Written by Tanya Terry, with featured photo by Tanya Terry
The Flint City Council, which has been criticized for both having meetings that are very long and for not accomplishing much at the meetings, made several decisions at its last council meeting that could greatly affect Flint residents.
In addition, Flint’s City Council meetings held on Monday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 10 involved the return of First Ward Councilman Leon El-Alamin, following well over a month of his absence.
El-Alamin has been accused of choking a woman on July 10 and faces a felony charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder by strangulation, along with a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence.
El-Alamin told the Courier recently: “I am innocent of what I have been accused of, and I am determined to defend my name and reputation.”
He also stated on September 9: “I may not have been inside the chambers until yesterday, but I have continued to serve the residents of Ward 1 – and I am determined to do so as I continue to finish out my term.”
A settlement with former Flint Fire Chief Raymond Barton was approved at the a special Flint City Council meeting on September 10. Barton was fired after a 2022 house fire, which two children died in. He has alleged that his firing was due to him not falsifying documents related to the fire. The resolution was to resolve Case Number 2:23–cv–10051–NGE–KGA, in the amount of $225,000.00, in satisfaction of any and all claims arising from the matter of Barton vs. Neeley.
The Flint City Council also approved on a tentative agreement between the City of Flint and the Police Officers Labor Council for the Flint Police Department Sergeants.
In regards to the agreement, El-Alamin stated: “As a city council member, I believe it is our duty to support the Flint Police and the vital role they play in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. Supporting this union contract is essential for providing our officers with the resources and support they need to perform their duties effectively.
“When we have a strong police force, that will help foster a safer environment for all residents. So, by backing this contract that they have come up with, it demonstrates our commitment public safety, community trust and the dedicated men and women who serve us every day.”
Additionally, the council voted to allocate $44,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money to the Flint Institute of Music. The funding is intended to expand FIM’s current Hocus Focus program to include more schools and youth–serving institutions, as well as to utilize Hocus Focus Analytics throughout Greater Flint.
However, the council did not approve the resolution to allocate $300,000 in ARPA funds for the North Flint Food Market.
“Our ward has long been recognized as a food desert, which has had significant impacts on the health and well being of our families,” said El-Alamin, who supported allocation the funds for the grocery store.
He said he felt the store would “not only provide essential groceries, but also create jobs and foster a sense of community ownership.”
Flint Resident Arthur Woodson, on the other hand, had urged the council to vote against allocating the funds for the food market, calling it “Auto World 2.0”
“Ten years-it shouldn’t have been 10 years for that store to open,” Woodson said, referring to the time the project has taken to complete.
Biggs-Leavy, who had previously been a candidate for the 3rd Ward city council seat, spoke at the September 10 meeting. She called El-Alamin a “woman beater” and called the council members present “five crooked people.”
A woman who identified herself as the mother of the alleged victim in the case pending against the councilman had attended the previous meeting. She said she would continue to come to the meetings while the “demon” was in his seat, referring to El-Alamin.
However, Woodson said: “You are innocent until proven guilty.”
El-Alamin maintained his position that he is focused on serving his ward and the people of Flint.
He stated: “I, also in collaboration with my organization the MADE Institute, run an urban farm in the 1st Ward, in which I have staff and residents growing healthy foods that we give away to the community.”
He said he would continue to advocate for blight elimination, renovation funding for home repairs like roofs, in-home plumbing and tree removal, along with sidewalk repair.
“I am also advocating for service and programs for our seniors and disabled. I will be sponsoring some seniors to attend the upcoming Ms. Senior Pageant and the Grandfather and Granddaughter Dance that will be hosted at the Mays Senior Community Center, in my ward.”
El-Alamin shared he is working on a resolution regarding the George Floyd Act, in which that the Flint City Council would endorse the passing of federal legislation such as the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. The act is intended to deter the use of excessive force, no-knock warrants and racial profiling and to mandate national reporting of police misconduct.
He also shared a resolution he is working on to establish a special law enforcement unit dedicated to enforcing local ordinances that prohibit loitering, nuisances and zoning violations within the city limits.
His preliminary examination is set for September 23.
