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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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On May 16, 2005 The Chair of the Smith Village Citizens District Council (CDC), Earma Cooper, drafted a letter to Then Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox , with copies to Mayor Williamson, city council and Jeanette Harris, HUD Director of Community Planning and Development.
Cooper requested the assistance of the Attorney General in ensuring that Smith Village was to be developed. Although she lived outside the city,Cooper owned properties inherited from her mother.
"We fear that as long as the City of Flint Michigan Major Grant Dept. of Economic and Community Development are in control of all talks and funds it will not be developed..\
(All quotes of Ms. Coopers are typed as written)
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Mar 21, 2018 2:28 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Wed Mar 21, 2018 2:03 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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The CDC was established in 2001 and correctly attributed by Cooper to Michigan Law.
"As a CDC assembled in accords with the Michigan Rehabilitation Blighted Area Act we believe we have statutory rights and that the City of Flint has a statutory obligation to us, to utilize our input as stated.The purpose of the CDC insures citizen input in all decisions pertinent to development."
"The Urban renewal Plan for the Smith Village Urban Renewal area was already establish before the CDC. Over the years CDC have witnessed lots o talk and promises but little action on the renewal of Smith Village. I can attest to zealous spending - misappropriation of funds, which now has a zero balance.
All of the previous administrators and including these have been a let down. Ms Tamar Lewis-Administrator- Grants & Economic Development of Neighborhood Services and mr. Joe Conroy Government Relations Office Advisor to Mayor Don Williamson "have no further involvement to receive funding, and choosing possibly developers and potential business owner for said project" " |
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Wed Mar 21, 2018 2:26 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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"During Financial manager Kurtz service to Flint the CDC meet with him regarding Smith Village development. Mr. kurtz assured the CDC that Smith Village would be developed, in return he made an agreement with the Mott Foundation for University Park to receive millions of dollars to complete phase 2 & 3 of their development and the City of Flint was to match the contribution.
The Urban Renewal Plan for the Smith Village Urban Renewal Area is almost ten years old and has had limited development. The plan originally called for University park East/ Smith Village HOZO to be developed together that started with fifty million dollars and more funds over the years" |
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Wed Mar 21, 2018 2:41 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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"University Park on the east side of Saginaw St is thriving today it consists of almost a hundred new homes homes, new infrastructure, streets, lighting, beautiful landscaping and its own home association, the home values are up to $300,000. It is now known as University Park Estates "RICH side". On the westside of Saginaw is Smith village "the ghetto"an undeveloped blighted under privilege abandoned area, known as the "POOR"side. The Smith Village has limited infrastructure, and 6 new homes; Smith Village phase 1 was to include 9 new homes.
During this time Ms. Lewis was an employee Finance Deptand worked with Major Grants and the dollars. She was also a member of the CDC . The undeveloped area of Smith village is currently undeveloped. We, CDC continue to hold monthly meeting and representative from Major Grants Dept continued to attend until last year. Talks of new developer and businesses were always mentioned but never developed. The city has not acquired all of the land nor selected a developer. With the University park development they purchased all of the land before development started . The new owners were even given the right to choose where they wanted their homes built" |
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Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:02 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| " The City of Flint administrators changed during Mayor Williams (sp) first year as mayor. Ms. Lewis promoted to Administrator for Finance-Major Grants & Economic and Community Development. Mr. Conroy became Governmental Relations Officer. Discussions of the development started again with mayor Williamson, it was stated in his State of the State Address that Smith Village was a major priority. He assigned Mr. Conroy to meet with the CDC chairperson along with Ms. Lewis this consisted of four monthly meetings. All of the project team meetings have been stopped and no communication from Ms. Lewis and Mr. Conroy has been giving to us. During the last meeting attended by Ms. Lewis and Mr.Conroy in early 2005 we were informed that we would no longer receive any clerical assistants in mailing out information for members. We are now required to go to the Department of Major Grants and process information for members. . Ms Lewis instructed the representative of major Grant Dept. not to attend any more meetings of the CDC. Mayor Williamson has been informed that there have not been any project meetings. " |
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Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:46 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| "Mayor Williamson spoke with Mr. Conroy regarding the project meetings. Mr.conroy repied he would call me with the date of the next meeting. This meeting as of today has not taken place.I have been informed that Ms Lewis and Mr. Conroy have been holding private meetings with possible developers and business owners and making decisions or Smith village without input of CDC". |
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Wed Mar 21, 2018 3:54 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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http://www.flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=66276Flint Talk Forums View topic - No more Citizen's District Councils!
www.flinttalk.com › Political Talk
Aug 11, 2012 - 14 posts - 3 authors
EMERGENCY MANAGER CITY OF FLINT GENESEE COUNTY MICHIGAN ORDER No.33. CONSOLIDATION OF FLINT AREA ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND ELIMINATION OF CITIZENS DISTRICT COUNCILS BY THE POWER AND AUTHORITY ... |
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Wed Mar 21, 2018 4:27 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Sally Haywood
April 4 at 7:53am ·
Going through my records on some Flint development projects and federal money. The public does not seem to understand that condoning all of these bad decisions (corrupt?) come out of their pockets when there are cost overruns and required monetary paybacks. I was frustrated with the Office of Inspector General when they sent a new employee on Smith Village. Eason took a proposed contract to council and then never implemented the contract. I was impressed by the detail Ravi Yalamachi of Metro Development and could not understand why they replaced him. Question is why didn't he demand a signed contract?.Too much trust for me.
Eason then gave Metro the boot because he had not seen any dirt moved. However Metro had assembled land, had an architect design the homes and all of the things that go into a development.
Lawsuit with part of the original development team alleging secret meetings to undermine the original team. The development could not continue without paying Metro over $100,000 for the already completed work. They could not use federal funds as there was no contract or project in place. (taxpayer pocket) Every thing had to be redone as there were confidentiality agreements in place preventing Charles Young from using the work product of the original team.
More plans and the decision to use modular units from Indiana. The delays meant .the streets were in bad shape and the infrastructure was being redone. (Williams Street had been rebuilt about 3 years earlier and was designed to be a safe passage for children on their was to Doyle Ryder School). The new design caused delays as utility structures had to be moved. (taxpayer pocket)
More delays as Urban Builders walked off the job because they weren't being paid for the foundation work completed. The media got involved and bad press. It is alleged Urban Builders did not get their full pay .
My main issue is why did the city contract with Young when he was involved in major litigations in Detroit. He had a judgement that was close to $2 million. Then JP Morgan Chase Bank intervened with a $3.4 million perfected lien.
Court admissions indicated Young admitted to buying property for his Operation Unification entities (interlocking directorate) and quit claiming them often to avoid collection. (he was CEO of all 3 entities) Smith Village Issues led to his lawsuit against the city and a third development project.
HUD findings and more. The OIG had written a detailed audit about HUD and City of Flint failures to use due diligence. Another OIG report of Boston elaborated on their finding that 18 CHDO organizations never should have been recognized. Both Flint and Genesee County lost HUD money by not correctly assessing the OU entities capacit
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Sat Apr 07, 2018 10:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Sat Apr 07, 2018 7:50 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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chapter 3: chdo requirements and activities - HUD
https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/19787_ch03.pdf
Mar 3, 2008 - The CHDO must also provide a formal process for low- income program beneficiaries to advise the CHDO on design, location of sites, development and management of affordable housing. The process must be described in writing, and must be included in the organization's by-laws or a board resolution. |
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Sat Apr 07, 2018 8:01 am |
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