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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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At least one county official has publicly stated that an adversarial role exists between the county and the city and the county is making cuts that will impact Flint heavily. with a loss of population in the county of over 17,000 persons and the possible loss of 4 county commissioners, one has to wonder where Flint fallins in this new equation. Population loss was probably the greatest in Flint and rumors are already flying around about the impact on minority populations. Will either Clack or Sims be lost? People need to follow these meetings and Flint residents really need to pay attention to the redrawing of the Flint wards. redrawn lines can wipe out the base for some council.
Genesee County Apportionment Commission starts working on redrawing county commission boundaries
Published: Monday, March 14, 2011, 11:09 AM Updated: Monday, March 14, 2011, 11:09 AM
By Ron Fonger | Flint Journal
GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- The county Apportionment Commission is expected to meet Tuesday to start the process of redrawing county Board of Commissioners' districts and possibly reducing the size of the board.
County Clerk Michael J. Carr said he expects the meeting will focus on the overall scope of the job ahead for the five-member Apportionment Commission, but Carr has already said he will push to cut the number of county commissioners from nine to five.
The clerk has said the smaller commission would save taxpayers money and still provide adequate representation for residents.
Just last week, the U.S. Census estimated the county has lost more than 17,000 people over the last decade, dropping from 436,940 people in 2000 to an estimated 419,518 people in 2010 — a 4 percent drop.
The official 2010 U.S. Census count for the county is expected to be released by April 1.
Carr is one of five members of the Apportionment Commission and other members of the group have been cool to his idea of cutting back the number of county commissioners so far.
Whatever it changes that number or not, the Apportionment Commission will likely have to consider how to change commission district lines to reflect where people are living in the county compared to 10 years ago.
The size of the county commission has been on the decline here and in other Michigan counties in recent years but has been left at nine since 1982. The board had 17 members in 1972 and 62 members in 1968.
Tuesday's meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the Planning Commission conference room on the second floor of the county administration building, 1101 Beach St., Flint. |
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Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:13 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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When this opinion hit the Journal the same critics that hate anyone in government hit it with their venom instead of comprehending the message. Whether you like or hate Stanley, the isssue is important enough to look at his position and fairly weigh it against other positions. Flint has too many haters.
When Walling was in Minneapolis a redistricting plan moved 2 councilmen into the same district. Mainly some changes were made to dilute some minority political influence. The end result was a lengthy and expensive court battle.
During the last redistricting one Flint councilperson attended all of the meetings. Good thing as they attempted to move the area of their home into another ward. Flint's wards have some wierd boundaries.
This also occurs at all levels. In an attempt to dilute Dale Kildees base, part of his district was changed to strong Republican areas.
This time we will lose one federal House of Representative seat because of our population loss. The changes need to be fair and equitable.
Another View: Voters' rights at risk if redistricting process lacks transparency, public participation
Published: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 8:16 AM
By Community Voice | Flint Journal Letters
By Woodrow Stanley
We all need to pay attention to the issue of redistricting, because it affects whether our votes, especially those of minority voters, actually matter.
All states must complete redistricting after receiving new information from the Census every 10 years. The boundaries of electoral districts must be redrawn at all government levels, from city councils to the state Legislature to the U.S. Congress. (The U.S. Senate is not affected because two senators represents each state.) Michigan must complete its redistricting plan by Nov. 1.
The way these lines are redrawn will have profound consequences for at least the next 10 years.
Michigan has lost a significant number of residents in the past decade, and since so much federal funding is distributed based on population, our communities and state will lose a lot of money. We will also lose one congressional seat, causing a loss of clout for our state.
Michigan also is a donor state, meaning we send more tax dollars to the federal government than we get back. For all these reasons, we have to make sure that redistricting does not weaken the voice of Michigan voters in Congress any further.
The problem with redistricting is that because the Legislature is in charge of it, the party in charge of the Legislature controls it. Historically, it has been a secretive process in which the majority party redraws districts in their favor so they can win elections. This is a tremendous disservice to all our residents.
As a House Redistricting and Elections Committee member and the proud representative of an urban community, I will work to make this process transparent and involve the public as much as possible.
Unfortunately, the Republican-led House has rejected a plan to require the Legislature to post all redistricting proposals online, solicit proposals and input from residents, and require at least six public hearings across the state. This is a sign that redistricting will, indeed, be driven by partisan motives.
We must therefore worry about Michigan’s map favoring Republicans, since they control the state House, state Senate, the governor’s office and the state Supreme Court.
I am particularly concerned because the redistricting process tends to silence minority voters. This violates the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits various gerrymandering tactics used to draw district lines that dilute the minority vote.
We must do all we can to make sure that this year’s redistricting is not the latest barrier to stop minority citizens from voting and having their votes truly matter.
You can make a difference by:
• Submitting your own map for a specific district or ward.
• Attending state or local redistricting committee meetings.
• Forming coalitions with other interested groups.
• Using social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter to share information and generate interest.
A good place to start is this website: drawthelinemidwest.org/michigan.
Let’s all work together for a fair and transparent process that enables everyone to participate fully in our democracy and shape the future of our great community and state.
– State Rep. Woodrow Stanley, D-34th District, represents a portion of the city of Flint. Call him toll-free at (888) WOOD-034 (966-3034) or e-mail him at WoodrowStanley@house.mi.gov. |
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Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:16 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Michigan census: Which places will lose population? Here are state demographer's expectations
Published: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 1:08 PM Updated: Thursday, March 17, 2011, 2:08 PM
By John Barnes
Follow
With Michigan due to finally receive details from the 2010 Census, all bets are off on at least one area of interest.
“I am not making any wagers on whether Michigan’s Hispanics or Asians will have more growth,” state demographer Kenneth Darga said today after the U.S. Census Bureau announced figures for Michigan will be released next week.
Michigan is in the last batch of eight states scheduled for release, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The first states were released Feb. 3 and all must be done by April 1.
Some of the things Darga will be looking for:
• The emergence of Hispanics as the dominant minority in more communities, including possibly Grand Rapids. “So far, 28 of the first 32 states had more growth of their Hispanic population than expected (from 2009 census estimates),” Darga said.
• A decrease in non-Hispanic whites. Those numbers also have been lower than the Census Bureau had expected based on earlier estimates
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• Whether the census count for Detroit is even lower than earlier census estimates. The bureau estimated the state’s largest city had dropped to 910,920 in July 2009, down about 40,000 people since 2000.
But a July 2010 estimate by a regional planning agency placed the number closer to 772,419. That number was developed by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).
“I would not be surprised to see the (2010) census fall somewhere in between, but closer to SEMCOG’s figure,” Darga said.
The Census Bureau’s estimate for Detroit was based partly on “alternative methodology” used for communities that challenge their initial estimate, as Detroit did for 2006, Darga said.
“Because the alternative methodology assumes no change in vacancy rate or household size since the prior census, it tends to overstate population levels for most of the communities that challenge their initial figures,” he said. “Future use of the alternative methodology is under review by the Census Bureau.”
Other trends Darga anticipates: population growth in West Michigan, Northwest Michigan, fringe metropolitan counties, non-metropolitan counties, and townships in general.
He expects decreases for the Upper Peninsula, Northeast Michigan, central metropolitan counties, and cities in general.
Related topics: Census 2010
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Fri Mar 18, 2011 9:06 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Congrats to Mike Carr for keeping the process open and available for the public. These will not be backroom meetings. If no one attends, then they can't complain if they don't like the end result.
The final results from the census are probably a week to 2 weeks away as they reach the state level first. But an estimate of a potential loss of 17,000 residents is significant and may signal the need for a smaller county commission. |
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Sat Mar 19, 2011 8:40 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| Peggy Cook remembers when she was the fouth ward City Councilperson and the redistricting group attempted to move the area she lived in into the third ward. Had she not attended all of the meetings they would have done so. |
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Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:43 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Genesee County clerks: Cut county Board of Commissioners to five
Published: Monday, March 21, 2011, 1:05 PM Updated: Monday, March 21, 2011, 1:30 PM
By Ron Fonger | Flint Journal
GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- A group representing retired and active governmental clerks says the county Board of Commissioners should be cut from nine to five members.
