Flint, Michigan Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===21st century=== ====First financial emergency: 2002–2004==== By 2002, Flint had accrued $30 million in debt.<ref name=fj2>{{cite news|last=Mostafavi|first=Beata|title=What happened last time? A look back at Flint's 2002 state takeover|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/11/what_happened_last_time_a_look.html|access-date=December 5, 2011|newspaper=The Flint Journal|date=November 10, 2011}}</ref> On March 5, 2002, the city's voters [[recall election|recalled]] Mayor [[Woodrow Stanley]]. On May 22, [[Governor of Michigan|Governor]] [[John Engler]] declared a financial emergency in Flint, and on July 8 the state appointed an [[Financial emergency in Michigan|emergency financial manager]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Longley|first=Kristin|title=Flint would be only Michigan city to twice undergo emergency state takeover|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/11/flint_would_be_only_michigan_c.html|access-date=November 14, 2011|newspaper=The Flint Journal|date=November 8, 2011}}</ref> Ed Kurtz. The emergency financial manager displaced the temporary mayor, [[Darnell Earley]], in the city administrator position. In August 2002, city voters elected former Mayor [[James W. Rutherford|James Rutherford]] to finish the remainder of Stanley's term of office. On September 24, Kurtz commissioned a salary and wage study for top city officials from an outside accounting and consulting firm. The financial manager then installed a new code enforcement program for annual rental inspections and emergency demolitions. On October 8, Kurtz ordered cuts in pay for the mayor (from $107,000 to $24,000) and the City Council members (from $23,000 to $18,000). He also eliminated insurance benefits for most officials. After spending $245,000 fighting the takeover, the City Council ended the lawsuits on October 14. Immediately thereafter on October 16, a new interim financial plan was put in place by the manager. This plan initiated controls on hiring, overnight travel and spending by city employees. On November 12, Kurtz directed the city's retirement board to stop unusual pension benefits, which had decreased some retiree pensions by 3.5%. Kurtz sought the return of overpayments to the pension fund. However, in December, the state attorney general stated that emergency financial managers do not have authority over the retirement system. With contract talks stalled, Kurtz stated that there either need to be cuts or layoffs to union employees. That same month, the city's recreation centers were temporarily closed.<ref name="fj2" /> Emergency measures continued in 2003. In May, Kurtz increased water and sewer bills by 11% and shut down operations of the ombudsman's office. In September, a 4% pay cut was agreed to by the city's largest union. In October, Kurtz moved in favor of infrastructure improvements, authorizing $1 million in sewer and road projects. [[Don Williamson]] was elected a full-term mayor and sworn in on November 10. In December, city audits reported nearly $14 million in reductions in the city deficit. For the 2003–2004 budget year, estimates decreased that amount to between $6 million and $8 million.<ref name="fj2" /> With pressure from Kurtz for large layoffs and replacement of the board on February 17, 2004, the City Retirement Board agreed to four proposals reducing the amount of the city's contribution into the system. On March 24, Kurtz indicated that he would raise the City Council's and the mayor's pay, and in May, Kurtz laid off 10 workers as part of 35 job cuts for the 2004–05 budget. In June 2004, Kurtz reported that the financial emergency was over.<ref name="fj2" /> ====Redevelopment==== [[File:Flint July 2018 01 (The Durant - Hotel Durant).jpg|thumb|[[The Durant]], built in 1919]] In November 2013, [[American Cast Iron Pipe Company]], a [[Birmingham, Alabama]] based company, became the first to build a production facility in Flint's former [[Buick City]] site, purchasing the property from the [[RACER Trust]].<ref>[http://www.freep.com/article/20131113/BUSINESS0101/311130151/Flint-Buick-City-American-Cast-Iron-Pipe-Co-General-Motors-RACER-GM Pipe maker to add 60 jobs at Flint's Buick City property] ''Detroit Free Press'', November 13, 2013</ref> Commercially, local organizations have attempted to pool their resources in the central business district and to expand and bolster higher education at four local institutions. Examples of their efforts include the following: * Landmarks such as the First National Bank building have been extensively renovated, often to create lofts or office space, and filming for the [[Will Ferrell]] movie ''[[Semi-Pro]]'' resulted in renovations to the Capitol Theatre. * [[The Paterson Building]] at Saginaw and Third street has been owned by the Collison Family, Thomas W. Collison & Co., Inc., for the last 30 years. The building is rich in [[Art Deco]] throughout the interior and exterior. The building also houses its own garage in the lower level, providing heated valet parking to The Paterson Building Tenants. * In 2004, University Park, the first planned residential community in Flint in over 30 years, was built north of Fifth Avenue off Saginaw Street, Flint's main thoroughfare. * Local foundations have funded the renovation and redecoration of Saginaw Street and have begun work turning University Avenue (formerly known as Third Avenue) into a mile-long "University Corridor" connecting [[University of Michigan–Flint]] with [[Kettering University]]. *[[Atwood Stadium]], located on University Avenue, received extensive renovations, and the Cultivating Our Community project landscaped 16 different locations as a part of a $415,600 beautification project. * Wade Trim and Rowe Incorporated made major renovations to transform empty downtown Flint blocks into business, entertainment, and housing centers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsupdowntown.com |title=What's Up Downtown? |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202102003/http://www.whatsupdowntown.com/ |archive-date=February 2, 2015 }}</ref> [[WNEM-TV]], a television station based in [[Saginaw, Michigan|Saginaw]], uses space in the Wade Trim building facing Saginaw Street as a secondary studio and newsroom.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/newsnow/2007/09/wnem_plans_studio_in_downtown.html |title=WNEM plans studio in downtown Flint | newspaper=The Flint Journal}}</ref> * The long-vacant [[The Durant|Durant Hotel]], formerly owned by the [[United Hotels Company of America|United Hotels Company]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Receivers Named For Hotel Firm|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/11/18/105819885.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1933/11/18/105819885.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|access-date=October 14, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 18, 1933}}</ref> was turned into a mixture of commercial space and apartments intended to attract young professionals or college students, with 93 units.<ref>[https://www.mlive.com/business/mid-michigan/2011/08/the_durant_hotel_full_for_the.html The Durant hotel full for the first time; site of a dozen weddings, prom and other events downtown Flint] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, January 21, 2019</ref> * In March 2008, the Crim Race Foundation put up an offer to buy the vacant Character Inn and turn it into a fitness center and do a multimillion-dollar renovation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=6028243 |title=Crim offers to purchase Character Inn |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629043405/http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=6028243 |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref> [[File:The Paterson Building.jpg|thumb|[[The Paterson Building]]]] Similar to a plan in Detroit, Flint is in the process of tearing down thousands of abandoned homes to create available real estate. As of June 2009, approximately 1,100 homes have been demolished in Flint, with one official estimating another 3,000 more will have to be torn down.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5516536/US-cities-may-have-to-be-bulldozed-in-order-to-survive.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090615055407/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5516536/US-cities-may-have-to-be-bulldozed-in-order-to-survive.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= June 15, 2009|title= US cities may have to be bulldozed in order to survive|access-date=June 18, 2009|author= Tom Leonard|date= June 12, 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph }}</ref> ====Second financial emergency: 2011–2015==== On September 30, 2011, [[Governor of Michigan|Governor]] [[Rick Snyder]] appointed an eight-member team to review Flint's financial state with a request to report back in 30 days (half the legal time for a review).<ref>{{cite news|last=Longley|first=Kristin|title=Gov. Snyder appoints team to review Flint's finances under emergency manager law, requests report within 30 days| url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/09/gov_snyder_appoints_team_to_re.html |access-date=November 14, 2011|newspaper=The Flint Journal|date=September 30, 2011}}</ref> On November 8, Mayor [[Dayne Walling]] defeated challenger Darryl Buchanan 8,819 votes (56%) to 6,868 votes (44%).<ref>{{cite news|last=Longley|first=Kristin|title=About 19 percent of voters turned out to re-elect Flint Mayor Dayne Walling|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/11/about_19_percent_of_voters_tur.html|access-date=November 9, 2011|newspaper=Flint Journal|date=November 9, 2011}}</ref> That same day, the Michigan State review panel declared Flint to be in a state of a "local government financial emergency" recommending the state again appoint an emergency manager.