Emergency Financial Mgr. fires entire government of Benton Harbor, MI.

[Novine]

Joe Harris is keeping busy. He's now booting people off city boards and commissions. On one board, he removed 4 people and replaced them with 4 city employees, which means that 4 people who are dependent on Joe Harris for a paycheck are now supposed to represent the interests of the residents of Benton Harbor. Sounds like something straight out of the playbook of a tin hat dictator.

http://www.heraldpalladium.com/artic...ws/4378985.txt

[Lowell]

The Benton Harbor metro is a microcosm of Detroit's situation.

White/Black/Household Income
Benton Harbor
5.49%
92.40%
$17,471

Cross a river and...

St. Joseph
90.31%
5.11%
$37,032

Benton Harbor harbors almost all of that metro's poor, homeless, unemployed, felons and others with problems. Like with Detroit and other of our state's metro's, there is very little burden sharing. Those cities that carry the burden population do not get any revenue from it and have higher costs from it. Then they are punished with extortionate insurance rates, crime, blight, poor schools and continually declining population as citizens with money are driven out by those costs.

Until these inequities are addressed and "red lines are turned green" by creating incentives that can't be refused for people to live in these communities no Joe Harris or other god will halt their decline. He might put their financial house in order, but an unlivable community with no services or schools will remain. The role of the EFM's will be no more than scrappers that will pluck out salable assets and leave useless Packard-like ruins.

[Vox]

From that article:

The last Planning Commission meeting, there was no quorum. Interestingly
enough, they began with a quorum, but one member left and returned, but returned
as a spectator," Harris said. "I thought there was a need for the emergency
manager to take a look at the composition of the Planning Commission and the
Brownfield Board and look at the qualifications of the members and who attends
the meetings

Sounds to me like it's just a "little" dysfunctional, don't you?

[Wesley Mouch]

The Benton Harbor metro is a microcosm of Detroit's situation....<snip>...
Until these inequities are addressed and "red lines are turned green" by creating incentives that can't be refused for people to live in these communities no Joe Harris or other god will halt their decline. He might put their financial house in order, but an unlivable community with no services or schools will remain. The role of the EFM's will be no more than scrappers that will pluck out salable assets and leave useless Packard-like ruins.

Proof that the concept of 'home rule' is misguided. We do need to accept and address the problems of all of our citizens. Concern about 'disenfranchisement' are bogus. Lowell points out how disenfrancised these citizens are already.

At least this step to stop looters from stealing what little the good citizens of BH have can be done now, while we wait for the solution to global love.

[1KielsonDrive]

Proof that the concept of 'home rule' is misguided. We do need to accept and address the problems of all of our citizens. Concern about 'disenfranchisement' are bogus. Lowell points out how disenfrancised these citizens are already.

At least this step to stop looters from stealing what little the good citizens of BH have can be done now, while we wait for the solution to global love.

It was all looted many years ago. Why stop now? Get their land, mineral rights, social services, retirements and ???? Good citizens? Sounds like you're patronizing them and then sarcastically suggesting those opposed to EFM's are a bunch of losers as opposed to you the disciplined, father figure, tough guy. Tough love, that's it. That'll do. [[sarcasm on my part).

[1KielsonDrive]

Proof that the concept of 'home rule' is misguided. We do need to accept and address the problems of all of our citizens. Concern about 'disenfranchisement' are bogus. Lowell points out how disenfrancised these citizens are already.

At least this step to stop looters from stealing what little the good citizens of BH have can be done now, while we wait for the solution to global love.

'Home Rule' was always advocated by you guys - right wingers. Not by us 'lovey dovey', 'librul' types. 'Home Rule' was a concept for authoritarian rule in the south by you guys who didn't want the feds interfering in local business and politics until it suited your needs. Somehow, after neglecting certain areas [[and peoples) of our country, you guys now find it necessary to install your guys to 'oversee' and rule in those same areas and over those same people. If you'd cared enough all along, it wouldn't have come to this. All of a sudden, you care. What's that all about?

[1KielsonDrive]

Two long time, historical cases to consider: Two cities long run by corrupt adminstrations - out in the open - Chicago and Dearborn. What's the difference between those two cities and BH? Hamtramck? Ecorse? Troy? Allen Park?

[maxx]

I'm suprised someone hasn't challenged this in court. The problem I see [[as an elected official myself) is when you suspend the powers of elected officals, you're suspending the rights of the population within that jurisdiction to have a say in their own affairs. I'm not denying that there is infighting within the governing body of the city for a long time, but aparently it has been condoned and sanctioned by the voters who elected the clowns that run Benton Harbor.

Yes, this new law gives more powers to EFMs than in the past. Shouldn't BH take their case to the courts for a ruling on the constitutionality of this new law? Is anyone else in the lege speaking out besides Shanelle Jackson?
http://michiganmessenger.com/46807/c...ers-questioned

[1KielsonDrive]

As for Joe Harris? The only reason he got the appointment is because he's a republicat. A Black republicat at that. He established his creds by speaking out against KK and his adminstration. Not a bad thing, but totally heroic to republicats who now have a Black man who has spoken out against other Black men, in their midst. He can say things they'd never have the b***s to say. He can get away with doing things to the citizens of BH that republicats would never otherwise dream of doing. And, Harris hangs out with them at their private clubs. See, I really do have Black friends. How cool is that? Just shows to go ya' how inclusive republicats really are.