The Genesee County Governmental Clerks Association voted Thursday to endorse a proposal to reduce the number of county commissioners as a part of the redistricting process that will play out during the next two months.
The county Reapportionment Commission, which meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday, will handle this year's redistricting, using the results of the 2010 census as its guide.
County Clerk Michael J. Carr has proposed cutting the number of commissioners from nine to five members because of an expected drop in population and the potential for cost savings.
"(We) feel it isn't necessary to have that many with finances the way they are," said Darene Woodbury, president of the association, which is made up of current and retired governmental clerks and deputy clerks from cities, townships and villages in the county.
Other members of the Reapportionment Commission have said they are waiting before making a decision on whether to cut the number of county commissioners. |
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:42 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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With or without Census numbers, Genesee County Reapportionment Commission will meet Wednesday
Published: Monday, March 21, 2011, 10:50 AM Updated: Monday, March 21, 2011, 11:24 AM
By Ron Fonger | Flint Journal
GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- The county Reapportionment Commission will meet Wednesday and may have the area's updated population count to discuss.
County Clerk Michael J. Carr said today that the commission, charged with redrawing county Board of Commissioner districts based on the 2010 census, wants to hear opinions about the best way to take on that job and whether the size of the county board should be reduced.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the third-floor auditorium of the county administration building, 1101 Beach St., Flint. A second meeting has been scheduled for 2 p.m. on March 30 in the same location.
"We are inviting the public to give us their opinions," said Carr.
The Census Bureau is expected to release the census data this week.
Carr is advocating reducing the size of the county board from nine members to five to save money and because the county's population is believed to have declined in the past decade.
None of the other members of the Reapportionment Commission have said they would support such a reduction but have not ruled out supporting a change either.
In addition to Carr, the Reapportionment Commission members are county Prosecutor David Leyton, county Treasurer Deb Cherry, county Democratic Party Chairman Art Reyes, and county Republican Party Chairwoman Prudy Adams. |
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:56 pm |
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00SL2
F L I N T O I D
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| Poor Prudy seems to be standing alone as a single Republican. This spells trouble for her party. |
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:20 pm |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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| You didn't think the dems would give Republicans any input, did you? |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:36 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| I think the makeup of the committee is determined by law and not by party. It depends on who is in power. Also Mike Carr is giving everyone an opportunity to give their input. |
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Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:18 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Subj: Senate Democrats Push for Redistricting Overhaul
Senate Democrats Push for Redistricting Overhaul
Legislation Would Create Independent Commission to Lead Efforts
Lansing - Senate Democrats announced today that they will be introducing legislation this week to create an independent commission that would lead the state’s redistricting process and ensure that the public has a voice in it. Currently the legislature has the authority to develop and finalize district maps in a partisan fashion without any involvement from citizens.
“Redistricting is one of the most critical functions of our democracy and it deserves to be done outside of the politics that occur within our legislature,” said Senator Steve Bieda (D – Warren). “I ask my Republican colleagues and Governor Snyder to avoid merely protecting incumbents and instead support our efforts to show Michigan’s citizens that their right to fair representation is not clouded by partisanship and political games.”
The legislation would create a commission made up of 9 members; 4 appointed by Republicans, 4 by Democrats, and 1 appointed by the nonpartisan Auditor General.
The commission would be required to hold at least 6 public meetings around the state, develop a website, and post any redistricting plan 72 hours before taking a vote on it. 6 members must agree on a plan for it to be presented to the legislature for final approval. Lobbyists, along with state and federal officials and employees, would be barred from serving on the commission, and commissioners could not run for the legislature for a period of 4 years after the effective date of the plan they worked on. Commissioners would be unpaid and could not accept gifts or loans from lobbyists, state and federal employees, or other organizations.
