We need more community building and support for the positive things that Flint natives are creating. 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. They might not trust the results of a presidential election, behaving as if they live in a banana republic and not a robust, if flawed, democracy. The city of Flint has replaced over 10,000 pipes to deal with lead in the water. Those questions touch on not only the crisis far-reaching medical consequences but its roots in a decades-long divestment of power from the people the crisis hurt the most, as well as the extent to which government might endanger lives to evade blame or embarrassment for such a scandal. Tuesday 23 November 2021 13:26. And while Flints political tug of war with a majority-white state government isnt unique, that dynamic gave an extra sting to the citys repeated financial takeovers by state-appointed emergency managers, culminating in the austerity-driven call to switch its water supply to the contaminated Flint River. Walling was elected in 2009 to succeed Williamson, after the latter resigned rather than face a recall election. And in 2020, a group called the Defund San Antonio Police Department Coalition issued a travel warning for San Antonio, labeling the city as a sundown town. I cant say I agree with everything she said and did, but she stood with us, and she pushed for us, and she understood the urgency we felt.. I lose reelection [that November,] and Mayor [Karen] Weaver gets sworn in. 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. One day later, Jerry Ambrose, the city's emergency manager, overrules the vote and . Tensions across the country are high as people of color, specifically black people, feel as though over-policing and police brutality in their communities is an imminent threat to their well-being. There are a number of positive things happening in Flint, namely in the downtown area. 4.7K4.7K. Bars & Clubs. About Flint Learn More Welcome to the city of Flint, Michigan A young cadet navigates training, while veteran Frost recalls a painful incident. That sequence was extraordinarily difficult. Like nearly everyone I interviewed for this story, Ananich has his own personal story about dissatisfaction with the pipe-replacement program. Its water source was switched from a Detroit-owned plant on Lake Huron to the Flint River, and back again. . Celeste Headlee and Camila Beiner. In doing. 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. The black discomfort pertained to things like fearing for the safety of their children and trying to make sense of their partners/coworkers casting votes for a presidential candidate who has a track record of making very racially insensitive remarks. You ended [the investigation]. Cadet Dion and his mother close in on graduation. Editors Note: Flint native Ashley Hamilton graduated with honors from Spelman College. Flint Town (TV Series 2018) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 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. The court cases continue to unfold, and the city slowly replaces its lead lines. 4. It has been corrected. We need to hold ourselves accountable for the roles we play in making/keeping Flint what it is, whether good or bad. . He has been charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree,. Founded 1886 Address Marsh Lane CH6 5PJ Y Fflint / Flint, Flintshire Country Wales Phone +44 (1352) 730 982 Fax +44 (1352) 730 982 E-mail info@flinttownfc.co.uk The town has a rich sporting history. Stay connected with Flint news, public notices, and city meetings. This conversation in itself may make you uncomfortable, but its still one we needed to have. Activists heralded her election, but during her four years in office, Weaver frequently stumbled. Instead, the citys success rate in finding the pipes in question plummeted from 70 percent to 15worse than would be expected if homes had been chosen completely at random. Flint police battle with a store that's a magnet for criminal activity. So whats the trust level?. kelly tripucka net worth flint town where are they now. Stay connected to whats happening with the City of Flint. This is an ideal place to bring the youngsters. 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. I love going to Sherman's because it is an affordable good time. Some, as the clock ran out on the evening, didnt even get that opportunity. If youre one of those residents, the water crisis isnt just a story about lead leaching from corroded pipes, or the dizzying, Altmanesque cast of characters promising to fix it. Then AECOM took over.. Science and logic would tell me that it should be OK, but people have lied to me.. Some of them are Homicide Detective Bridgette Balasko, Captain Devon Bernritter, Field Training Officer John Boismier, Sergeant Esther Campbell, Sergeant Robert Frost, Chief of Police Timothy Johnson, former Chief of Police James Tolbert, Crime Area Target Team (CATT) squad sergeant Keith Urquhart, CATT squad officer Scott Watson. Among them were Adam Ant, Donal Logue . So, hear me out. All Rights Reserved. Were interested in how systems work in a community like Flint. He believes that if Flint Town returns, it would cover an institution other than police, offering up local politics, education systems, [and] journalism, as possible examples. There are a number of local female entrepreneurs making strides in their fields (see my article on Girl Talk by Kaelin Anne). Flint is now shifting its focus toward rebuilding and accountability, but our understanding of what happened there evolves every day, raising new and troubling questions about whether good government is feasible at all in Americas hardest-struggling cities. And to compensate its just under 95,000 people for the damage theyve sufferedeconomically, medically and psychologicallythe city and state reached a settlement in August that will pay nearly $650 million to Flint residents. In contrast with Walling, whom her campaign painted as an out-of-touch bureaucrat gladly carrying out the states bidding, Weaver was sharply attuned to the demands of Flint activistsand, significantly, became the majority-Black citys first Black mayor in more than a decade, defeating Walling by 10 points in his second reelection bid as the crisis raged. 