Flint Fires

Last night's spate of fires in Flint just before planned layoffs of police and fire fighters has people on edge, especially in Carriage Town and the Grand Traverse area. Residents were out patrolling the neighborhoods last night, and there are plans to board up abandoned houses today.

Bill Gainey, who owns the Hiram "Hardwood" Smith house near downtown, emailed me with an update:

Our neighborhoods are under attack. Especially Carriage Town. They seem to be targeting vacant Land Bank houses that are next to another vacant house. This is terrible. I was on patrol for the better part of last night and more of us will be patrolling tonight. This is a lesson for all of us. We should not have any houses wide open for someone to walk off the street and torch it.

Flint Photos: Moon Over Grand Traverse Blvd.

Actually, the moon is a little tough to spot.

Flint Fireworks

My last night in Flint, and I get thunder, lightning and fireworks at the same time. As the street signs indicate, I took these on the corner of Grand Traverse and Water, just yards from the river and the birthplace of G.M., looking toward Atwood Stadium.
(Click to Enlarge)

Thanks to Stephen Rodrick for the copy editing.