Flint, Saginaw mayors seek to allay fears of feud between cities

MID-MICHIGAN -- The mayors of Flint and Saginaw on Friday afternoon, Aug. 29, acknowledged a feud percolating between their cities.

Both emphasized their longstanding relationship as sister cities and refuse to let “isolated incidents” damage their historic bonds.

“Negative narratives on social media do not define us. We will not allow bad actors to jeopardize the partnerships we’ve built over generations,” said Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley in a press release. “Together, clergy, community leaders, and elected officials must reject these false divisions and lift up the truth of who we are.”

The cities share deep economic and social ties, with decades of shared growth through family connections, neighborhood relationships, and corporate partnerships, including General Motors, the mayor said