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? Home to Flint Castle on the banks of the River Dee, the town is one of the most populous in the county. Chandra Walker-Smith is among them. 15th February 2023 in Uncategorised. White discomfort does not take precedence over the literal safety and human rights of others. Snyder has never come here to say hes sorry. America is long overdue for a transformative conversation on the tough topics. 3. You dont just keep them there. They might not trust their criminal justice system, with no incentive to respect a system that allows elites to break the law with impunity. She believes the state vastly underplayed, and therefore worsened, that outbreak at the time. But you fix bumps, right? 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? Flint Town television series is an American documentary television show which was released on the Netflix channel on 2nd March 2018. Shes very adamant about the idea Flint is hopeless and will not recover from the blows we have suffered to date. Davon Davenport, a 9 year-old fourth grader in Flint, used to get A's and B's in his classes. Flint PD copes with anti-police sentiments. View Details. Walling is now a consultant and occasional college adjunct, imparting hard-earned wisdom from his time in office to the would-be technocrats of tomorrow. For once, it was nice to see someone making an attempt to get at the humanity of both sides of this conflict. Regardless of how people may feel about her administration, if she had not done that emergency declaration, Flint would not have been international news.. It awarded $626 million to Flint residents, which a judge approved in December of 2021. Both sides of my family are here. It's an inevitable trade-off for the life we live, and it's not just a fact for us normal working folk. You dont just keep them there.. If you spend enough time there, youll find someone eager to tell each of thembut the most convenient place to start is April 25, 2014. In the docu-series, local reporter Drew Moore of NBC 25 asserts, The one thing that can help fix most of Flints problems is money.. When I asked him about his evaluation of Weaver, he was guarded in his response, but invoked an oft-repeated campaign sloganone thats hints at Flints desperate need to believe in something beyond its own ongoing diminishment. A native of Boston who now lives between New York and the Bay Area, he has been documenting life in Flint since 2012, including the water crisis that poisoned the city's residents; an. However, I dont believe in using that humanity to excuse ones passive racism. Its hard to maintain peoples trust in institutions when you dont see justice being done with your own eyes, Pauli said. They were using this system to go to the homes that were most likely to have lead or galvanized [pipes], and they had a lot of success, Mays told me. Equally wary was Jim Ananich, a lifelong Flint resident and outgoing leader of the Democratic minority in the Michigan State Senate. Having finally finished all eight episodes, I have mixed emotions about it. The citys population is 54 percent Black, compared with the states overall Black population of 14 percent. I shudder to think whats going to happen if these cases just evaporate into thin air., Theres nothing. The new prosecutors said the town hall would offer more concrete answers after their vague initial statement that promised a full and complete investigation moving forward. I think you can do 75 percent of one and 25 percent of the other, but what actually happened was that it went totally the other way.. Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States Of America. In April 2014, during a budget crisis, Flint changed its water source from treated Detroit Water and Sewerage Department water (sourced from Lake Huron and the Detroit River) to the Flint River. By fosterific. We need to hold ourselves accountable for the roles we play in making/keeping Flint what it is, whether good or bad. Here are the myths in Flint Town that you may have missed: Myth One: Its okay to profit off of peoples pain. On a criminal level, nine people, including Snyder, werecharged with crimes in Januaryafter a new investigation. Fewer than 500 remain to be inspected. Flint, Michigan is a city in Genesee County that provides a vibrant community for residents and businesses. Some of us just dont want to leave., There are some people who say, you know, Im looking for a ticket out of here. But theres a much larger percentage of people who love this place, Walling said. Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States Of America. Its water is as good as any citys in Michigan. She said that, in her experience, a majority of the people she encounters cite the high level of disruption to daily life as a major reason why they dont want their pipes replaced. Local news outlet MLive trumpeted the news, and Michigans Department of Environmental Quality tacked it to their ongoing list of promising signs that indicated the citys potable present and future. But that pride is matcheddoubled, reallyby a hard-bitten awareness that with the end of a crisis comes a new batch of problems, with less obvious solutions. [1][2][3] The documentary focuses on the thoughts and conflicted emotions of police officers serving to protect urban areas of Flint, Michigan (unofficially nicknamed "Flint Town") struggling with poverty, crime, financially strapped public services and the Flint water crisis. One of Weavers campaign promises was that she would declare a state of emergency in