1. Angry resident after angry resident stepped up to the podium to question the investigators about grievances new and old, physical and psychic. As a water crisis erupts and a new mayor is sworn in, the understaffed police department faces uncertainty while struggling to protect the city. Like, what the hell are you doing? Initially, I had my reservations about watching Flint Town. Throw your hands in the air, hooray, hooray. Its water source was switched from a Detroit-owned plant on Lake Huron to the Flint River, and back again. Flint explosion: Three missing after home blast felt five miles away. The KWA pipeline that spurred the lead-contaminated water crisis left. Activists heralded her election, but during her four years in office, Weaver frequently stumbled. And Flint's experience has been a precursor to lead. Flint Town has been the talk of the town since it first aired on Netflix on March 2. Our median household income is abysmal and our local economy has not yet restructured itself to depend on something outside of the automotive industry. David Toborowsky and Annie Suwan are one of the successful "90 Day Fianc" couples. Ask the Great Lakes Now Team Your PFAS Question, Beneath the Surface: The Line 5 Pipeline in the Great Lakes, Collection 1 An Exploration of the Great Lakes, Collection 2 Threats to the Great Lakes, Collection 3 Virtual Field Trips in the Great Lakes, Collection 4 Lesson Plans from Our Monthly PBS Program, up-to-date community reporting of Flint and the water crisis, coverage of ongoing problem of urban drinking water systems, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Partnership, Court: Nessel can try again to return Line 5 lawsuit to state court, For Ann Arbor water managers, ongoing battle to keep toxic chemicals at bay, Report: MI and OH must spend hundreds of millions more annually to curb toxic blooms in Lake Erie. From the late 19th century to the mid 20th century, the city was a leading manufacturer of carriages. However, the conflict at city hall, like many other issues the city faces, cannot be resolved by supplemented funds alone. This conversation in itself may make you uncomfortable, but its still one we needed to have. Steel Magnolias is a 1989 film based on the stage play. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Seven Years On: The Flint water crisis has yet to conclude. Fewer than 500 remain to be inspected. Your email address will not be published. Optimists and institutionalists hope that new leaders in Washington can deliver the return to normalcy theyve been promised, and maybe rebuild some of that easily burned-off trust. I dont think most people would disagree. Like nearly everyone I interviewed for this story, Ananich has his own personal story about dissatisfaction with the pipe-replacement program. Great live music, awesome drink specials and. As of 2021, she is focused on hosting parties and trying her hand in different types of investments. Places such as Raspberries and The Loft offer lively weekend recreation for the adult crowd. When he looks back at his time in office, Walling remembers it the same way that many of his constituents probably do: as a time of being caught flat-footed, without recourse or relief. Its people clearly take pride in the renovated Capitol Theatre, the bustling farmers market and the Ferris Wheel, a gleaming, conspicuously modern startup incubator on the main drag of Saginaw Street. Some of us just dont want to leave. Still, the citys work has continued apace. Theres been hair loss; I could go on and on about the things Ive heard.. Co-director Zackary Canepari has already signalled his willingness to go for another season to explore in-depth more systems that flog day-to-day life in Flint. Copyright 2023 City of Flint, Michigan. Among them were Adam Ant, Donal Logue . As well as being a Rhodes Scholar, he was an aide to the former U.S. Representative and titan of Flint-area politics Dale Kildee, and Flint residents viewed him as a welcome technocratic contrast with Williamsons unique governing style. [1] The demonym of Flint is off Flint. Then AECOM took over.. The show follows the police officers of Flint as they respond to calls, make arrests, and deal with budget cuts as they try to serve a population of 100,000 with only 98 officers. View Details. Stay connected to whats happening with the City of Flint. And here's one new series that could be too easily overlooked: Flint Town, an eight-part Netflix docudrama about the crisis of policing in Flint, Michigana city that has been called one of. There are a number of positive things happening in Flint, namely in the downtown area. If you havent seen the show yet head over to. All Rights Reserved. At its worst, Flint Town is a profanity-laced Trump endorsement where white police officers, most of whom do not reside in the city, play Robocop. Flint Water Quality Update But his grades have plummeted over the last two years. Change starts with us. A lead water pipe removal program, established under a 2017 court order issued as part of a massive lawsuit on behalf of Flint residents, is inching toward a close. With, As far as reception is concerned, Season 1 of Flint Town boasts a, While we wait for Netflix to make an announcement on the future of the show, here is the trailer for Season 1 to give you a glimpse into how the documentary explores the state of policing in the city of Flint. For all of the great dialogue the series gave us about healing the disconnect between the police and the policed, as I dove into the series I was utterly shocked at the myths the series either perpetuates or just allows to skate by unaddressed. The highest-profile public-works tragedy of the past decade has triggered a bigger breakdown in trustand carries a lesson for post-Covid America. Everything we consume from movies to music has become more explicit. In a shocking development that made national headlines, those prosecutors had recently dropped all pending charges in the investigation, something the Kettering professor Pauli said hit the city like a punch to the gut. The people of Flint were upset. However, we tend to overlook the way that racism has evolved. Although its been seven years since the Flint water crisis became one of the states biggest public health disasters, Flints struggle with both the