Featured photo: Flint Resident Claire McClinton
Written by Tanya Terry
At a recent Community Meeting regarding spending of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds held by Flint City Council that took place at Hasselbring Senior Center, Flint Resident Claire McClinton said millions and millions of dollars had come into the city previously.
“But we don’t feel that,” she said. “Why? Because the money from the feds went to the state-the governor, Snyder, and he distributed the money to the ‘money people.’”
McClinton said the money was supposed to go to Flint residents to mitigate the water crisis.
“But, we got bypassed, and the people got rich, and downtown got pretty and all this stuff-and they come to the council and say: ‘We want to help the city of Flint-and we’re go’n’ have to stop that with this money,” McClinton continued.
McClinton told the council their partners were the residents at the meeting.
“We’re the partners; we’re the partners; we’re the partners,” she said to stress her point.
She said some of the American Rescue Plan Act money could be used for assistance to help residents pay their water bills.
“We’re not against people getting assistance with their water bills. As a matter of fact, we would like to see you set up staff from the agencies down at City Hall or at the Mini Stations to help residents fill out those convoluted, complicated applications to get help with their water bills. Everybody’s not on internet. Everybody’s not on Facebook. A lot of residents need help to get their help. So, I’d like to see that assistance program be brought front and center where people can get their hands on it. But, in the meantime, in between time, if you pay my water bill today, as high as our water rates are, I’ll be right back there in three or four months.”
McClinton said the city needs to offer something “better than assistance.”
“What we have been proposing is a Water Affordability Program in the city of Flint. A Water Affordability Program means that your water bills are tied to your income, and not your usage. Now, I know that’s revolutionary, but we’re used to revolutionary change in Flint. We had the Sit Down Strike…”
McClinton said nobody should lose their home because they can’t pay their water bill, and suggested the council also look into suspending water turn offs in the city of Flint.
“Evidence has shown from Philadelphia and Baltimore whose already had some experience with water affordability, when you give people a fair and just rate to pay, they’re going to pay it.”
McClinton said again the community members were the council’s partners.
“That’s our money, and I’m so proud of the people who came here tonight to claim our money.”
Council President Eric Mays the water expenditure was a big issue in the city, and what McClinton talked about was a dynamite issue.
“Those water no shut offs, guess how much the bill has got to?” Mays asked.” We got in $94 million, but we got $40 million in delinquencies.”
Mays said the council would continue to see what the community wanted to do with the money the city received and hopefully would address water expenditure some way, somehow.
“We have a lot of nonprofit organizations that actually does the work,” Arthur Woodson said. “Around here, they like to give it to the big organizations and they take administration fees, then 13%-and by the time it makes it to the organizations that’s actually doing the work, they get crumbs, and they can’t give it to anybody. “
Woodson said repeatedly within the city money was given to the same organizations, but organizations that actually do the work often “can’t find a dime.”
“That’s how you get money back into the community,” he continued. “You find those organizations that’s actually doing the work and that’s actually in the neighborhoods working with people.”
Among several suggestions, Woodson also suggested partnering with the Genesee County Land Bank and attempting to get some houses back to refurbish the houses. He said through a partnership with VA, the houses could be given to disabled veterans.
“Give it to a police officer who y’all trying to recruit,” he recommended as an alternative, instead of what he called “just giving the houses away.”
Woodson pointed out many cities have already spent their ARPA dollars and the city has had the money since May 19, 2021.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to give the money to the people.”
Woodson described himself as an advocate for the HELP Centers. The centers offer food and health assistance, as well as water distribution. Woodson said many of the volunteers are senior citizens. He asked the council to consider giving ARPA funds to the HELP Centers to show appreciation.
“They were out there during the height of COVID reaching in people’s cars giving water and food out. Some of them got real sick. So, if you can, at least give them $500 and say how much you appreciate them doing something that needed to be done…”
Councilwoman Judy Priestly told Woodson she had three organizations reach out to her wanting to rehabilitate homes and teach young adults a trade. She said the council voted for the city to keep about 49 houses out of about 600 mostly empty and dilapidated properties in Flint.
“So, maybe we can help fund those and keep the houses we kept, and not only give back to the community that way, but help these young people learn a trade so that they can support themselves in the future,” Priestly said.
Many nonprofits and some for profit organizations told the council what their needs are, with some of them requesting specific amounts. Giving funds to help further the endeavors of neighborhood block clubs was also discussed.