<ref>{{cite news|last=Longley|first=Kristin|title=Dayne Walling re-elected mayor as state declares financial emergency in Flint|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/11/dayne_walling_re-elected_as_st.html|access-date=November 9, 2011|newspaper=Flint Journal|date=November 9, 2011}}</ref> On November 14, the City Council voted 7 to 2 to not appeal the state review with Mayor Walling concurring the next day.<ref name=emtl>{{cite news|last=Longley|first=Kristin|title=Flint emergency: Timeline of state takeover|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/12/flint_emergency_timeline_of_st_1.html|access-date=December 1, 2012|newspaper=Flint Journal|date=December 1, 2012}}</ref> Governor Snyder appointed [[Michael Brown (Michigan politician)|Michael Brown]] as the city's emergency manager.<ref name="Longley">{{cite news|last=Longley|first=Kristin|title=Former Acting Mayor Michael Brown named Flint's emergency manager|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/11/former_acting_mayor_michael_br.html|access-date=November 29, 2011|newspaper=Flint Journal|date=November 29, 2011}}</ref> On December 2, Brown dismissed a number of top administrators. Pay and benefits from Flint's elected officials were automatically removed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Longley|first=Kristin|title=Shakeup at Flint City Hall as new emergency manager issues layoffs, pay cuts|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2011/12/layoffs_pay_cuts_for_some_at_f.html|access-date=December 5, 2011|newspaper=The Flint Journal|date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> On December 8, the office of ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission were eliminated by Brown.<ref name=emtl/> On January 16, 2012, protestors against the emergency manager law including Flint residents marched near the governor's home. The next day, Brown filed a financial and operating plan with the state as mandated by law. The next month, each ward in the city had a community engagement meeting hosted by Brown. Governor Snyder on March 7 made a statewide public safety message from Flint City Hall that included help for Flint with plans for reopening the Flint lockup and increasing state police patrols in Flint.<ref name=emtl/> On March 20, 2012, days after a lawsuit was filed by labor union [[American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees|AFSCME]], and a [[restraining order]] was issued against Brown, his appointment was found to be in violation of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, and Mayor Walling and the City Council had their powers returned.<ref>{{cite news|title=Judge: State violated law in appointing Flint emergency manager; Powers of mayor, city council reinstated|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/03/emergency_manager_lawsuit.html|newspaper=The Flint Journal|date=March 20, 2012}}</ref> The state immediately filed an emergency appeal, claiming the financial emergency still existed.<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/03/state_plans_emergency_appeal_a.html State plans emergency appeal after judge removes Flint emergency manager, restores mayor and city council] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, March 20, 2012</ref> On March 26, the appeal was granted, putting Brown back in power.<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/03/flint_emergency_manager_reinst.html Flint emergency manager reinstated as battle over Public Act 4 continues] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, March 26, 2012</ref> Brown and several unions agreed to new contract terms in April.<ref name=emtl/> Brown unveiled his fiscal year 2013 budget on April 23. It included cuts in nearly every department including police and fire, as well as higher taxes.<ref>April 24, 2012. [http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/04/flint_emergency_manager_unveil.html Flint emergency manager unveils budget with fee hikes, public safety layoffs] ''The Flint Journal''. MLive Media Group.</ref> An Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District was created by Manager Brown in June 2012 for 11 downtown Flint properties. On July 19, the city pension system was transferred to the Municipal Employees Retirement System by the city's retirement board which led to a legal challenge.