City Council Beat: Police Chief Hart hired through August; residents air pot ordinance concerns, complain about parking meters, Mays tells his side
By Tom Travis Flint’s legislative body, the Flint City Council, struggled to maintain democracy and a quorum Monday, even with new leadership in place, at a council meeting that lasted seven and a half hours. Two of the nine council members, Eva Worthing (9th Ward) and Herb Winfrey (6th Ward, were absent; Santino Guerra (3rd Ward) left midway through, and Eric Mays (1st Ward) repeatedly left his seat, walking around the council...
Village Life: New life as community journalist opens up hard realities about Flint
By Tom Travis I have attempted to dissect the reasons why I chose to leave my job at 50 years old after more than 10 years. I think I’ve figured out the reasoning but it is deeply personal. And I’m more likely to tell you over a cup of coffee at Good Beans Cafe than in a published article. So let’s have coffee. In the meantime, I’m taking on a new adventure, as a community journalist here at East Village...
New Meter – New Start program to give residents fresh start on water bills with new meters
By Tom Travis Flint residents are being given a fresh start on their water bill amounts as a $9.2 million program to replace and install new water meters continues city-wide, Mayor Sheldon Neeley announced at a press conference Friday. Joined by Flint City Council Vice President Maurice Davis (2nd Ward) and Councilperson Eva Worthing (9th Ward), Neeley announced an executive order to immediately offer adjustment to residents’...
City Council Beat: Mays again makes dramatic exit from Council meeting, as the rest settle on leadership roles
By Tom Travis Eric Mays made a dramatic exit from the City Council again Wednesday night. This time he left on his own accord in a storm of yelling at the entire council. Business did return to normal with the departure of the First Ward councilperson, as the council voted on several ordinances to be moved to Monday’s council agenda. And new critical council leadership was voted on, nearly unanimously. A larger than usual crowd showed...
Flint native Ninah Sasy to advise City of Flint as clean water public advocate
By Darlene C. Carey “Let’s get to work. Let’s move some dirt,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer encouraged at the 2020 State of the State address, urging transitional change throughout the State of Michigan. Whitmer discussed the need for outreach for new moms and families, especially in unrepresented and marginalized areas stating, “This year, my budget will include extension of health coverage for a full year for low income women who have had...
“Resilience” a pivotal story of Flint, Lt. Gov. Gilchrist says in City Hall visit
By Jan Worth-Nelson State of Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist said today under the dome in City Hall he has learned that “resilience is a matter of pride” in the city of Flint, and that is one of its messages to the rest of the country. Hosted by Mayor Sheldon Neeley for part of his daylong visit, Gilchrist came to City Hall as a kickoff of Black History Month and to learn about the city’s history from Neeley,...
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