“District maps should not be drawn up behind closed doors and finalized before voters ever see them,” said Senator Vincent Gregory (D – Southfield). “This plan makes the redistricting process more transparent for our citizens and guarantees them an opportunity to be involved and voice their concerns.” |
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Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:04 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Republicans take up task of redistricting Michigan
Published: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:31 AM Updated: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:39 AM
By Peter Luke
LANSING — With U.S. Census numbers in hand, legislative Republicans who control the process will waste little time in drawing new political boundaries for Congress and the Legislature.
While Michigan lost population in the past decade and will lose a congressional seat because other states gained residents, the bigger factor in reapportionment could be the stunning population loss of more than 238,000 people in the city of Detroit that will have ripple effects across the state.
“We don’t want to wait forever, but I have no idea how long this is going to take. I’ve never done this before,” said Rep. Peter Lund, R-Shelby Township, chairman of the House Redistricting and Elections Committee. “If it’s up to me, I’d rather get this done sooner rather than later. Dragging it out doesn’t do any of us any good.”
Democrats, who are in the minority and thus will have little say in how the lines are drawn, are calling for a transparent, open process with plenty of public input on proposed changes. But the type of overhaul that Sen. Steve Bieda, D-Warren, introduced Tuesday, putting redistricting in the hands of an independent commission, is unlikely.
“Our current system ... allows district maps to be drawn up behind closed doors and voted on before voters ever get a chance to look at them,” Bieda said. He said redistricting should be “fair to all voters.”
Lund said redistricting would “follow the same process as any other law. If (Democrats) wanted to change the laws governing redistricting, you can do it any time, any year. You don’t have to wait until the numbers are out and you lost the last election.
“The game is under way, and we’re going to follow the rules that have been established by the courts, the Legislature and Congress.”
Under those rules, there can be zero deviation in population among congressional districts. Michigan’s current population is 9,883,640. Divided by 14 seats in the U.S. House that Michigan will have, that’s 705,974 residents per district. Detroit, which has two seats in Congress, has a population barely above that at 713,777.
Lawmakers will have to square Detroit’s population loss with federal voting rights laws that may require the state to keep the two seats it has now, in which a majority of the residents are minorities. That could affect southeast Michigan suburban districts currently held by Republicans and Democrats alike.
Republicans, who have a 9-6 edge in congressional seats, likely will seek to put two or more Democratic incumbents — say U.S. Reps. Dale Kildee, Sander Levin and Gary Peters — in the same district.
The process could give some Republicans heartburn as well. The 1st Congressional District currently represented by U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Crystal Falls, extends from Ironwood to Bay City and will require about 55,000 more residents in the northern Lower Peninsula from districts held by fellow Republicans.
Giving Benishek Grand Traverse County, for example, shifts the 4th Congressional District of U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland, somewhere else.
As for redrawing the legislative maps, it will be harder for Republicans to outdo the maps they unilaterally drew in 2001 after the last census was taken. Those districts resulted in a 26-seat majority in the Senate and a 63-seat block in the House. The House map, however, did enable Democrats to control the chamber for four years following the 2006 and 2008 elections.
While legislative districts can deviate 5 percent from each other, state standards call for those district lines to match municipal and county boundaries as closely as possible.
But the loss of population in Detroit and Wayne County will affect the partisan arrangement in the Legislature as well. Rep. Fred Durhal, D-Detroit, expects the city to lose two House seats and one Senate seat. That means that in the areas of Michigan that have grown since 2000, GOP territories in West Michigan, northern Macomb County and Livingston County could boost their legislative clout.
“That’s why we have redistricting, so the people are properly represented,” Lund said. “Detroit should not have as much representation; they don’t have as many people.”
Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday put to rest any notion that redistricting should wait until after lawmakers have approved a 2012 budget and rewritten the tax code.
“I think the Legislature is looking forward to working on a very legal and constitutional process, following through and doing reapportionment,” Snyder said. “So let’s get work done.”
