according to an invitation shared by his office. Cherry plans to be joined by Michigan Department of Transportation...
Woodside Church of Flint eying name change, seeking marketing pros to help “rebrand”
Woodside Church of Flint is seeking qualified marketing professionals to guide the church in renaming and branding itself, according to a press release from the church's pastor, Rev. Dr. Deborah Conrad. Written proposals will be received until March 15. Select...
Commentary: Civility workshops for City Council? Good intentions, but keep the Jack Daniel’s handy
By Paul Rozycki Can workshops bring “civility and decorum” to City Council meetings? Imagine an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting which starts out with good, sober, intentions, but concludes several hours later with most members passed out on the floor, littered with empty...
City Council considers waiving fee for brownfield assessment; James P. Cole public hearing set
By Tom Travis City Council considered an ordinance at the Monday, Feb 22 council meeting that would waive an assessment fee for property owners with lots adjacent to a Land Bank brownfield property. City of Flint Assessor, Stacey Kaake (pronounced cake) was on the...
Seven “trailblazers” from Flint’s Black community receive City’s highest honor
By Tom Travis Mayor Sheldon Neeley called them "trailblazers" in the African-American community of Flint as he honored seven at a presentation on Wednesday, Feb 24. The event, at the Flint Development Center on Martin Luther King Boulevard, was closed except to the...
Education Beat: Flint schools will not reopen to students Feb. 22: district does about face
By Harold C. Ford Following a raucous board of education meeting lasting more than three hours, officials of Flint Community Schools (FCS) decided buildings would not reopen to students on Feb. 22 as previously announced. (See Feb. 19 public statement from FCS...
City Council considers Jefferson School property, $500,000 more needed for lead line replacement; Council’s decorum is not perfect but improves
By Tom Travis Flint City Council met in committee session on Wednesday for the first time since April, 2020, resuming a COVID-delayed structure that allows the council to discuss resolutions, ordinances, appointments and special orders that will appear on the next...
City Council attempts at “decorum” and “civility” training descend into chaos
By Tom Travis Moments into Monday night's virtual Flint City Council meeting, discussion descended into chaos and arguing over whether the public should be allowed to speak. It was a squabble which set the stage for a planned training session on decorum and civil...
Students invited to enter Genesee Health Plan’s sixth annual Health Heritage essay and scholarship contests
Genesee Health Plan (GHP) is accepting entries through March 31 for its sixth annual Health Heritage Essay Contest from all Genesee County students in elementary grades five and six, middle school, junior high, and high school students, including students in...
Resident participation sought in Flint Community Advisory Task Force on Public Safety Meetings
The newly formed Flint Community Advisory Task Force on Public Safety is asking residents to voice their ideas and concerns as part of its ongoing work to provide a bridge between community members and police, according to a press release from the City. Mayor Sheldon...
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...