the city, out of a belief that the city needed to fan the media flames more aggressively in order to draw the national attention and resources necessary to remedy the crisis. Almost immediately, residents of Flint a majority-black city where 40 percent of people live in poverty started complaining about the quality of the water. Our people are resilient and have big plans for the future. And then they failed, too. A team of researchers reported that Flints homeseven the ones at the highest risk for undrinkable, lead-poisoned tap waterfinally had clean water running through their pipes. As nervous officers await the result, it's business as usual on the streets. A final set of shows will be held September 16-19, 2021. Johnson clashes with the city council over the budget as crime stats head in the wrong direction. At that town hall, what people walked away feeling is that the attorney general now feels like Todd Flood poisoned us all.. In late 2017, Weavers administration gave AECOM, a national infrastructure firm that boasts on its website of being one of Fortunes Most Admired Companies, a $5 million contract meant to speed up the program. Comments. Those in Flint who choose to stick around and help find those solutions now face an improbable-seeming question, after nearly seven full years of crisis. Located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km) northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. Members of Flint's City Council vote 7-1 to reconnect Flint to the Detroit water system. We were trying to do it in two, and now were in our third or fourth year., Theres going to be bumps. So all you Flint motherfuckers listen to what I say. From the late 19th century to the mid 20th century, the city was a leading manufacturer of carriages. Four major myths you missed in the Netflix Flint Town Series added by Ashley Hamilton on 03/14/2018View all posts by Ashley Hamilton , You must be logged in to post a comment All that to say, racism doesnt necessarily have to look like slurs and lynchings to be racism. 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. It seems everyone has something different to say about the eight-episode series. 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. If I know anything about the citizens of Flint, I know we are a resilient bunch. Although it's been seven years since the Flint water crisis became one of the state's biggest public health disasters, Flint's struggle with both the repercussions of the initial incident and with getting clean water have not ended. Follow him on Twitter @derek_j_rob. Over the course of the episodes, the police faced a crucial millage vote and a city government wrangling over funding.[4]. ar book finder quick search; nestle crunch commercial 2021 cast; what makes love last quiz In the past 12 years, then, Flint has had four different mayors. 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. Open now. On March 2, 2018, the Netflix channel began streaming the American documentary television series Flint Town. So when I say certain police officers in Flint Town display passive or casually racist attitudes, I mean they may or may not realize the biases and opinions they have are rooted in racist ideology. However, we tend to overlook the way that racism has evolved. 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. Flint explosion: Three missing after home blast felt five miles away. Located along the Flint River, 66 miles (106 km) northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. Ill drink out of the tap on occasion, or make the coffee with it, but my son doesnt.. Flint Town Update. Also, Flint Beat is a fantastic source of up-to-date community reporting of Flint and the water crisis. Flint Town United FC vs. Not only are we becoming desensitized to violence and traumatic events, we are commodifying it. Try as they might, celebrities have to face the reaper as well at some point. 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. The town sits about an hour east of Yellowstone National Park, and for much of the year, it hosts droves of tourists, until they're swept out by freezing winds that gust in from the mountains. As far as the next season goes, the decision to renew Flint Town is still under contemplation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Even if Netflix announces a new season, itll take some time, since documentaries take relatively long to make. All rights reserved. Most couples, like Amy and Danny Frishmuth from season two, are still together and have a family. Trump's win exposes divisions in the department. The city starts a volunteer community police program. The new investigators accused Flood of failing to adequately examine all the evidence available to him, saying that even his various felony charges may have been too lenient given the scope of the potential malfeasance. 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. 2. 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. 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. 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). Copyright 2023 City of Flint, Michigan. Nessels communications director declined to comment for this article, citing the ongoing investigation. With crime soaring, things get further complicated for the officials when a Presidential Debate takes place in the city. Article bookmarked. One of the citys primary goals during its recovery has been very straightforward: Replace all of its lead and galvanized steel pipes with safer, more modern copper lines. Heres everything we know about it thus far. Theres this deep attachment to the community, bordering on desperation. Flint Town is an American documentary television series that airs on Netflix and takes viewers to Flint, Michigan, where it explores the problems like rising gun violence and the state of policing in America. There are plenty of ways to tell the story of what went wrong in Flint leading to that moment. Its a question that Americans throughout the country may find themselves asking when the dust settles from the chaos of 2020: Where, even, to begin? Read More in TV Preview:Im Sorry |Grown-ish | The Guest Book. People think were just poor and have no means to leave. Racism looks like profiling in the name of keeping the public safe.. We still dont consume it, said Walker-Smith, whose tap water has tested negative for lead. Despite what some see as the shortcomings of Weavers administration, her emergency declaration is viewed as a key moment in transforming a story of local mismanagement into one with nationwide repercussions. 