E-mail Peter Luke: pluke@boothmichigan.com |
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Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:42 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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2010 Census data shows Michigan shifting rural
Published: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:28 AM Updated: Wednesday, March 23, 2011, 7:35 AM
By Edward Hoogterp | Booth News Service
Urban population losses in the first decade of the 21st century overshadowed gains in many suburbs and most of West Michigan, leaving the state with 54,000 fewer residents in 2010 than it had in 2000.
Figures from the 2010 census, released Tuesday, show 14 of the state’s 20 largest cities lost population in the past 10 years.
The downward spiral was led by Detroit, which saw its population fall by 25 percent to 713,777. The loss, more than 230,000 people, is larger than the state’s next-largest city.
Detroit now has less than half the number of residents it had 40 years ago.
Grand Rapids, Michigan’s No. 2 city, lost nearly 10,000 residents, or 4.9 percent, while No. 3 Warren declined by 3 percent.
BY THE NUMBERS
20 LARGEST CITIES
City: 2000 | 2010 | % Change
Detroit: 951,270 | 713,777 | -25.0
Grand Rapids: 197,800 | 188,040 | -4.9
Warren: 138,247 | 134,056 | -3.0
Sterling Heights: 124,471 | 129,699 | 4.2
Lansing: 119,128 | 114,297 | -4.1
Ann Arbor: 114,024 | 113,934 | -0.1
Flint: 124,943 | 102,434 | -18.0
Livonia: 100,545 | 96,942 | -3.6
Dearborn: 97,775 | 98,153 | 0.4
Troy: 80,959 | 80,980 | ---
Farmington Hills: 82,111 | 79,740 | -2.9
Westland: 86,602 | 84,094 | -2.9
Southfield: 78,296 | 71,739 | -8.4
Kalamazoo: 77,145 | 74,262 | -3.7
Wyoming: 69,368 | 72,125 | 4.0
Rochester Hills: 68,825 | 70,995 | 3.2
Pontiac: 66,337 | 59,515 | -10.3
St. Clair Shores: 63,096 | 59,715 | -5.4
Taylor: 65,868 | 63,131 | -4.2
Dearborn Heights: 58,264 | 57,774 | -0.8
20 LARGEST COUNTIES
County: 2000 | 2010 | % Change
Wayne: 2,061,162 | 1,820,584 | -11.7
Oakland: 1,194,156 | 1,202,362 | 0.7
Macomb: 788,149 | 840,978 | 6.7
Kent: 574,335 | 602,622 | 4.9
Genesee: 436,141 | 425,790 | -2.4
Washtenaw: 322,895 | 344,791 | 6.8
Ingham: 279,320 | 280,895 | 0.6
Ottawa: 238,314 | 263,801 | 10.7
Kalamazoo: 238,603 | 250,331 | 4.9
Saginaw: 210,039 | 200,169 | -4.7
Livingston: 156,951 | 180,967 | 15.3
Muskegon: 170,200 | 172,188 | 1.2
St. Clair: 164,235 | 163,040 | -0.7
Berrien: 162,453 | 156,813 | -3.5
Jackson: 158,422 | 160,248 | 1.2
Monroe: 145,945 | 152,021 | 4.2
Calhoun: 137,985 | 136,146 | -1.3
Allegan: 105,665 | 111,408 | 5.4
Bay: 110,157 | 107,771 | -2.2
Eaton: 103,655 | 107,759 | 4.0
Flint, which had been No. 4, declined by 18 percent and fell to seventh place.
Population declines also were seen in the Upper Peninsula and in the northeast Lower Peninsula.
The losses were partly offset by gains in suburban and rural areas of southern and West Michigan, and in the northwest Lower Peninsula counties surrounding Traverse City.
In fact, 13 of the 20 largest counties saw increases. Among them:
Ottawa County passed Kalamazoo County to become the state’s eighth-largest county. Its percent of growth since 2000, 10.7 percent, is second highest among large counties.
Livingston County had the largest percentage growth, 15.3 percent. The county jumped four spots to No. 11, passing Jackson, Berrien, St. Clair and Muskegon counties.
