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Black town stripped of power allegedly to be turned into golf park (843 hits)

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By Dexter Mullins

12:12 PM on 04/19/2011

For one small black town near Lake Michigan, things are about to change drastically thanks to a controversial law that allows for an "emergency financial manager" to take over a city.

Emergency Manager Joe Harris was appointed by then Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to "correct financial problems" and save the city from complete financial disaster. What Harris did was come to Benton Harbor - an 85.5 percent black town across the river from 89.5 percent white St. Joseph - and completely remove power from all the elected officials in the city.

WATCH RACHEL MADDOW TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE

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Officials can only call a meeting to order, approve minutes, and close a meeting. Any other action must have expressed written consent from the financial manager. In the mean time the future of Benton Harbor as a city is rapidly fading as Harris helps to make way for a new multi-million dollar public/private golf and residential redevelopment project - a project pushed by the Whirlpool company since the 1980s. Whirlpool's corporate offices are in Benton Harbor.

The new development would start in St. Joesph and then reach over the river into Benton Harbor. As the development stretched further into Benton Harbor it would swallow up Jean Klock Park, one of the only points of pride in this small town with a per-capita income of little over $10000.

With a financial Manager in charge of the city, Benton Harbor's elected officials are completely powerless to do anything to try and save their town. Harris was also formerly on the board of directors for the group overseeing the redevelopment project until recently.

The emergency manager law was sponsored by Al Pishelka, a former staffer for local congressman Fred Uptown - heir to the Whirlpool fortune and former vice president of one of the groups involved in the redevelopment project.

The future of Benton Harbor seems bleak, as the town is soon to be replaced by a luxury golf neighborhood few of the current residents can hope to afford.

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Tuesday, April 19th 2011 at 4:56PM
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I couldn't view the clip, but I read the commentary. So who should the folk of Benton Harbor go to see? are there any people that represent them at town hall or the municipal board, if not I suggest that they start their grass roots foot canvassing and fast!
Tuesday, April 19th 2011 at 4:59PM
Jen Fad

Interesting indeed, but I should think that a Golf Course isn't something that is necessary like building a highway or sidewalk.
Tuesday, April 19th 2011 at 8:05PM
Jen Fad

Saint Jake:

I just now found it. Glad you got it up there first.

This is a powerful story and everyone needs to know what is going on.

In MIchigan they just filed papers to begin the recall process on this clown. Let's hope they get the job done.

Wednesday, April 20th 2011 at 6:30PM
Richard Kigel

As, I sent out emails to all to watch the whole of this and not just an over view. this is a lwa that has passed, legally that has stripped the citizens of all rights to have a government that they voted for...mush like selling those homes with no money down as a great deal when one can not even rent a room without paying at least first and last rent on th eone room...and apartment aa deposit and you can buy a home with no monwy and it does not send out bells....

No Jake my son it is not like eminit domane...these citizens did this one irresponsiable vote at a time...it is a state LAW and you can not just wish nor pray it away. It will be law until the courts say it is illegal...

is something like this good...sure it is...these people hopefully will learn what they ae voting for beyond the lies one already know will be coming with every political leader and especially those on the right...they have never seen a person with money they don't like to work for so does ti sgive a hint they are ot working for these people making half as much as those who want a gulf course near wher Ethey live in their SUMMER HOME...OR ONE CAN ASK ONES SELF....DIDN'T THE CLINTONS DO TIS TO A HISTORICAL BLACK PART OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK?
ANYONE REMEMBER MY BLOG ABOUT THE GULLAH BLACKS WHO HAS LIVED ON THE LAND SINCE SLAVERY AND WERE SO ISOLATED UNTIL AFTER WWII RIGHT OFF THE COAST UNTIL THEY STILL SPOLE THE SAME LANGUAGE THEY BROUGHT FROM AFRICA...THEY HAVE TAKEN ALL MOST ALL OF THEIR LANDS AND THA TIS OUR HISTORY...BUT WHAT IS OUR HISTORY TO US WHEN WE CAN GET IT ON CNN...

WE ARE EVERY THING BUT PROUD BUT THIS IS NOT A BAD THING BECAUSE SOME ARE SO READY AND SO WILLING TO LEARN ABOUT US....THIS IS IN n.c. AND THESE PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO AFRICA TO VISIT FAMILY AFTER 4 HUNDRED YEARS AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SPEAK TH ESAME LANGUAGE AS THEIR FAMILY IN AFRICA...WONDER WHY NO MOVIE WAS MADE OF THIS AS THIS WAS NOT LONG AGO...HELL PLEASE DON'T FORGET WHERE AMERICA GETS IT OIL IS ON INDIAN RESEVATIONS...SEEN ANN BILLIONAIR NATIVE-AMERICANS YET...YOU WILL SOONER THAN LATER. (SMILE)

Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA