Election Day arrives. 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. Even once Flint water is safe, there will be some residents who will never trust or drink Flint water again, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician whose research exposed the Flint water crisis, said in a previous interview. March 23, 2015. We need to hold our educators, lawmakers, and other civil servants accountable for the services they are paid to provide. 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. 11 Nov 2021 A federal judge in the United States has approved a $626m settlement for victims of the lead water crisis in Flint, Michigan, in a case brought by tens of thousands of residents who. We need more community building and support for the positive things that Flint natives are creating. Who are the power players, and how are they driving politics and influencing Washington? 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. Many of the residents who lined up to speak did so through tears. Ill drink out of the tap on occasion, or make the coffee with it, but my son doesnt.. Republican Former Attorney General Bill Schuette appointed special prosecutor Todd Flood to head a broad, aggressive criminal investigation into the water crisis. But even amid all the pessimism, theres an important distinction to be made between a citys government and its people. Bahasa - Indonesia; Chinese (simplified) Deutsch; English - Australia; English - Canada; English - Ghana Walling attempted a political comeback in 2018, running to represent a Flint-area district in the Michigan House of Representatives, and losing in the Democratic primary to John Cherry III, the son of the states former lieutenant governor. We need to hold ourselves accountable for the roles we play in making/keeping Flint what it is, whether good or bad. I dont have detected lead anymore, and I still dont trust it, Ananich told me. Theres this deep attachment to the community, bordering on desperation. Were not finished with you all.. Members of Flint's City Council vote 7-1 to reconnect Flint to the Detroit water system. And the guests came in droves. 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. We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness. Residents of Flint are getting their long overdue money from the state of Michigan that has settled the $626 million lawsuit. Flint Town has been the talk of the town since it first aired on Netflix on March 2. It awarded $626 million to Flint residents, which a judge approved in December of 2021. Most couples, like Amy and Danny Frishmuth from season two, are still together and have a family. 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 It has been corrected. Instead, they ended up spending most of the evening hearing from anguished Flint residents skeptical they would see further convictions or accountability at all. 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. Article bookmarked. Their cases are pending. The series covers a period from November 2015 to early 2017, the same time frame as the 2016 presidential election. Canepari said, Our interest [as filmmakers] is in systems. O-Town: What Are They Up To Now? I lose reelection [that November,] and Mayor [Karen] Weaver gets sworn in. A team of researchers reported that Flint's homeseven the ones at the. ), By then, more than five years had passed since the switch flipped that began the crisis. 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. A historic village where they make or do crafts, a train ride and a even steamboat. Read More in TV Preview:Im Sorry |Grown-ish | The Guest Book. She did so in December 2015, a month after her election, and President Barack Obama then declared a federal emergency in January 2016, freeing up $5 million in aid. Wesley is down, 'cause it's in Flint Town. 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. The New Saints - Football Match Summary - March 4, 2022 - ESPN. (I covered this meeting in my former role as a reporter for the Michigan Advance. As voters weigh renewing a police funding tax, Chief Johnson looks for other ways to raise revenue. 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. Like normal people.. And boy, did we lose some big ones in 2021. As far as reception is concerned, Season 1 of Flint Town boasts a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics consensus reading, Flint Town dives deep into an essential subject matter with admirable objectivity while presenting candid and hard-hitting personal testimonials. On IMDb, the show has a solid rating of 8/10 on IMDb, based on nearly 2,500 votes. On a deep level, its been drilled into Flint residents heads that they cant trust their local officials to get the job done when it comes to even the most basic necessities, exemplified by the installment of the citys emergency managers. Without the proper chemicals, the acidic water eroded peoples' aging pipes and leached dangerous levels of lead into the water. Photo courtesy of Jamie Kelly Sgt. 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. There are plenty of ways to tell the story of what went wrong in Flint leading to that moment. A second season could see many other real-life personalities being featured. 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. Your email address will not be published. However, we tend to overlook the way that racism has evolved. Like nearly everyone I interviewed for this story, Ananich has his own personal story about dissatisfaction with the pipe-replacement program. Apart from police personnel, the show also features others like former Democratic Presidential Candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, current US President Donald Trump, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver, and ABC12 news reporter Jessica Dupnack, among others. Being a documentary show, Flint Town features real-life people, and in particular, features several members of the Flint Police Department. Our best guess is that if the show does get renewed, Flint Town season 2 can release sometime in 2020. The series, which looks through . There was a lot of racial discomfort in the documentary. 