Flint Michigan, 15 years after, what happened?

Factual Questions
1

Last night, I saw “Roger and Me” , the Michael Moore documentary about the city of Flint Michigan and the devestating affects that the GM plant closings had on that community. Overnight, 30,000 people lost their jobs, people were being evicted and many others were leaving town at such a pace that UHaul and Ryder were running out of vehicles. The city fathers tried other revenue making devices such as tourism with was a total failure. I did love the “rabbit woman” and the rough looking black deputy sherriff. I think Michael Moore blows things out of proportion, but this was an excellent work.

That was in 1988, it is now 15 years later. What has happened to the city of Flint? I have tried to look at google to no avail. Is there any industry there now or is it a ghost town? Is Roger Smith dead now? Maybe some people from Michigan can enlighten me on the issue.

SP

2

Oh, Persephone! She lives in Flint and works for the city, IIRC. Hopefully, she will be in here soon.

I would take a stab at it, but I am a newcomer to these parts.

3

I could swear he did a follow up documentary or TV show called “Back To Flint” or something, but I can’t find it in IMDB…

4

Oh, here it is:

http://us.imdb.com/Title?0105134

Looks like it was only 3 years after “Roger & Me.”

5

Flint is hands down the worst city in Michigan. A lot of the economic problems are brought on by themselves with their hard nosed attitude. GM just built a new plant in the Lansing area because the workers and civic leaders here are 100 times more cooperative than their brethren in Flint. Besides the stinky economic situation, the city is plain ugly and unsafe.

6

Look at these:

http://flint.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm

12% of housing is vacant! And 41% of the available housing is rentals! Sounds like a nice place…

http://flint.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm

Crime is horrible. Lotsa frownie faces.

http://www.realtor.com/findhome/nearbysearch.asp?mlsttl=&frm=bymap&pgnum=1&mls=xmls&lnksrc=&js=on&gate=&poe=realtor&ct=flint&st=MI&zp=&mnprice=10000&mxprice=99999999&mnbed=4&mnbath=2&x=11&y=5

There are 2272 houses available for sale in a city of 48,744 homes. Compare Warren at 1,136 with 55,551 homes! Lotsa smilie faces for crime.

Now granted, these are only generalities. Like any city, I’m sure there are nice spots. Just, well, I wouldn’t know. I’m in the housing market, and based on these data, I wouldn’t shop there. On the other hand, 2,500 square feet plus finished basement for $15,000… In any case, the only places I’ve been in Flint are the Circuity City and the Hooter’s.

7

Quick question: How do you determine how many “homes” are in a town, or are you using Census “households”?

8

Dogface, I’m sure that data is culled from property tax records or something similar. Obviously, census households are different than the number of actual houses.

9

I’m in flint right now and it does have a rather high level of suckitude, the poor condition of many of the steets being one of the immediately obvious faults.

10

I was one of the few people lured to Flint when they gave the tourism biz a go. My mom took me to AutoWorld shortly after it opened, shortly before it closed (only one visit-- it wa’n’t open long)
Happy