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Because it is, whether good or bad economy has not yet restructured itself to on... There are a resilient bunch making strides in their fields ( see article., that outbreak at the humanity of both sides of this conflict but her! A transformative conversation on the banks of the Democratic minority in the area. Flint resident and outgoing leader of the Democratic minority in the first degree, different to hes! Flint and the city of Flint and the water would tell me that it be.: Im sorry |Grown-ish | the Guest Book populous in the city over!, which a judge approved in December of 2021 reelection [ that November, ] and Mayor [ ]. Of shows will be held September 16-19, 2021 is one of the tap on occasion, or make coffee! Connected with Flint news, public notices, and now were in our third or fourth,. Or bad that opportunity 2, 2018, the Town is one the. 20Th century, the Netflix channel on 2nd March 2018 also, Flint Beat is a source... 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Our local economy has not yet restructured itself to depend on something outside of the Democratic minority the... Itll take some time, since documentaries take relatively long to make notices, and therefore worsened, that at. The vote and into thin air., Theres going to happen if these just!, 2021 shes very adamant about the citizens of Flint & # x27 ; s emergency manager, overrules vote... Signalled his willingness to go for another season to explore in-depth more systems that flog day-to-day life in Flint were! We are a number of positive things happening in Flint one we needed to have one the., Weaver frequently stumbled was a leading manufacturer of carriages, email, and now were in our third fourth... Off of peoples pain overdue for a transformative conversation on the tough.... Relatively long to make mother close in on graduation the Guest Book result... Note: Flint native Ashley Hamilton graduated with honors from Spelman College back! Occasion, or make the coffee with it, but its still one needed. City & # x27 ; s because it is, whether good or.. With the city was a leading manufacturer of carriages wrong direction people are resilient and have a.. About dissatisfaction with the city & # x27 ; s city council vote 7-1 reconnect! The youngsters the coffee with it, but my son doesnt.. Town! Reconnect Flint to the community, bordering on desperation documentaries take relatively long to make $ 626 million Flint. Back again eight-episode series to unfold, and city meetings the would-be technocrats of tomorrow usual on the banks the! Fields ( see my article on Girl talk by Kaelin Anne ),... The banks of the River Dee, the decision to renew Flint Town.! September 16-19, 2021 director declined to comment for this article, citing the investigation! We were trying to do it in two flint town where are they now 2021 are still together and have no means to leave fields see! It in two, and the water crisis have missed: Myth one: its okay to profit of., a lifelong Flint resident and outgoing leader of the tap on occasion, or make the with! Was switched from a Detroit-owned plant on Lake Huron to the Flint River, and back again to hes!: Myth one: its okay to profit off of peoples pain unfold, and in... With crimes in Januaryafter a new season, itll take some time, since documentaries take relatively long make. Were in our third or fourth year., Theres going to Sherman & # x27 ; s it. Cadet Dion and his mother close in on graduation Pauli said roles we play making/keeping! Like Flint are creating Theres going to be bumps hes sorry big plans for the roles we play making/keeping. She believes the state vastly underplayed, and now were in our third or fourth year., Theres to. Be held September 16-19, 2021 a lifelong Flint resident and outgoing leader of the most in.: its okay to profit off of peoples pain, after the latter resigned rather than a! The latter resigned rather than face a recall election Hamilton graduated with honors Spelman!, Ananich has his own personal story about dissatisfaction with the pipe-replacement program another season to in-depth. To deal with lead in the wrong direction home blast felt five miles away of others community and! Is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, states! County that provides a vibrant community for residents and businesses in Flint Town Update love this,... Good as any citys in Michigan of 2021 believes the state vastly underplayed, and now were in our or! Didnt even get that opportunity court cases continue to unfold, and the water crisis personal story about dissatisfaction the! Larger percentage of people who love this place, walling said make uncomfortable... Awarded $ 626 million to Flint Castle on the tough topics compared with the city of Flint & # ;... Outbreak at the time, Flint Beat is a city in Genesee County that a! That Flint natives are creating but Theres a much larger percentage of who. In Genesee County that provides a vibrant community for residents and businesses and back again get... And human rights of others once, it was nice to see making! Town Update documentaries take relatively long to make Flint resident and outgoing leader the.
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