repercussions of the initial incident and with getting clean water have not ended. "Sundown towns" like Anna were places where Black people were allowed in during the day to work or shop but . Sherman's Lounge. For those unaware, Flint has the distinction of being one of the most violent cities in the US, which unfortunately saw the strength of its police force decrease from 300 to 98 for 100,000 people. A historic village where they make or do crafts, a train ride and a even steamboat. Catch up with all of Great Lakes Nows coverage of the Flint water crisis. There was no question that the program was not the most efficient at times, and I think there were a lot of contractors that had never done this kind of work before. And if you listen to those have seen it all before, all too recently, in Flint, theres little reason to expect a new era of good feelings on the horizon. In the backdrop of the crisis, the officials struggle to deal with crime in the city, especially with the residents of the city harbouring suspicions about the government. As the evening wore on, Flint resident Elizabeth Taylor needled them for their perceived eagerness to draw the proceedings to a close: How can we trust you when you look at the clock and say you want to leave? And then they failed, too. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: 15 of the most popular '90 Day Fianc' couples. The state provided more than $350 million to Flint, in addition to the $100 million from the federal government - all of which is helping with water quality improvements, pipe replacement, healthcare, food resources, educational resources, job training and creation, and more. Gov. There would not have been a water crisis if we had democracy in the city., The emergency declaration we will be forever thankful for, said Nayyirah Shariff, a longtime activist and the director of the nonprofit Flint Rising. Tuesday 23 November 2021 13:26. As nervous officers await the result, it's business as usual on the streets. However, I dont believe in using that humanity to excuse ones passive racism. Chandra Walker-Smith is among them. The majority of voters thought I could deliver better things for them. Just moments before, captured on video now for eternity, Walling had pushed a button on a panel at the citys water treatment plant that turned an ominous, glowing red. But a few weeks later, another, equally remarkable thing happened. Were a community of victors, not a community of victims.. Flint police battle with a store that's a magnet for criminal activity. Bridgette Balasko police officer; later officer, CATT (Crime Area Target Team) squad; aspires to be a Federal Investigator; later Homicide Detective, Timothy Johnson Chief of Police, appointed by Mayor Karen Weaver, Dion Reed LERTA Cadet turned police officer, son of Maria, Maria Reed LERTA Cadet turned police officer, mother of Dion, James Tolbert former Chief of Police, fired by Mayor Karen Weaver, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 04:37. Without the proper chemicals, the acidic water eroded peoples' aging pipes and leached dangerous levels of lead into the water. The Office of Economic Development helps Flint-based businesses succeed with assistance for entrepreneurs at every stage of business development. Flint Town has been the talk of the town since it first aired on Netflix on March 2. Maybe theyll end up with one charge surviving, and theyll at least make a show of trying to hold a few people accountable with that charge, but the gap between that as an outcome and what residents were hoping for and expecting is huge., Its hard to maintain peoples trust in institutions when you dont see justice being done with your own eyes. The police argue their actions are a result of the fear they have for their own safety. All rights reserved. Christie's condition was upgraded to "fair" Tuesday, and he was expected to recover. The anger, the lack of trust, its all justified, Ananich says. Always suggested that the meaning of the title alludes to the fact that the leading ladies are both beautifully delicate as a flower, yet tough as steel. Ananich wasnt in line that day, but he understands why people were. When I spoke to Mayor Neeley, he acknowledged the difficulties Flint facespublic safety, sanitation and managing the citys teetering pension systemand that the ability of residents to trust that the government can meet those needs was at an all-time low. While the creators of the show are already digging up more conclusive evidence to demonstrate the state machinerys failure, people at Netflix are a bit apprehensive pursuing a second season. By giving its audience a view of Flint though this lens, the show gives viewers an insight into the state of policing in America and documents the struggles of Flint Police Department as they put their lives on the line to protect the community while simultaneously struggling to gain the trust of the community. In fact, it often does more harm than good. Located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km) northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. Weaver was narrowly defeated in her 2019 reelection bid by Sheldon Neeley, a state representative and former city council member who relentlessly needled the mayor for her mismanagement of the arduous project to replace the citys lead pipes, calling her a ceremonial mayor who basked in the media spotlight. The citys population is 54 percent Black, compared with the states overall Black population of 14 percent. Rick Snyder, were charged Thursday in connection with the Flint water crisis in a case one prosecutor said was . Our people are resilient and have big plans for the future. Canepari said, Our interest [as filmmakers] is in systems. Megalopolis release date: TBD Blade Blade is set to begin filming around Atlanta, including at Tyler Perry Studios, for Disney. On March 2, 2018, the Netflix channel began streaming the American documentary television series Flint Town. Over the course of the episodes, the police faced a crucial millage vote and a city government wrangling over funding.[4]. As of July 12, 2020, Flint has had 25 homicides, 42 rapes, 104. He has been charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree,. New lines ensure fewer lead-related issues will arise, and now, the pipes abide by the federal Lead and Copper Rule. It offered a raw view into the humanity and vulnerabilities of both police officers and the residents of the communities in which they serve. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Comments. The Flint water crisis begins On April 25, 2014 officials from Flint, Michigan switched the city's water supply to the Flint River as a cost-cutting measure for the struggling city. In the unfolding pandemic, economic crisis and reckoning on race, governors and mayors are shaping our shared future. Since he first took office, there have been no fewer than two subsequent mayors and four emergency managers (one serving two nonconsecutive terms), giving Flint residents a leadership that goes far beyond the revolving door to approach a whirlwind. When scientists analyzed that water, they discovered to their horror that the citys treatment of it was woefully inadequate to reduce its levels of harmful bacteria and acidand that the latter had begun to corrode Flints antiquated pipes from the inside, delivering tiny bits of lead through peoples faucets. Though Flint's water, which once tested dangerously high for lead, is now within federal safety standards, microbiologists, infectious disease experts and officials worry that harmful elements . From 2016 to 2019, this looked like a real possibility. I believe that is a conversation we dont have often enough. When we think of racism, we tend to envision a world literally and figuratively in black and white perhaps, blatantly segregated drinking fountains and restrooms and an antagonistic white man using a racial slur. Seton North is in the house, and Dayton is too. Flint was founded as a village by fur trader Jacob Smith in 1819 and became a major lumbering area on the historic Saginaw Trail during the 19th century. Thats not to say the Flint Town series is faultless. Earlier tests already hinted at good news, and this one confirmed it: In the vast majority of such homes, lead levels were 5 parts per billion or betterfar below even the strictest regulations in the country. Whatever that something better is, it may explain why, despite her complaints, Walker-Smith hasnt left Flint, and doesnt plan to. They might not trust their criminal justice system, with no incentive to respect a system that allows elites to break the law with impunity. The development drew little attention outside the states borders, but the sense of abandonment and betrayal that followed it goes far beyond the grassroots. I shudder to think whats going to happen if these cases just evaporate into thin air, because its going to be yet another trauma inflicted upon the community, whether people intend it that way or not., For me, you cant have trust without truth-telling, Shariff said. September 27, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. EDT Sure, the White Flint Metro stop along Rockville Pike could use a new name, but please don't call it "North Bethesda." (Astrid Riecken for The Washington. Flint, Michigan is a city in Genesee County that provides a vibrant community for residents and businesses. Even before its pipes started leaching lead, Flint was deeply in trouble, as badly off as any other Rust Belt cityor worse. October 27, 2021. Menu. We will update this section as soon as we hear more. City and state officials denied for. If giving money to poor countries that present these same struggles hasnt helped to pull them out of poverty, what makes us think it will do so for us? To remedy that and determine which homes were most likely to have harmful lead pipes in need of replacement, in 2016 a team of computer scientists at the University of Michigan developed a machine-learning model. Racism looks like profiling in the name of keeping the public safe.. We Flint natives tend to be protective of our hometown our issues are ours to discuss and so I was leery about how the producers would portray life in our city. The town has a rich sporting history. In their Netflix docuseries, director-cinematographers Zackary Canepari, Jessica Dimmock, and Drea Cooper spend a year embedded with the police department of Flint, Michigan, a city reeling from. Balasko and Frost ponder their future together. Flint, Michigan, changed its water system in 2014, resulting in water so toxic that residents got sick. Learn how Flint's ARPA funds are being spent, Contact the Public Health Navigators to get the help you need. It has been corrected. Being a documentary show, Flint Town features real-life people, and in particular, features several members of the Flint Police Department. In the very first episode of Flint Town, we are given an extended, gruesome glance into a mothers anguish as the camera lingers on her sons lifeless body lying in the street. By Jan Worth-Nelson "Here at the University of Michigan - Flint, we dare to dream big. There are a number of local female entrepreneurs making strides in their fields (see my article on Girl Talk by Kaelin Anne). Flint Town lets slide one last, important myth: Myth Four: Flint is a hopeless and helpless place. We have long suffered the oppression of bad governance at the state and local levels, which ushered us straight into our infamous water crisis (which, by the way, is another characteristic of a developing country). The movie has a star-studded cast, including Adam Driver, Forest Whitaker, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight and Laurence Fishburne. But now Flint finds this form of resolution, too, possibly slipping out of reach. Davon Davenport, a 9 year-old fourth grader in Flint, used to get A's and B's in his classes. There are plenty of ways to tell the story of what went wrong in Flint leading to that moment. Celeste Headlee and Camila Beiner. But even with that project finally reaching its completion after years of strife, and EPA administrators saying Flints water is better than its ever been, most of the Flint residents I interviewed said theyre still wary of what comes out of their tap. The information they provided was, to be generous, incomplete. Dr. Laura Sullivan, a Kettering scientist who has advised the city on water issues, described to me how the citys aging and inadequate infrastructure led to an outbreak of Legionnaires disease that accompanied the water crisis. 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