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. They might not trust their criminal justice system, with no incentive to respect a system that allows elites to break the law with impunity. This is another one of those tough conversations I mentioned we needed to have a Come to Jesus moment, if you will. The citys population is 54 percent Black, compared with the states overall Black population of 14 percent. Cadet Dion and his mother close in on graduation. And its a positive kind of desperation, in that its a desperate desire for something better.. For the time being, its unclear what that adjustment may look like or exactly how it will arrive. In the nation outside Flint, with the coronavirus vaccine at hand, the eyes of normal people are eagerly turning toward a post-pandemic world. Lansing [Michigans capital city] did this, and it took them 12 years to do it. On that day in April, the plan came to fruition. All that was coming out [of] the attorney generals office [last summer] was bashing Todd Flood. As of June, just over 10,000 pipes have been replaced in Flint and the citys website says it is in the final stage of replacement, but even still residents struggle to trust that the water is safe to drink. 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. New lines ensure fewer lead-related issues will arise, and now, the pipes abide by the federal Lead and Copper Rule. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Science and logic would tell me that it should be OK, but people have lied to me.. Here are the myths in Flint Town that you may have missed: Myth One: Its okay to profit off of peoples pain. Still, the citys work has continued apace. When Burton Mayor Duane Haskins visited him in the hospital after the incident, he said Christie "still had a . The Flint police officer has been identified as Caleb Andrew Tierney, a 25-year-old resident of Linden. UPDATED 4/12/2022. [1] The demonym of Flint is off Flint. In fairness to Mayor Weaver, I do think the citizens of the city deserved to see [pipe excavation] done in different parts of the city, Walling said. The court cases continue to unfold, and the city slowly replaces its lead lines. In this backdrop, the show gives its audience a view into Flint, from the point of view of the citys law enforcement officials. Theres no information coming out, none, Mays said. Welcome to Flint Town. 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. 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. Instead, the recurring theme we see in the media is different outlets all fanning the same flames of racial tension for views and ratings. 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. Some even died. If you havent seen the show yet head over toNetflix to catch all the episodes of the first season, Read More: Best Drug Documentaries on Netflix. 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. Regardless of how people may feel about her administration, if she had not done that emergency declaration, Flint would not have been international news.. 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. As a nation simply throwing wads of money at a developing country will not help it to move forward. Even if Netflix announces a new season, itll take some time, since documentaries take relatively long to make. Since the slow-motion collapse of the American auto manufacturing industry, its population had shrunk by 50 percent from its postwar peak to just under 100,000 residents. Comments. Guest stars reported that there was a real sense of family on set, enhanced by the frequent use of town locals as extras. Walker-Smith conducts outreach for the National Resources Defense Council, contacting Flint residents who havent yet had their pipes replaced. For Americans who stopped following the Flint water crisis after its first few gritty chapters, it might come as a surprise how far the city has come: Today, after nearly $400 million in state and federal spending, Flint has secured a clean water source, distributed filters to all residents who want them, and laid modern, safe copper pipes to nearly every home in the city that needed them. Over a two-year period, filmmakers embedded with cops in Flint, Michigan, reveal a department grappling with volatile issues in untenable conditions. But now Flint finds this form of resolution, too, possibly slipping out of reach. But you fix bumps, right? A second season is yet to be greenlit by Netflix, but the creators already have something in mind for season two. Like many older cities, Flint had no clear record of which pipes were outdated or dangerous; such information was scrawled on more than 100,000 note cards that languished in a city basement, some more than a century old. Some, as the clock ran out on the evening, didnt even get that opportunity. Encouraging crime statistics bring cautious optimism. By Ashley Hamilton on 03/14/2018Comments Below. Places such as Raspberries and The Loft offer lively weekend recreation for the adult crowd. As far as the next season goes, the decision to renew Flint Town is still under contemplation. We have to acknowledge that the justice system as an entire entity, has not always (read: ever) been fair and just as it pertains to people and communities of color. 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. By David K. Li and Erin Einhorn. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Flint, Michigan, changed its water system in 2014, resulting in water so toxic that residents got sick. According to the 2001 Census the population of the community of Flint was 12,804. In one of the very last episodes, the producers showcase a young lady who insists Flint is going to burn down. So all you Flint motherfuckers listen to what I say. The court cases continue to unfold, and the city slowly replaces its lead lines. White discomfort does not take precedence over the literal safety and human rights of others. Even before its pipes started leaching lead. Since then, fans and critics have been waiting for a second season, which is yet to be confirmed. (Photo Credit: Open Door Co./Nomad Films Inc.). A young cadet navigates training, while veteran Frost recalls a painful incident. Flint Town lets slide one last, important myth: Myth Four: Flint is a hopeless and helpless place. View Details. Among them were Adam Ant, Donal Logue . For months, it turned out, Flint had had been exposing its residents to that lead at levels that could cause lifelong damage to the health of its children. They tell us that the waters OK now, but I have excessive itching on my back right now. 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. Myth Three: White discomfort supersedes human rights. Login, Copyright: 2017 Bridges Communications Group, Inc., Publisher of TheHUB. 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. Its hard to maintain peoples trust in institutions when you dont see justice being done with your own eyes, Pauli said. So whats the trust level?. That intersection resulted in one of the water crisis most unique political consequences: Wallings succession by Karen Weaver, a local booster, business owner and child psychologist, to replace Walling in 2015. Exploring the difficulties placed upon the shoulders of the police staff as their numbers dwindle from 300 officers to only 98, to cover a population of over 100,000 citizens. 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. The ratings for the first season werent as good as they expected and hence, Netflix is on the fence for this one. The levels of bacteria likely caused an outbreak of Legionnaires disease that also followed the switch, killing at least a dozen people. U.S. District Judge Judith Levy granted preliminary approval to a $641 million settlement deal for Flint residents, though the planned distribution of the settlement between lawyers and residents isnt decided. Having finally finished all eight episodes, I have mixed emotions about it. The town has a rich sporting history. Crews work to replace a water main along Flints Dupont St. on March 5. 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. Shes very adamant about the idea Flint is hopeless and will not recover from the blows we have suffered to date. The highest-profile public-works tragedy of the past decade has triggered a bigger breakdown in trustand carries a lesson for post-Covid America. We need to hold our educators, lawmakers, and other civil servants accountable for the services they are paid to provide. And Flint's experience has been a precursor to lead. On April 25 of this year, the six-year anniversary of Wallings fateful photo op, the statute of limitations for misdemeanors and felony misconduct charges in Michigan expired. If we arent being part of the solution, we are certainly being part of the problem. I own my home; its paid for; I dont have a mortgage. It offered a raw view into the humanity and vulnerabilities of both police officers and the residents of the communities in which they serve. "A travel advisory has been issued to warn that any Black people in or traveling to San Antonio use increased caution when visiting the city due to the city's policing policies that put . So, hear me out. 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. Benjamin Pauli, a professor of social sciences at Flints Kettering University and author of Flint Fights Back: Environmental Justice and Democracy in the Flint Water Crisis, draws a direct connection between the state takeover and the groundswell of anger and mistrust around the water crisis, describing how even before the water switch Flints activist community was interested in democracy, and it just so happened that water and democracy were starting to come together.. Weaver was elected as an outsider, someone who would give voice to Flints common man and upend the sclerotic status quo through sheer force of personality. One day later, Jerry Ambrose, the city's emergency manager, overrules the vote and . The renovated Farmers Market is thriving, offering a variety of local and internships cuisines. kelly tripucka net worth flint town where are they now. Flint Water Quality Update Air date: Mar 2, 2018. Flint police battle with a store that's a magnet for criminal activity; Dion has his first shift on the job; the officers react to tragedy in Dallas. That sequence was extraordinarily difficult. Johnson clashes with the city council over the budget as crime stats head in the wrong direction. The Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village and the Berston Field House both offer activities for our youth to engage in. 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. I cant tell somebody they should trust [claims that the water is safe], because I dont trust themand I have more information than most people, said Ananich. For once, it was nice to see someone making an attempt to get at the humanity of both sides of this conflict. I met Walling at Caf Rhema, a small coffee shop in downtown Flint that seeks to do its part in revitalizing the city by invoking the better days of the Jazz Age. Try as they might, celebrities have to face the reaper as well at some point. I love going to Sherman's because it is an affordable good time. Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud, one of the lead prosecutors appointed by Nessel, warned that those who made plea deals based on those charges would walk away from this with nothing [on their record] and promised a more robust investigation that would result in a higher level of accountability. The 2012 film " Promised Land ," starring clean-water champion Matt Damon and John Krasinski, shined a light on the threat to groundwater posed by hydraulic fracturing or fracking. On a criminal level, nine people, including Snyder, werecharged with crimes in Januaryafter a new investigation. Christie's condition was upgraded to "fair" Tuesday, and he was expected to recover. 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