<ref name=emtl/> On August 3, 2012, the [[Michigan Supreme Court]] ordered the state Board of Canvassers to certify a referendum on Public Act 4, the Emergency Manager Law, for the November ballot. Brown made several actions on August 7 including placing a $6 million public safety millage on the ballot and sold [[Genesee Towers]] to a development group for $1 to demolish the structure. The board certified the referendum petition on August 8, returning the previous Emergency Financial Manager Law into effect. With Brown previously temporary mayor for the last few years, he was ineligible to be the Emergency Financial Manager. [[Ed Kurtz]] was once again appointed [[Emergency financial manager|Emergency Financial Manager]] by the Emergency Financial Assistance Loan Board.<ref name=emtl/> Two lawsuits were filed in September 2012, one by the city council against Kurtz's appointment, while another was against the state in Ingham County Circuit Court claiming the old emergency financial manager law remains repealed.<ref name=emtl/> On November 30, [[State Treasurer of Michigan|State Treasurer]] [[Andy Dillon]] announced the financial emergency was still ongoing, and the emergency manager was still needed.<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/11/state_treasurys_perspective_fl.html State treasury: Flint emergency financial manager still needed] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, November 30, 2012</ref> Michael Brown was re-appointed Emergency Manager on June 26, 2013, and returned to work on July 8.<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/06/michael_brown_is_back_as_emerg.html Emergency manager in Flint will be Michael Brown after Ed Kurtz steps down] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, June 26, 2013</ref> Flint had an $11.3 million projected deficit when Brown started as emergency manager in 2011. The city faced a $19.1 million combined deficit from 2012, with plans to borrow $12 million to cover part of it.<ref name=budget2013>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/06/is_second_time_for_michael_bro.html Public safety still a big concern as Mike Brown readies return as Flint's emergency manager] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, June 30, 2013</ref> Brown resigned from his position in early September 2013, and his last day was October 31. He was succeeded by Saginaw city manager (and former Flint temporary mayor) Darnell Earley.<ref name=earley>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2013/09/michael_brown_resigns_as_flint.html New Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley to take over after Michael Brown resigns] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, September 11, 2013</ref> Earley formed a blue ribbon committee on governance with 23 members on January 16, 2014, to review city operations and consider possible charter amendments.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Adams|first1=Dominic|title=A list of who is on the Flint Blue Ribbon Committee on Governance|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/01/flints_blue_ribbon_committee_m.html|access-date=July 20, 2015|work=The Flint Journal|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> The blue ribbon committee recommend that the city move to a council-manager government.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Acosta|first1=Roberto|title=Blue ribbon report recommends big changes for how Flint is governed|url=http://www.mlive.com/flint-river/index.ssf/2014/07/blue_ribbon_report_recommends.html|access-date=July 20, 2015|work=Flint Journal|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=July 24, 2014}}</ref> Six charter amendment proposals were placed on the {{dts|2014|11|4}}, ballot with the charter review commission proposal passing along with reduction of mayoral staff appointments and budgetary amendments. Proposals which would eliminate certain executive departments, the Civil Service Commission and the ombudsman office were defeated.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fonger|first1=Ron|title=Flint voters OK first review of city charter in 40 years, work to start after February election|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2014/11/flint_voters_city_charter.html|access-date=July 20, 2015|work=Flint Journal|publisher=MLive Media Group|date=November 5, 2014}}</ref> Flint elected a nine-member [[Government of Flint, Michigan#Charter Review Commission|Charter Review Commission]] on May 5, 2015.<ref name=fj5>{{cite news|last1=Fonger|first1=Ron|title=Big job ahead for nine elected to Flint Charter Review Commission|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/05/big_job_ahead_for_nine_elected.html|access-date=November 11, 2015|work=Flint Journal|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=May 6, 2015}}</ref> With Earley appointed to be emergency manager for [[Detroit Public Schools Community District|Detroit Public Schools]] on {{dts|2015|1|13}}, city financial adviser Jerry Ambrose was selected to finish out the financial emergency with an expected exit in April.