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Benton Harbor, MI is 10,235 population town. 85.5% of the residents are African-American. The per capita income is among the lowest in the state: $10,235.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently castrated the city government of the struggling town, using his controversial “Emergency Financial Managers” law. The law, as Raw Story previously reported, allows Snyder to “take over municipalities that don’t pass a financial stress test.”
On Tuesday night, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow made the case that Snyder, Whirlpool (global headquarters in Benton Harbor), Harbor Shores (a developer) and assorted political cronies are using the newly enacted law to grab prime beachfront property deeded to the city’s residents in 1917 in order to develop it into a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and luxury “signature” homes.
The impoverished former industrial town of Benton Harbor has become a flashpoint in the controversy over the new law that allows the governor to appoint Emergency Managers with virtually unlimited authority over local governments.
On Thursday the state-appointed Emergency Manager Joe Harris used the expanded powers granted by the new law to issue an order banning the city commission from taking any action without his written permission.
Benton Harbor City Commissioner Juanita Henry says her constituents are angry and looking for help, but without the power to hold meetings the city commission can’t even provide an official venue for citizens to ask questions and get answers.
“They are using Benton Harbor as a test case,“ Henry said. “If they have disenfranchised the people so badly they just don’t respond to anything, they can do this all over the country.”
…Relations have been strained between the elected officials and the Emergency Manager Harris. In January the city commission tried to oust him after criticizing his expenses and his plans to cut the fire department.
“People should be paying attention to what is happening here because Benton Harbor is GROUND ZERO for the future of what is to become of our state under Governor Rick Snyder,“ said Carole Drake, who fought the privatization of Jean Klock Park in state court…
The total suspension of power for local officials has brought Benton Harbor’s situation into focus for other Michigan communities, where people now worry that growing budget problems could mean that they will face similar loss of assets and control.
Michigan Messenger on Jean Klock Park:
Maddow specifically mentioned the Jean Klock Park situation, a story that the Messenger has been following closely for years — and most of the media in the state have been ignoring. A large chunk of that park, deeded to the city on the condition that it remain a public park forever, was leased to private developers to be made into a golf course.
The land was swapped for land owned by Whirlpool, property that turned out to be highly contaminated; taxpayers are now paying for the cleanup of that land through a Brownfield redevelopment credit worth millions of dollars.
Though that situation took place before the new Emergency Manager law went into effect, this is exactly the sort of thing that an Emergency Manager would have the power to do. Faced with a deficit, the EM might decide to sell off public property to developers — and there’s nothing that local residents or their elected officials could do to stop it because, as this situation shows, the EFM can simply order the local elected boards not to do anything.
Your own article states teh place was misnanaged and cost MILLIONS because of their OWN land swap!? So why the negative slant on someone TRYING TO HELP AS IT IS EVIDANT THAT NOTHING WAS GOING TO GO POSITIVE HERE WITH THE LOCALS ANYWAY?
“Though that situation took place BEFORE the new Emergency Manager law went into effect, this is exactly the sort of thing that an Emergency Manager would have the power to do. Faced with a deficit, the EM might decide to sell off public property to developers — and there’s nothing that local residents or their elected officials could do to stop it because, as this situation shows, the EFM can simply order the local elected boards not to do anything.”
Typical republican power grab. And they blame the Dems for big government. I’d rather have the “Socialists” in charge than the “Fascists” any day.
Whats the problem? Blacks have proven they arn’t capable of running anything. From the white house to state gov to city gov. They are corrupt, ignorant and racist. Gentrification is a good thing, it give the good areas back to the producers.
Thank you, Cman1982, for proving once again that tea baggers are ignorant bigots.
Selling off prime real estate in a swap that causes the town to be held libel with millions of dollars in toxic waste clean up? This is clearly a white collar theft in broad daylight. Why don’t the townspeople take this to the Supreme Court? Personally, I think the corporate and political criminals should be prosecuted under the Rico Act.
I would have to say it is the town government who is acting in the best interests of its constituents, and not the Governor or other state officials.
“We the People” are the sovereign government on the federal, state and local levels, and not our representatives who just work for us. The people and no one else may elect their chosen leaders. Not even the federal government can interfere with uncontested voting decisions made in Benton Harbor, MI!
Seriously, how obviously unconstitutional can this outrageous power grab possibly get? It’s time for the people to rise up in unison and assert their sovereign authority. Wisconsin was just the beginning?
In my own town, we have organized to take back our water company and save over one million dollars the first year! Not only will about 5000 homes save a lot of money, but our local farmers will become more competitive. Everyone wins, except big business and the wealthy elite!
I have a better idea.
Burn Benton Harbor completely to the ground. Let it sit and rot.
That’s the only way it could ever get any better.
Saved as a favorite, I enjoy your blog! :)
Benton Harbor was grossly mismanaged before the takeover. The Manager was installed by Jennifer Granholm, the (D) Governor.
Trusting in your elected representatives is not always a great idea. For example, look at Bell CA. http://wibw.com/nationalnews/headlines/103499699.html