Flint City Council: October Roundup

Editor’s Note: The Flint City Council Monthly Wrap Up! is a new series spearheaded by Jalen Garrison. This series serves as a guide to make council meetings journalistically sound, accessible, and engaging.

FLINT, Michigan — Welcome to the Flint City Council Monthly Wrap-Up! This is a summary of the most important debates, resolutions, and decisions from October city council meetings, along with a look at what’s coming up in November.

Flint City Council made the most of its time this month, taking significant political action by passing ordinances, blocking funding, and more that we’ll cover.

This was likely due in large part to the Nov. 3 election. Flint City Council was guaranteed to see at least 4 wards gain new representation, which would incentivize council members to exercise their power as much as possible prior to Election Day.

1st Ward Councilman Leon El-Alamin’s trial postponed for a fourth time

• Due to a scheduling conflict, 1st Ward Councilman El-Alamin will wait until Nov. 12 to appear in court again for his felony assault trial. El-Alamin’s attorney, Rolland Sizemore, did not elaborate on the scheduling conflict, but the judge presiding over the trial agreed that Nov. 12 would work for the next hearing. This marks the fourth delay in the trial, with Sizemore previously moving to delay the trial until after the Nov. 3 election, in which El-Alamin was running to represent the 3rd Ward. The judge previously denied the request for postponement given that it was for political purposes.

• Flintside has interviewed El-Alamin; you can check it out here.

Two union contracts representing city workers approved by city council

• On Oct. 12, 2026, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1600 and the Flint Police Officers Labor Council’s Sergeants Union both had their contracts approved unanimously by city council. The terms of both contracts have not been made publicly accessible, but these contracts will alter the working conditions of over 230 city workers.

North Flint Food Market denied $150,000 in grant funding

• At the Finance Committee’s Oct. 12 meeting, the committee denied a $150,000 grant to the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation 3-2. The funding was intended for a job readiness program that would train individuals ages 16 to 26 and, according to the documentation in the meeting agenda packet, hire up to 30 individuals. Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer alleged that the owners of the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation do not reside in Flint and cited that as the reason why he would vote against funding.

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation gives grant to city parks

• A $650,000 grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation for maintenance of city parks was approved unanimously by city council. The resolution will fund the Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission for services, which could include weekly mowing, trash and debris removal, small-scale maintenance, and equipment repairs. This is particularly relevant with the Flint City Parks millage renewal being a ballot item this election cycle.

$1.25 million in funding allocated to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Catholic Charities

• About $1.26 million in Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funding was reprogrammed, providing over $715,000 to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan for equipment and food for Flint residents facing food insecurity. Another $540,000 was sent to Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties.

Curfew ordinance up for first reading

• An ordinance amending Flint’s curfew rules was on the Oct. 21 council agenda for introduction and first reading. The agenda packet sets curfew hours by age: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for children 12 and under, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. for those 14 and under, and midnight to 6 a.m. for minors under 17, with earlier hours Monday through Thursday during the school year. It also includes a daytime curfew for minors under 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the school year and a special public events curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., with a $250 fine plus police costs for violations. The packet does not mark which provisions differ from the current code.

Coming up in November

Ongoing developments in Leon El-Alamin’s criminal trials

• The outcome of the El-Alamin assault trial grows imminent. According to unofficial results, El-Alamin lost his 3rd Ward race to Paradise Williams on Nov. 3, but he is still facing prison time on both assault and election fraud charges.

A new City Council

• The terms for 8 of the 9 City Council members will end on Nov. 18. Voters elected seven new council members on Nov. 3, with only Candice Mushatt and LaShawn Johnson returning, according to unofficial results. This will prove to be one of the most influential elections in recent Flint history for that reason.
• In the mayoral race, unofficial results show Councilwoman Tonya Burns defeating Mayor Sheldon Neeley; she is set to begin her four-year term Dec. 1.
• For a guide on what was on the ballot, Flintside published it here.

Election coverage brought to you by Flintside

• Throughout October and through the November election, Flintside covered the city council and mayoral races, thanks largely to a grant from Election SOS.