The Board of Review’s revised rules set to be put in place at its next regular meeting
Mar05

The Board of Review’s revised rules set to be put in place at its next regular meeting

By Tom Travis After nearly an hour and a half of disruptions with Flint residents and a Council member being removed the city council got back to business with a public hearing.  The public hearing was required to be held before a new set of revised rules could be implemented by The Board of Review. Previously in the evening’s special city council meeting Councilperson Eric Mays (1st Ward) was removed from the council chambers...

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Mays removed and censured from attending City Council meetings until April 8
Mar05

Mays removed and censured from attending City Council meetings until April 8

By Tom Travis Upheaval and mayhem described the special city council meeting on Wednesday night. Within 20 minutes of the special city council meeting. a motion was made to remove Councilperson Eric Mays (1st Ward). Almost simultaneously, a resident, Wilbert Jarrett, was removed after being called out of order.  Mays was handcuffed and removed out of the council chambers by Flint Police Officer Bill Metcalfe. Jarrett was escorted out...

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Neighborhood revitalization and blight removal are goals in Durant-Tuuri-Mott target area
Mar03

Neighborhood revitalization and blight removal are goals in Durant-Tuuri-Mott target area

By Tom Travis Dreaming, re-imagining and visioning for neighborhoods were at the center of a recent discussion of the University Avenue Corridor Coalition (UACC).   Focused on neighborhood revitalization and blight removal, a project funded by a small federal grant is being directed toward envisioning possibilities for a historic neighborhood in the heart of Flint. UACC leaders and others say they hope the project, calling for several...

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“Zero layoffs” and “no more raiding the Water and Sewer fund” in Mayor Neeley’s  2021 city budget
Mar02

“Zero layoffs” and “no more raiding the Water and Sewer fund” in Mayor Neeley’s 2021 city budget

By Tom Travis Mayor Sheldon Neeley presented a balanced 2021 budget to the Flint City Council Monday that calls for total revenues of $56.9 million and total expenditures of $71.3 million, using city savings from its previous general fund balance to make up the difference.  Neeley vowed to stop budget practices used by previous administrations and emergency managers. He vowed it would not include layoffs of city employees, and would...

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Analysis:  Citizens speak up and votes are swayed, as City Council turns down tax abatement in Carriage Town
Feb27

Analysis: Citizens speak up and votes are swayed, as City Council turns down tax abatement in Carriage Town

By Tom Travis On Monday, Feb. 24,  Flint City Council voted 5 to 4 against a proposed tax abatement for a property development in the neighborhood that birthed General Motors. The decision may mean the end of the project, which has been vigorously protested by a group of its neighbors.  The property, formerly a Hamady grocery store and owned by the Farah family with Troy Farah as a trustee, is at the corner of University Avenue and...

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