In terms of sheer population gain, Macomb and Kent counties added the most people, about 53,000 and 28,000 respectively.
The loss of population and economic vitality in Michigan’s urban centers has long been a point of concern for government leaders and economic development experts.
Gov. Rick Snyder has singled out urban revitalization as a key part of restoring the state’s competitiveness. In a special message to the Legislature on Monday, Snyder called for more regional cooperation and proposed a $5 million incentive program to promote mergers and consolidation among local governmental units.
In a statement released by his office, Snyder vowed to “meet the challenge” posed by the disappointing census figures.
“The census figures clearly show how crucial it is to reinvent Michigan,” he said.
“ ... Michigan will not succeed if Detroit and other major cities don’t succeed. We all must be partners in Michigan’s reinvention,”
Bill Rustem, the governor’s director of strategy, said the administration is committed to improving both the image and the reality of Michigan’s cities.
“Michigan is framed by the image of Detroit,” Rustem said. “We’ve got to change that frame so it’s a positive, not a negative.”
Rustem said future economic growth is likely to be fueled by young, highly educated individuals, a group that tends to choose to live in such cities as Seattle, Chicago or Austin, Texas.
“We send 46 percent of our college grads out of Michigan,” Rustem said. “Michigan’s future is dependent on making our urban places attractive to the next generation. ... They are the places that the next generation of young people want to go. They’re looking for vibrant, urban places.”
Daniel Kildee, president of the Flint-based Center for Community Progress, said Michigan needs new land-use policies to deal with “the reality of significant population loss.”
“Flint doesn’t make sense as a city designed for 250,000 people if only 100,000 people live there,” Kildee said. “Detroit doesn’t make sense if it’s mapped for 2 million, but has less than 800,000.”
As Genesee County treasurer in the 1990s, Kildee led a movement to create community land banks to hold and reinvest in abandoned urban properties.
He said the state needs to continue investing in cities. While he supports the administration’s efforts to encourage mergers of government services, he opposes the governor’s plan to eliminate tax credits for restoring historic properties or redeveloping contaminated industrial sites. Those incentives may be necessary to encourage development in aging urban areas, rather than in outlying suburbs, he said.
“We should invest in our cities, and we should protect farm fields and natural resources,” Kildee said.
The decline in Detroit’s population was far greater than had been anticipated. Much of the loss resulted from blacks leaving the central city for nearby suburbs or for locations farther away.
William Frey, a demographer affiliated with the University of Michigan and the Brookings Institution, noted a national trend has seen many young blacks choosing urban areas in Texas, Georgia and other southern states.
“This is the first loss of blacks (Detroit) has ever seen,” Frey said. “A lot of it has to do with the draw that southern states have for young blacks.”
Frey said the challenge for Michigan is to make the cities more inviting to potential newcomers.
“People are always moving out of places,” he said. “The problem (in Michigan) is not enough people are moving in.”
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Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:50 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Swartz Creek African-American population quadruples in 10 years, Census shows
Published: Friday, March 25, 2011, 4:02 PM Updated: Friday, March 25, 2011, 4:11 PM
By Beata Mostafavi | Flint Journal The Flint Journal
SWARTZ CREEK, Michigan — A small city just 10 miles west of Flint quietly appears to becoming more diverse.
Swartz Creek’s African-American population more than quadrupled between 2000 and 2010, up from 62 people to 292 people, according to the latest data from the 2010 U.S. Census.
The growing community includes families such as the Grays, who were looking for an escape from urban life without going too far.
Ryan Grays said he and his wife Joya moved their four children from the south side of Flint into a spacious apartment in Burkeshire Pointe in Swartz Creek two years ago because they were tired of being surrounded by noise and crime.
“There were people outside on the street shooting each other,” said Grays, 27 whose children are ages 2, 5, 7 and 10. “It’s so quiet here. We don’t worry about crime at all.”’