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jerry Ambrose named Flint's fourth emergency manager as Darnell Earley heads to Detroit|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/01/jerry_ambrose_tapped_as_next_e.html|access-date=January 13, 2015|work=The Flint Journal|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> On {{dts|2015|4|30}}, the state moved the city from under an emergency manager receivership to a Receivership Transition Advisory Board.<ref name=fj4>{{cite news|last1=Fonger|first1=Ron|title='A heavy burden' lifted from Flint as Gov. Rick Snyder declares end of financial emergency|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/04/a_heavy_burden_lifted_from_fli.html|access-date=July 18, 2015|work=Flint Journal|publisher=Mlive Media Group|date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> On November 3, 2015, Flint residents elected [[Karen Weaver]] as their first female mayor.<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/11/karen_weaver_makes_history_ele_1.html Karen Weaver makes history, elected Flint's first woman mayor] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, November 3, 2015</ref> On January 22, 2016, the Receivership Transition Advisory Board unanimously voted to return some powers, including appointment authority, to the mayor.<ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/01/powers_returned_to_flint_mayor.html Powers returned to Flint mayor, no staffing changes announced] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive, January 22, 2016</ref> The Receivership Transit Authority Board was formally dissolved by State Treasurer Nick Khouri on April 10, 2018, returning the city to local control.<ref name="localcontrol">{{cite web |title=Flint Released from Receivership, All Remaining Emergency Manager Orders Repealed |url=https://www.michigan.gov/treasury/0,4679,7-121-1755_73555_85267_85268-464775--,00.html |website=Michigan.gov |publisher=Michigan Department of Treasury |access-date=August 22, 2019}}</ref> ====Water state of emergency==== {{Main|Flint water crisis}} [[File:President Obama sips filtered water from Flint.jpg|thumb|President [[Barack Obama]] sips filtered Flint water following a roundtable on the [[Flint water crisis]], 2016]] In April 2014, during a financial crisis, state-appointed emergency manager Darnell Earley changed Flint's water source from the [[Detroit Water and Sewerage Department]] (sourced from [[Lake Huron]]) to the Flint River.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Leonard N. |title=Darnell Earley: The man in power during Flint switch |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/03/14/darnell-earley-flint-water-crisis/81788654/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}</ref> The problem was compounded with the fact that anticorrosive measures were not implemented. After two independent studies, [[lead poisoning]] caused by the water was found in the area's population.<ref>{{cite web|title=Engineering's Marc Edwards heads to Flint as part of study into unprecedented corrosion problem|url=http://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2015/09/091415-engineering-edwardsflint.html|publisher=Virginia Tech|access-date=December 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = State of emergency declared in Flint, Michigan over poisoned water supply |work= World Socialist Web Site|date= December 16, 2015|url = https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/12/16/flin-d16.html|access-date = December 30, 2015}}</ref> This has led to several lawsuits, the resignation of several officials, fifteen criminal indictments, and a federal public health state of emergency for all of Genesee County.<ref name=waterwashpost>{{Cite news|title = In Flint, Mich., there's so much lead in children's blood that a state of emergency is declared|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/12/15/toxic-water-soaring-lead-levels-in-childrens-blood-create-state-of-emergency-in-flint-mich/|newspaper = The Washington Post|date=December 15, 2015 |access-date =December 15, 2015|issn = 0190-8286|language = en-US|first = Yanan|last = Wang}}</ref><ref name="Bethencourt">Daniel Bethencourt, [http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/11/13/after-flint-water-crisis-families-file-lawsuit/75744376/ After Flint water crisis, families file lawsuit], ''Detroit Free Press'' (November 13, 2015).</ref><ref>[http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/12/deq_director_dan_wyant_resigns.html Director Dan Wyant resigns after task force blasts MDEQ over Flint water crisis] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, December 29, 2015</ref><ref>[http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2016/12/former_state_emergency_manager.html Two former Flint emergency managers charged with water crisis crimes] ''The Flint Journal'' via MLive.com, December 20, 2016</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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