A Flint city councilwoman who called the actions of a Black council member “ghetto” is now under investigation by the charter school where she teaches.
Stride, the private company that runs Michigan Virtual Charter Academy, tells Metro Times it’s investigating Eva Worthing, who is white, after she made the remark about Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter at a council meeting on May 4.
“We understand that one of our employees made some negative comments outside of her work environment and we are conducting a thorough internal investigation of the situation,” Stride said in a written statement.
A Stride spokesman declined to say whether Worthing was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
Three of Stride’s top officials are Black.
City of Flint
Flint City Councilwoman Eva Worthing.
“I will say the word ghetto for miss burns that’s what you are!!!,” Ronald Preville said on Facebook on Tuesday.
Worthing liked the comment and another one by former Flint Councilman Allan Griggs, who wrote, “Burns and Carter definitely act ghetto!!”
In a statement to Metro Times, Griggs said he wishes he had used another term.
“I should have used the adjective 'unrefined' instead of the adjective ‘ghetto,’” he said.
Worthing missed the last three council meetings. She said she had the flu in a Facebook post on Monday.
“I wanted to be there so that the meeting stays on the tasks at hand,” she wrote. “I highly doubt it will as there are some very hateful and vindictive people on this council. I will not let that be the focus of our meetings if I can help it!”
The council considered suspending Worthing for 30 days but delayed a vote.
Worthing couldn’t be reached for comment. She told Metro Times on Monday that she was done talking about the “ghetto” remarks.
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