East ViMlalgaazinge e June 2017 Photograph by Edwin D. Custer VERN’S COLLISION INC. Free Loaners • Unibody • Frame • Paint Specialists • Glass • State-certified Mechanics More than 40 years at the same location. (810) 232-6751 2409 Davison Rd. Located inside the Flint Farmers’ Market Chubby Duck Temaki Sushi BATTISTE’S Cones fresh & fabulicious! TEMPLE DINING ROOM at FLINT FARMERS ’ M ARKET PUBLIC WELCOME Serving Downtown Flint since 1947 Luncheon Monday-Friday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. All Occasion Catering 235-7760 FREE Home Warranty Flint’s Resident Realtor — The Name Trusted in More Neighborhoods Ryan Eashoo ~wine~ (810) 234-1234 craft beer & more... at the Flint Farmers’ Market H e a lt h y H o m e C o o k i n g ! 810-235-1968 Flint Farmers’ Market 2 Commentary Will a cool spring give us a hot summer? By Paul Rozycki EastMagazine Village After a fairly mild winter, spring has been Gov. Brian Calley might give him a challenge. Vol. LV No. 6 June 2017 rather cool, gray, and rainy. However, But Calley’s ties to Gov. Snyder might be a for - what’s been true for the weather may not be midable barrier while the Flint water crisis Founder Gary P. Custer true for this summer’s political outlook. remains a major issue. Dr. Jim Hines has also More than a few political issues offer the formally announced his candidacy. Among Editor Jan Worth-Nelson prospect of being very hot. others who are also mentioned as possible Managing Editor Meghan Christian Republican candidates are Michigan Secretary Copy Editor Danielle Ward On the national level of State Ruth Johnson, former U.S. Rep. Reporters Nic Custer Candice Miller, and state Sen. Colbeck. Harold C. Ford On the national scene, President Trump’s While most analysts give Whitmer and Aubrey McClain Megan Ockert firing of FBI director James Comey, growing Schuette the inside track to the nomination, Columnists Jan Worth-Nelson rumors of a possible Russian involvement in it’s worth remembering that recent years Teddy Robertson the 2016 campaign, and the apparent release of have been very good for outside challengers. Paul Rozycki classified information to Russian diplomats, The victories of Barack Obama in 2008, Business Manager Casey Custer have led to demands for special prosecutors, Rick Snyder in 2010, and Donald Trump in Éminence Grise Ted Nelson congressional investigations, and even 2016, have shown that voters are more than Photographer Edwin D. Custer impeachment threats — all in the first four willing to turn from the obvious frontrunners Poet Grayce Scholt months of the Trump and pick an unlikely nominee. administration. We will Distribution Staff see if President Trump’s Hot water for Flint? Director: Edwin D. Custer. Staff: Kim Bargy, Jane visits to Saudi Arabia, Bingham, Helen & Jacob Blumner, Connor Coyne & Ruby Coyne, Casey & Nic Custer, Emma Davis, Israel, and Rome But the hottest part of the political sum - Emily Doerr, Marabeth Foreman, Andrea Garrett, changed the picture now mer may be reserved for voters in Flint. Charlie & Linda & Patrick & Terrance & Christan that he’s back. Even after At the moment, it seems that Mayor Karen & Jillianne Goldsberry, Ingrid Halling & Bob Thomas, Robert Jewell, Andrew Keast, Carol shaking hands with the leaders of three of the Weaver’s decision to stay with the Great Lakes Larzelere Kellermann, Stephen Kellermann, Jo world’s major religions, all those investigations Water Authority (GLWA) is likely to be the Larzelere, Bill & Carol Leix, Mary LeRoy, Alan & and committees are still waiting for him. next step in resolving the Flint water crisis. But Julie Lynch, Aron Mccormick, Ron & Mary making that decision stick won’t be easy. Meeker, Robert & Nancy Meszko, Mary & Jeff Mintline, John Moliassa, Mike Neithercut, Ted Governor’s race in Michigan Several members of the city council, after Nelson, Edith & John Pendell, Dave & Becky reviewing the contract with GLWA, have Pettengill, Krystal Royer, Mike Spleet, and Karen On the state level, the election for governor expressed serious doubts about the wisdom of Wilkinson. is still a year and a half away and candidates are staying with Detroit water, instead of managing Board of Trustees lining up in both parties to replace the term-lim - our own system via the Karegnondi Pipeline. A • Jane M. Bingham • Edwin D. Custer ited Rick Snyder. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee’s deci - meeting to explain and discuss the issue last • Bella Kritz • Jack D. Minore sion to forgo the governor’s race and remain in month turned into a shouting match, resulting • Robert R. Thomas the U.S. House seems to leave field open to ex- in several arrests. Whatever the final decision, • Jan Worth-Nelson, ex officio state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer. However, with it won’t be stress-free and it could get very hot. 720 E. Second St. Kildee out of the guber - One of the highlights of Mayor Weaver’s Flint, Mich. 48503 natorial contest, trial attor - administration has been the “Fast Start” pro - (810) 233-7459 neys Geoffrey Fieger and gram where some 18,000 homes are expected Web Site: eastvillagemagazine.org Mark Bernstein might to have their lead pipes E-mail: [email protected] emerge as serious com - replaced in the next three Layout by Ted Nelson. Printing by Riegle Press petitors. In addition, busi - years. One problem has Inc., 1282 N. Gale Rd., Davison, Mich. 48423. The East Village Magazine is a program of the nessman Shri Thanedar, emerged. About 22 per - Village Information Center Inc., a nonprofit corpo - Detroit Health Director Abdul El-Sayed, Xerox cent of the homes sched - ration. We welcome material from readers, but all sub - executive Bill Cobbs, and Kentiel White, health uled for new pipes already missions become the property of the publication and if care worker, are also in the running for the have copper pipes and published will be edited to conform to the editorial style and policies of the publication. All inquiries about the Democratic nomination. don’t need replacement. The city records are so publication should be mailed to East Village Magazine , For the Republicans, two names are leading old and inaccurate that contractors can’t be sure Village Information Cen ter, 720 E. Second St., Flint, the pack. Attorney General Bill Schuette has where they need to replace the old lead and gal - Mich. 48503. Distribution is the second Saturday of each month. Display advertising rates are $34 a col - long been considered the most likely nominee. vanized pipes and where they don’t. umn-inch plus any other costs. Unclassified ads are Even without a formal declaration, he has been Recent lawsuits have raised questions about $2.50 a printed line or part of a printed line. Rates sub - running for governor for much of his career. Lt. (Continued on Page 11.) ject to change without notice. The deadline for adver - tising is 10 days before each pub li cation date. © 2017 East Village Magazine Cover: Empty Bowls fundraiser workshop for Eastern Michigan Food Bank 3 Photograph by Edwin D. Custer Photo of the Month: Good place to start over Water woes worsened by politics: KWA Chief By Jan Worth-Nelson Attempting to explain the city’s probable Under the proposal, Flint will sign a 30- events surrounding it. For many years, Flint move to stay on “Detroit water” for the next 30 year contract with the GLWA, with KWA as received Lake Huron water supplied out of years, Genesee County Drain Commissioner the “emergency backup source.” The Detroit — formerly the Detroit Water and Jeff Wright, who also is CEO of the GLWA will have access to the raw untreat - Sewage Department (DWSD), reorganized Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA), said ed water from the KWA but can only resell and renamed a year ago as the GLWA. what might once have been options for the city it within the city limits, he said. However, Flint was paying the highest rates in have been made less viable by “emotional Crucial to the agreement is a compli - the system, based in part on a rate structure damage” and politics. cated financial arrangement through determined by its distance from the source. Wright offered his views at the May which the GLWA will pick up a $7 mil - Before the arrival of the city’s emergency meeting of the College Cultural lion/year bond payment to the KWA that managers, in 2010, former Mayor Dayne Neighborhood Association. had been part of an original agreement Walling and others first convened the KWA. He was there to review the proposal to with the city and the KWA. In succeeding years, a move to build the keep Flint on water from the Great Lakes As Wright put it, “If this comes to pipeline was deemed by Rowe Engineering Water Authority (GLWA), a hotly contested fruition, basically the contracts between to be the least expensive option for Flint’s plan that means the Karegnondi Pipeline will the county and the city will be something water supply, when compared to continuing play a much reduced role in supplying water of history; all contracts with the city from with Detroit or refurbishing Flint’s water to the city, although in a partnership with its now on will be with the GLWA.” treatment plant. The pipeline was scheduled former competitor — the GLWA. In the face of numerous questions from to be completed this year. Residents can submit questions and residents about the effect of the GLWA pro - “The whole concept of the KWA,” comments about the proposals via email posal on individual water rates, Wright said Wright said, “was that you guys [Flint res - at [email protected].