“More than $20 million” balance found in water fund audit, new city administration claims
By Jan Worth-Nelson The City of Flint's water fund has a "fiscal year 2020 balance" of more than $20 million, according to a startling press release issued this afternoon from Communications Director Marjory Raymer. Municipal finance expert Eric Scorsone, hired by...
City Council Beat: Water shutoff fee removed, city administrator and EAB appointees approved
By Tom Travis and Luther Houle A $75 fee for water shutoffs in Flint has been eliminated by unanimous vote of the Flint City Council. After the vote on ending the fee, proposed by Councilperson Eva Worthing (9th Ward) the audience of about 50 applauded. Worthing...
MCC unveils a third Ballenger sculpture–this time at Ballenger Fieldhouse
By Paul Rozycki After unveiling statues of William S. Ballenger Sr. at Ballenger Park just a month ago, and at Memorial Park, William Ballenger III was joined by family and friends Nov. 25, as he dedicated one more remembrance of his grandfather --- a bust at the...
“The weight of an entire community” — Mott Foundation execs describe what they’ve learned in “Focus on Flint,” what they worry about, and how they hope a targeted $1 million might help
By Harold C. Ford Editor’s note: The following is an interview with the C.S. Mott Foundation’s Ridgway White, CEO and president, and Kimberly Roberson, Flint area program director. Also present at the interview was Kathryn Thomas, vice president for communications....
Lead line replacement opt-in alerts, census urgency top items at Neeley’s first press conference
By Melodee Mabbitt There was more than talk of a "bug" at newly-elected Mayor Sheldon Neeley's first press conference Saturday, when local media were hauled in at 10:30 a.m. to an otherwise closed City Hall. The first item was a presentation by Neeley's Interim...
Democratic leaders, supporters gather en masse for Gary Peters campaign kickoff
By Paul Rozycki The 2020 Michigan U.S. Senatorial campaign may be nearly a year away, but it got an early kickoff when incumbent Democratic Senator Gary Peters paid a visit to the White Horse Tavern in Flint Nov. 23 for one of his first campaign fundraisers. He was...
“Bug” matter dropped by Hart; “insignificant” device never seized
By Melodee Mabbitt “I would always make an inquiry before an indictment,” Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said when asked how he learned of a "device," at first thought to be an electronic surveillance bug, found in the mayor’s office following the Nov. 5 election when...
Mayor, police chief connect, state reps offer update, councilpersons conflict at CCNA
By Jan Worth-Nelson It was the night of the politicos Thursday at the November meeting of the College Cultural Neighborhood Association (CCNA), as the assemblage of about 50 residents heard from the city's new mayor, the interim police chief, the state senator, the...
Police Chief Hart: Device found at City Hall “not sophisticated” and does not record video, audio
By Melodee Mabbitt Flint Police Chief Phil Hart confirmed today that a device found at City Hall is not capable of recording video or audio and is not sophisticated enough to warrant sending to state police or the FBI for further investigation. East Village Magazine...
Education Beat: School closures put on hold as Flint School officials search for deficit solutions
By Harold C. Ford “We have to get to a number that will allow us to be a viable district…We have too much infrastructure for the number of students we’re trying to educate.” …Derrick Lopez, superintendent, Flint Community Schools The elected and appointed leaders of...
“Meaning Train” author Carrie Cunningham appearing Saturday at Totem
By Jan Worth-Nelson Carrie Cunningham, author of a new book exploring " how ideas of nonviolence and love might save the world" will appear at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Totem Books, 620 W. Court St., Flint. Meaning Train: Essays on Religion and Politics was...
City of Flint Communications Director Raymer says document about device found at City Hall was “not a press release”
By Melodee Mabbitt City of Flint Communications Director Marjory Raymer sent multiple text messages to East Village Magazine (EVM) since Tuesday night's publication of a story on Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s allegations that an “electronic surveillance device” was found in...
Neeley alleges, and city press release asserts, “electronic surveillance device” found in mayor’s office
By Melodee Mabbitt Newly elected Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley insinuated Nov. 16 that someone in the outgoing administration of former Mayor Karen Weaver left a bug in the mayor’s office, and the mayor's office today gave East Village Magazine a press release on...
School board to meet on deficit elimination plan, school closings Tuesday, Nov. 19
By Harold C. Ford The Board of Education of the Flint Community Schools (FCS) will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Southwestern Classical Academy, 1420 W. 12th St., to consider a controversial deficit elimination plan. The plan is expected to...
Poet Laureate Semaj Brown launches literacy project in compelling UM – Flint performance
By Patsy Isenberg “Say Her Name.” Semaj Brown. Flint’s first-ever poet laureate, made that powerful line one of her central refrains at a performance, discussion and launch of a literacy initiative at the University of Michigan - Flint's Kiva Auditorium Nov. 13....
Galloway elected Flint city council president, Mays vice president
By Luther Houle Following Mayor Neeley’s swearing-in at City Hall, Flint City Council held its own election at 5 p.m. Monday Nov. 11 to decide who would lead council meetings in the coming year. Seventh Ward Councilperson Monica Galloway was elected president, with...
Mott Foundation to invest $1 million in Flint neighborhoods: deadline Nov. 30
By Harold C. Ford On the heels of a recently released 24-page Focus on Flint report, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has announced the availability of $1 million in grants for projects to improve Flint neighborhoods. “Residents told us a focus on neighborhoods is...
“Unity is strength, division is weakness,” Flint’s new mayor asserts at swearing-in
By Tom Travis Despite a snowstorm barreling down outside, it was standing room only in the 440-seat Council Chamber room on the third floor of City Hall Monday for the swearing in of Flint's new mayor, Sheldon Neeley. The audience was a “who’s who” of politicians,...
Village Life: Remembering a Flint walk when far away–my secret of self-care
By Jan Worth-Nelson I swear, by the time I stride onto the south end of Kensington, just a few hundred yards from my house, the endorphins already are kicking in. My breathing evens out, and there’s often a cardinal or two darting around in the brush bending over...
Let’s “come together and move on as one,” outgoing Mayor Weaver exhorts in open letter to the city
The following arrived today from Mayor Karen Weaver, defeated by 205 votes Tuesday by State Rep. Sheldon Neeley. It was sent by her public information officer, Candice Mushatt. Dear Residents: The last four years of my life have been some of the best. I had an...
Flint city council already battling over leadership; vote for new president set for Monday Nov. 11
By Tom Travis Just a few hours after the noon swearing in of Mayor-elect Sheldon Neeley in City Hall Monday, the Flint City Council (FCC) will meet. City Clerk Inez Brown will begin that meeting, at 5 p.m. in council chambers. The first order of business will be a...
Neeley resigns as state rep, effective Monday, to become Flint’s new mayor
The following press release just landed from the office of state Rep. Sheldon Neeley, Flint's mayor-elect: "FLINT — On Monday, state Rep. Sheldon Neeley will officially resign his seat in the state House of Representatives and be sworn into his next chapter of public...
Kuungana concert features international dancers, drummers 8 p.m. Saturday
A concert performed by a team of international dancers and drummers is set for 8 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 9) at the University of Michigan - Flint Theatre. The performance is part of a two-day "Kuungana Drum and Dance Conference" featuring the Kankouran African Dance...
This Month in the Village: November features
“This Month” highlights a selection of events available to our readers—beginning after our publication date of Nov. 5. It is not an exhaustive list, rather a sampling of opportunities in the city. To submit events for our December issue, email your event to us by Nov....
East Village Magazine – November 2019
The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here:
