The crisis in Flint, Mich., goes far beyond the lead in its water, and a new Netflix docu-series sheds light on the city’s much deeper economic and social problems.
“Outside investment is needed to really rebuild this community,” Zackary Canepari, one of the directors of “Flint Town,” told Cheddar.
Flint, home to about 100,000 people, reportedly has fewer than 100 police officers, and violence has run rampant.
Part of the reason is the city’s high unemployment, according to co-director Drea Cooper. He points out that issue stems from General Motors’ leaving town in the 1980s.
“It’s a town that’s missing a core industry,” Cooper said. “It was a town that was built on a singular industry, and now it’s trying to make its way.
“There’s been influx of universities coming in through the University of Michigan, hospitals are coming in, so they’re starting to find a new sort of niche and a new industry. But I think so many of these things start with education and job opportunities.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/welcome-to-flint-town).
Actor Alicia Silverstone joined Cheddar News to speak with senior reporter Michelle Castillo about the 2023 SXSW premiere of Mustache, which also stars Atharv Verma.
Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk joined Cheddar News to discuss his recovery from a leg injury ahead of the upcoming X Games in Japan. He also weighed in on a viral meme with Wesley Snipes.
For the first time on the unofficial cannabis holiday 420, cannabis enthusiasts in New York State can purchase their products legally. One of the first licensed adult-use dispensaries across the state was buzzing with business early in the day.
On A Positive Note looks at a middle school ukelele club that is fundraising for the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry while a New Jersey college adds a mini-labradoodle to its faculty and a community in the Bronx comes together through fashion.