Grays, whose wife still works at a retail store in Flint, said he hasn’t noticed a dramatic increase in diversity in the city of Swartz Creek itself but has seen a large number of African-American families specifically moving into Burkeshire.
The 112-unit development that sits on nearly 20 acres opened nearly seven years ago for low- and moderate-income families. It offers access to a clubhouse, community room, computer center with a printer and Internet access, picnic area with BBQ grills and playground.
“This is much nicer than we could get in Flint,” Grays said.
Longtime Swartz creek business owner Steve Mardlin also said he’s noticed more diversity in the community as new housing complexes opened up in the community.
Since 2000, Swartz Creek has seen at least half a dozen new housing developments.
“I think they’re looking for suburban living in a good community and they’re looking for something decent at a low price,” said Mardlin, who serves on the board of Swartz Creek’s Downtown Development Authority and is an ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce.
Some of the demographic change has slowly swept through Swartz Creek schools, which saw a nearly 45 percent in black students in just the last five years.
The demographic group grew from 156 students in the 2005-2006 school year to 226 students this year — although Swartz Creek draws students from 18 different school districts including Carman-Ainsworth and Flint.
About 116 students also identified themselves as multi-racial this year, a category that the school previously wasn’t required to report.
“As far as diversity is concerned, the community is just gradually becoming more like America,” Superintendent Jeff Pratt said. “We’re just a melting pot.”
City Manager Paul Bueche said the difference in numbers hasn’t translated into big community changes — the increase of 230 people still means the African-American population make up just a 5 percent slice of the community.
He said the change seems to part of the overall 12 percent increase in the city’s population, now up to 5,758.
“I haven’t noticed any impact on the city ... but it means we’re growing, which is a good thing,” he said.
Related topics: census 2010, swartz creek
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Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:56 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Census 2010: Genesee County communities more diverse; Hispanic population grows
Published: Friday, March 25, 2011, 9:59 PM Updated: Saturday, March 26, 2011, 7:03 AM
By Kristin Longley | Flint Journal The Flint Journal
GENESEE COUNTY — The face of Genesee County is changing, reflected in the shifting demographics of nearly every local community.
Over the last decade, just about every city and township in the county has become more diverse — though some much more slowly than others, according to new 2010 U.S. Census data released this week.
Some communities, like Grand Blanc Township and Swartz Creek, showed growth in most racial and ethnic populations since the last census count in 2000.
Others, like Burton and Flint Township, increased their minority population, but also experienced the most white flight, statistics show.
Flint Township, for example, gained 2,779 black people, but lost 4,500 white people to become 68 percent white and 26 percent black, data show.
The county’s Hispanic population showed the most gain, mirroring a statewide and national trend, with the largest increases in Grand Blanc Township, Burton and Flint.
In Genesee County, Latinos increased by 28 percent, or 2,831 people, even as the overall county population declined, data show.
In all, the numbers show a continued trend toward diversity, reflected in schools, churches and local businesses.
“It simply does reflect the changing opportunities and probably some changes in attitudes over decades,” said Paul Rozycki, political science professor at Mott Community College. “It’s not surprising at all. It’s a good trend in a lot of ways.”
Grand Blanc Township resident William Kornegay’s story is similar to that of many in the local African-American community.
He moved to the area from Florida 40 years ago looking for work. Like so many others, he took a job with General Motors and spent most of his adult life working there.
He settled his family in Grand Blanc because of its reputation for good schools and picturesque neighborhoods.
One of the fastest-growing communities in the county, the township has seen increases in every population category over the last decade, the largest among blacks. The township is now 83 percent white, 11 percent black and 3 percent Asian. It’s also 3 percent Hispanic.
The local black population in the township more than doubled from 10 years ago to 4,009 people.
“I see it in my neighborhood every day,” said Kornegay. “When we moved here, you could count the number of minority black kids on your fingers and toes. Today, it’s a ton.”
The attributes that attracted Kornegay to the township are still drawing people from urban areas, such as the city of Flint, he said.
