My City May 2022

“ My goal is to go in-depth into the subject matter to get people to think or to present issues that have affected and continue to affect the city ”

PODCAST HOST ARTHUR BUSCH

and refocused it toward the city he loved and Radio Free Flint was born. “What started as a hobby turned into a job with deadlines,”he laughs. “I’m releasing it in seasons now just to get a break.” Busch grew up on Flint’s south side and graduated from Flint Southwestern High School in 1972.He then went on to attend Michigan State University where he earned his bachelors and mas ter’s degrees. “I specialized in public policy at James Madison College at MSU,”he adds. “Growing up, I was very interested in city politics and it was a dream of mine to serve on the Flint City Council.”He went on to obtain a law degree from the omas Cooley Law School in Lansing. He immediately returned to Flint and took a job representing UAW 581 and then in 1983, took a position in Mayor Sharpe’s administration.At the age of 37, he was elected Genesee County Prose cutor and in that oƒce handled nearly 700 homicide investigations (including the famous Margarette Eby case).He also successfully argued a case before the United States Supreme Court. 

C lick play and the music begins – a sometimes a little more bluesy or upbeat – it brings you back home. Back to warm days in the sun, walking the bricks of Saginaw Street in the heyday of Flint past. “Hello,”greets the soft voice of the host, “You are listening to Radio Free Flint.anks for joining us.Today,my guest is …”Settle in as the Radio Free Flint podcast rolls on through the past, present and future of Greater Flint. Described as “dedicated to the beleaguered American city of Flint, Michigan and communities like it across America,”Radio Free Flint podcasts began in April 2020 and are hosted by the creator and former Genesee Coun ty Prosecutor,Arthur Busch.O•ering informational discussions, videos and stories, the episodes showcase true crime, life histories and viewpoints of the calming folk melody with a country feel,

people who have participated in the Flint experience – both today and yesterday. It was originally a Sunday morning radio show hosted by Michael Moore with support from the legendary local rock radio pioneer Peter C.Cavanaugh, Busch explains. “e show wanted to give truth to people in the city and that is something I think about.”During the pandemic, Busch found himself stuck in his St. Petersburg, FL retirement home, a hostage of his television set.He watched a news report about a water distribution center on Flint’s east side. “I felt helpless,” he remembers. Flint was going through a public health crisis that still was not suƒciently addressed and Busch wanted to help. “In Flint, I was very involved with civic life, even chairman of the Public Works Committee; but now I’mmore of an outside observer,”he states.When a friend from South Carolina †oated the idea of doing a podcast about baby boomers in society, Busch took the idea

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