[1KielsonDrive]

Y'all don't need to remind me Harris was apppointed by JG. I know it. JG was a demican in name only. Goes back to the point I've made that there's little difference between the two: right and far right.

[maxx]

'Home Rule' was always advocated by you guys - right wingers. Not by us 'lovey dovey', 'librul' types. 'Home Rule' was a concept for authoritarian rule in the south by you guys who didn't want the feds interfering in local business and politics until it suited your needs. Somehow, after neglecting certain areas [[and peoples) of our country, you guys now find it necessary to install your guys to 'oversee' and rule in those same areas and over those same people. If you'd cared enough all along, it wouldn't have come to this. All of a sudden, you care. What's that all about?

It was about grabbing public property for private development a few years ago in BH.

[1KielsonDrive]

It was about grabbing public property for private development a few years ago in BH.

Absolutely. And they succeeded. Public recreational land, in perpetuity, is now private development land, in perpetuity. Doesn't matter that it was a golf course, one of the most over-bloated business fields in the world, it only mattered that a private enterprise wanted it for their sole, profitable [[??) use.

[Novine]

"Sounds to me like it's just a "little" dysfunctional, don't you?"

I guess if Joe Harris says so, it makes it true. It doesn't even tell us if the people who got booted are the ones who showed up or didn't show up for the meetings.

[1KielsonDrive]

"Sounds to me like it's just a "little" dysfunctional, don't you?"

I guess if Joe Harris says so, it makes it true. It doesn't even tell us if the people who got booted are the ones who showed up or didn't show up for the meetings.

And Joe will be the only one with a podium and interviews. The others will be forgotten as the crooks who ran the city into the ground, completely ignoring decades of neglect by the rest of our society.

[Hermod]

And Joe will be the only one with a podium and interviews. The others will be forgotten as the crooks who ran the city into the ground, completely ignoring decades of neglect by the rest of our society.

Generally, when people band together and petition the state for a charter to form a city or a village, they are saying that we will tax ourselves as needed to make this a going concern. I guess that when you run a city into the ground it is your right to have the rest of the cities bail you out.

[Jimaz]

Benton Harbor City Commissioner Dennis Knowles interviewed

[1KielsonDrive]

Generally, when people band together and petition the state for a charter to form a city or a village, they are saying that we will tax ourselves as needed to make this a going concern. I guess that when you run a city into the ground it is your right to have the rest of the cities bail you out.

Sarcasm noted. I guess when you've drained all you can out of a city, it's industries, natural resources and its people, you can desert it or take it over for you and your cronies profit. Socialism is a bitch when you have to give back from whom and where you've taken. Sarcasm intended.

[fryar]

Joe Harris is keeping busy. He's now booting people off city boards and commissions. On one board, he removed 4 people and replaced them with 4 city employees, which means that 4 people who are dependent on Joe Harris for a paycheck are now supposed to represent the interests of the residents of Benton Harbor.

This is really my biggest concern.

[Hermod]

Sarcasm noted. I guess when you've drained all you can out of a city, it's industries, natural resources and its people, you can desert it or take it over for you and your cronies profit. Socialism is a bitch when you have to give back from whom and where you've taken. Sarcasm intended.

What industries were drained out of Benton Harbor? Did the industries leave because of migovernment? Was BH a bad place to do business?

What natural resources were drained out of Benton Harbor? Was it sitting on a great lode of gold? Coal? Iron ore?

The people weren't "drained out". The people fled as refugees from misgovernment and crime. Oher people left seeking economic opportunity elsewhere.

I guess in the great Kelson social "paradise" the people won't leave. They will stay in their assigned worker flat. They can only leave if some government functionary stamps their travel document.

[Wesley Mouch]

Two long time, historical cases to consider: Two cities long run by corrupt adminstrations - out in the open - Chicago and Dearborn. What's the difference between those two cities and BH? Hamtramck? Ecorse? Troy? Allen Park?

Differences:

Chicago and Dearborn have had well-run, efficient corruption the sucked excess monies from a vibrant business climate, but they didn't kill their hosts.

Hamtramck and Ecorse lost auto manufacturing and steel respectively, and the corruption didn't stop when the money flow did.

Troy and Allen Park appear just to be inept.

[bailey]

Differences:

Chicago and Dearborn have had well-run, efficient corruption the sucked excess monies from a vibrant business climate, but they didn't kill their hosts.

Hamtramck and Ecorse lost auto manufacturing and steel respectively, and the corruption didn't stop when the money flow did.

Troy and Allen Park appear just to be inept.

Exactly. The solution to Detroit's problems [[because this discussion really isnt about tiny Benton Harbor anyway right?) is simply installing a better class of criminal.

[skyl4rk]

Some interesting comments here

[karenka]

Differences:

Chicago and Dearborn have had well-run, efficient corruption the sucked excess monies from a vibrant business climate, but they didn't kill their hosts.

Hamtramck and Ecorse lost auto manufacturing and steel respectively, and the corruption didn't stop when the money flow did.

Troy and Allen Park appear just to be inept.

And to what Hamtramck corruption are you referring?

[Jimaz]

Rachel Maddow: Something to say about Benton Harbor

[Wesley Mouch]

Exactly. The solution to Detroit's problems [[because this discussion really isnt about tiny Benton Harbor anyway right?) is simply installing a better class of criminal.

Yes! We need competent leaders, ehm criminals. Our pockets may be empty, but our streets will be clean.