“People want to have better opportunities for their kids,” said Kornegay, 78, who lives in a tree-lined subdivision just south of Hill Road. “You want them to be better off than you were when you came along.”
Changes in Swartz Creek, the predominantly white city just 10 miles west of Flint, show it’s quietly becoming more diverse. Swartz Creek’s African-American population more than quadrupled over the 10 years, up from 62 people to 292 people.
The growing community includes families such as the Grays, who were looking for an escape from urban life without going too far.
Ryan Grays said he and his wife Joya moved their four children from the south side of Flint into a spacious apartment in Burkeshire Pointe in Swartz Creek two years ago because they were tired of being surrounded by noise and crime.
“There were people outside on the street shooting each other,” said Grays, 27, whose children are ages 2, 5, 7 and 10. “It’s so quiet here. We don’t worry about crime at all.”’
Grays, whose wife works at a retail store in Flint, said he hasn’t noticed a dramatic increase in diversity in the city of Swartz Creek itself but has seen a large number of African-American families specifically moving into Burkeshire.
The 112-unit development that sits on 20 acres opened nearly seven years ago for low- and moderate-income families. It offers access to a clubhouse, community room, computer center with a printer and Internet access, picnic area with grills and playground.
“This is much nicer than we could get in Flint,” Grays said.
Longtime Swartz Creek business owner Steve Mardlin also said he’s noticed more diversity in the community as new housing complexes opened up in the community.
Since 2000, Swartz Creek has seen at least half a dozen new housing developments.
“I think they’re looking for suburban living in a good community and they’re looking for something decent at a low price,” said Mardlin, who serves on the board of Swartz Creek’s Downtown Development Authority and is an ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce.
Some of the demographic change has slowly swept through Swartz Creek School District, which saw a nearly 45 percent increase in black students in just the last five years.
The demographic group grew from 156 students in the 2005-2006 school year to 226 students this year — although Swartz Creek draws students from 18 different school districts including Carman-Ainsworth and Flint.
About 116 students also identified themselves as multi-racial this year, a category that the school previously wasn’t required to report.
“As far as diversity is concerned, the community is just gradually becoming more like America,” Superintendent Jeff Pratt said. “We’re just a melting pot.”
City Manager Paul Bueche said the difference in numbers hasn’t translated into big community changes — the increase of 230 people still means the African-American population make up just a 5 percent slice of the community.
He said the change seems to be part of the overall 12 percent increase in the city’s population, now up to 5,758.
“I haven’t noticed any impact on the city ... but it means we’re growing, which is a good thing,” he said.
The U.S. Census Bureau collects data on race and ethnic origin for government use to evaluate programs or enforce laws, such as the Voting Rights Act and Fair Housing Act.
Racial data will also be examined locally if the decision is made to redraw district lines to reduce the county Board of Commissioners, which is under consideration.
County Clerk Michael J. Carr said the Reapportionment Commission will study the breakdowns “almost block by block” to redraw the lines.
“We’ll do everything we can to make sure the black population is adequately represented on the board,” he said.
The Hispanic Community & Technology Center in Flint uses data on Hispanic origin to identify areas in need of services. The center has definitely noticed a growing need from people seeking translations or help with interpretation, said Carlos Cisneros, a member of the center’s executive board.
The fact that the Hispanic population is growing in every part of the county isn’t surprising, he said.
“People are moving around and they’re spreading their wings,” he said. “They’re getting more acclimated. They can move to the Fenton areas or the Lapeer areas and still meet their needs.”
The local Hispanic population is probably even larger than the census numbers show, mainly because undocumented Spanish-speaking people likely don’t want to draw attention to themselves, said Paul O’Donnell, professor of foreign languages at the University of Michigan-Flint.
O’Donnell sees the increased numbers as a “huge resource that is going untapped.”
“They’re very careful at keeping quiet,” said O’Donnell, who studies Hispanic population shifts in Michigan. “No has numbers on these things unless you see things personally. It’s a totally invisible population.”
Journal staff writer Beata Mostafavi contributed to this report. |
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Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:17 am |
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