Featured photo: Johnell Allen-Bey, county ambassador and Nation Outside coordinator. Allen -Bey, along with Genesee County Deputy Sheriff Ambassador Percy Glover, came up with the idea for the Meet the Mayoral Candidates in Jail Discussion to be held in Flint. The discussion took place July 20 at the Genesee County Jail.
Written by Tanya Terry
Conversation that could impact lives around the city was held July 20 at the Genesee County Jail during the Meet the Mayoral Candidates in Jail Discussion.
According to Johnell Allen-Bey, county ambassador and Nation Outside coordinator, the event was part of an important part of the education process because a lot of times people in jails don’t have all the information they need to make informed decisions although they may have a Constitutional right to vote. Meet the Mayoral Candidates in Jail Discussion was designed to make sure these individuals are in tuned with what is going on in local government. Allen-Bey stated the inmates in the room for the discussion were all eligible to vote.
The three Flint mayoral candidates each introduced themselves to the inmates and answered questions to help increase their understanding about each of them. Candidates spoke about their accomplishments, policies and goals.
Councilman Eric Mays stated he is currently in his ninth year on Flint City Council.
“We’ve all had some rough spots,” he said.
Mays also stated he was elected to the Flint City Council in 2013 by six votes and pointed out every vote counts. He added by the next election, he was reelected by about 800 votes once he “proved who he is.”
“I think, Sheriff Swanson and Johnell, we should be letting folks out to work,” Mays said.
He talked about how high weeds were at some residential locations in the city.
“We should be cleaning up! But not only should we be cleaning up-that money that y’all make shouldn’t be for free. That should go in your commissary.”
Neeley stated he was previously on council for nine years, then went to the state House of Representatives.
“The state of Michigan is the worst for sentencing, giving on an average of four years more than any other state,” Neeley stated. “So as a Legislative Black Caucus Chair I went to work and fought that.”
Neeley said his record included holding more expungements starting in 2012 and providing amnesty for child support so families can connect.
Neeley said very soon the city administration would be announcing the sale the Buick City site. He said 3,000 jobs were coming because of this development.
Neeley also said he and his administration were able to complete the secondary water delivery system so residents don’t have to drink Flint River water.
Former Flint Mayor Dr. Karen Weaver gave an example of something she did while in office.
“One of the businesses that got a contract in the city of Flint was WT Stevens, a second-generation Black family that was helping us with the pipe replacement,” she explained. “They hired 43 people. Most of them were men. There were some women. But they hired 43 and gave them a second chance. That was important.”
As a clinical psychologist by trade, Weaver said locking people up for mental health or drug challenges was not the answer.
“Appropriate mental health services, appropriate drug services is the answer,” she said.
She said everyone deserves a second chance. She also said she never stopped fighting for Flint.
Some of the questions the candidates were asked included questions about why jail voting is so important and what comes to their minds when they hear “jail reform.”
Inmates also asked about why the Flint City Council and Mayor’s Office can’t work together more effectively to get things done and why Flint residents are still paying for water they don’t feel safe drinking.
When asked why jail voting was important Weaver said all voting is important. She said Flint hasn’t been made whole.
“The pipes haven’t being changed,” she said. “I don’t know why we’re still doing that. We haven’t gotten our in-home plumbing fixtures and appliances fixed. I don’t know why that hasn’t happened because that should have been at no cost to the people.”
Weaver said the people of Flint have been disrespected.
She said she left $24 million and said there should be more credits coming to the people of Flint.
Neeley talked about how 22,000 Flint residents had their water cut off for nonpayment during the height of the water crisis, but his team restored the water for 6,000 users. He said the largest blight reduction program in Genesee County’s history had been engaged, with $16 million of ARPA funds being allocated for it, making the total investment $46 million. The administration proposed it, and the Flint City Council approved it. He also mentioned that one of the first people he hired to work for the city was a returning citizen.
Mays said there should be a law library and computers so inmates can study their cases, as well as better food for inmates. He said members of leadership not to be in council meetings. Mays talked to the Courier at the jail about how he came up with the strategy to declare the water emergency, which Weaver, as mayor, had to officially declare.
“I help bring lawyers in, and I’m just very disappointed that folks messed up the settlement, both civil and the criminal processes after we had done all that hard work.”
Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson said he hoped the event would ignite even more conversation.
Click the link below to watch the entire discussion: https://www.facebook.com/geneseecountysheriffsoffice/videos/457480172910028
