By Tanya Terry, with featured photo by Tanya Terry
Until at least Jan. 11, the 90-day suspension of Flint City Councilman Eric Mays will remain in place. U.S. District Court Judge F. Kay Behm set the hearing for Mays’ emergency motion regarding allowing him to return to meetings for that date.
Mays was suspended for conduct unbecoming of a council member on Dec. 20, 2023. One of the issues that led to having his fellow councilmembers voting to suspend Mays was his use of racist language against other Black council members whom Mays has accused of being subservient to whites.
Mays requested a restraining order to block his suspension.
Mays’ attorney filed an injunction request in an emergency motion Dec. 22, 2023. Additionally, his lawyers asked for a court hearing ahead of the last city council meeting, which the lawyers were not able to obtain.
Mays sued the City of Flint in Genesee Circuit Court in August after Mays had been suspended for 30 days on a separate occasion for swearing. The lawsuit stated the council was in violation of the Open Meetings Act.
Judge B. Chris Christenson issued a temporary injunction briefly blocking that suspension. Later, however, Christenson dissolved the injunction and allowed the 30-day suspension to remain in place.
Mays also filed a federal lawsuit that has since been dismissed against Mayor Sheldon Neeley and other city officials stating his constitutional rights were violated after he was improperly removed from other meetings.
