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:
Commentary: A top 10 “to do” list for Mayor-Elect Sheldon Neeley
By Paul Rozycki Sheldon Neeley has been elected mayor in a close contest, defeating incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver by 205 votes. But as soon as the celebrations and victory parties are done, the hard work begins. Whoever had won the election, the challenges for Flint...
Education Beat: School board mulls water system, promotions, residency flap, attrition and retention concerns
By Harold C. Ford The month of October was filled with consequential developments and decisions for Flint’s public schools at the Oct. 9 (Committee of the Whole) and Oct. 16 (Regular Board Meeting) board of education meetings. It included the introduction of “smart...
Neeley ousts Weaver in tight mayor’s race; library funding sweeps in with 2-1 support
By Paul Rozycki This year nearly everyone expected a close race to elect the Flint mayor, and that’s what they got. After a hard fought campaign, State Rep. Sheldon Neeley emerged as the victor with just over 50 percent of the vote, edging out incumbent mayor Karen...
No scandal: Kerry Washington, Secretary of State Benson deliver GOTV message to Flint Neighborhoods United
By Luther Houle Flint Neighborhoods United (FNU) members were surprised at the end of this month’s meeting by a chance to meet "Scandal" actress Kerry Washington as she visited Flint in a "Get Out The Vote" effort. Washington arrived at the Flint Public Library with...
Review: Absurdist “The Chairs” delivers much more than nothingness
By Patsy Isenberg “The Chairs” opened at Flint Repertory Theatre’s Bower Black Box Friday Nov. 1 to a sold-out house. Artistic Director Michael Lluberes could be seen helping late arrivals search for seats. [The production continues next weekend through Sunday, Nov....
FIA’s First Frost Fair welcomes holiday shoppers for 14th year
By Paul Rozycki Living up to its name, the Flint Institute of Arts held its 14th annual First Frost Arts and Fine Crafts Fair, on Saturday and Sunday Nov. 2 and 3. As the title suggests, the event took place at about the same time as the first hard frost hit the...
Flint Poet Laureate Semaj Brown to perform at UM-Flint Nov. 13
By Jan Worth-Nelson Flint’s new poet laureate Semaj Brown will present a poetry and prose reading at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Kiva Auditorium at the University of Michigan – Flint. The event, sponsored by the UM – Flint English Department, is free and open to the public....
After 640+ days, Flint hires new ombudsperson; EAB member quits over process
By Melodee Mabbitt Two years after Flint voters elected to fill the position, the City of Flint has a new ombudsperson. Tané Dorsey starts the week of Nov. 4. Dorsey is a Flint native, a graduate of Flint Northern High School and the University of Michigan. She has...
Costume commentary on council carryings-on: “If they clown, I clown”
By Tom Travis One Flint resident who frequently attends Flint City Council meetings finally had enough, quietly donning a costume with a pointed message at the Oct. 23 session. Here is how it happened: Twice a month the Flint City Council meets in committee sessions....
“We are in this fight with you,” Martin Luther King III tells Flint audience
By Tom Travis and Robert Baumgart The nation needs to continue to hear about the Flint water crisis, Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., asserted during an appearance Friday, Oct. 26 at Grace Emmanuel Baptist Church in Flint....
Ballenger statue unveiling highlights park celebration
By Paul Rozycki It may have been a chilly, blustery day, with a hint of rain in the air, but those who gathered at Ballenger Park for the “Ballenger Park Celebration” on Saturday Oct. 26, shared warm memories of their time there, and shared that warmth with William S....
Mayor touts job growth, improved water quality in “come back story” State of the City address
By Tom Travis In the glistening lights of the new Capitol Theatre’s gleaming marquee, Flint residents filed into the city’s iconic performance venue Monday night for the annual mayor’s State of the City address. As Mayor Karen Weaver laid it out to a supportive,...
Flint Public Art Project wraps up “a year full of murals”
By Harold C. Ford “The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” -- Neil Gaiman Cold weather that blew into the Flint area Saturday, Oct. 12 plummeted wind chill temperatures into the 30s and diminished public...
Weaver, Neeley face off in their only mayoral debate
By Paul Rozycki With less than three weeks to go before the election, incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver and her challenger Rep. Sheldon Neeley, squared off in a debate on WJRT-TV12 on Thursday, Oct. 17. It was the only scheduled debate between the candidates, who are...
Analysis: Medicaid work requirements take effect Jan. 1: difficulties likely for the poor
by Madeleine Graham A law establishing work requirements for about 270,000 Medicaid recipients in Michigan takes effect Jan. 1, 2020--sending state officials and recipients scrambling to understand how they will be affected. "At this time what we have to do is prepare...
