- In 1917, (click here) John and Carrie
- Lake Michigan frontage to the City
- of Benton Harbor Michigan in
- memory of their deceased daughter
- Jean. Their gift consisted of
- 90 acres of globally rare natural
- resources that included Great Lakes Dunes, a Great Lakes Marsh and interdunal
- wetlands. The donated land was named Jean Klock Park and was dedicated
- "FOR THE CHILDREN" - "in perpetuity" - "FOREVER."
The proposed project called "Harbor Shores" has a less than dignified history.
...Billed by the state government as a public-spirited, (click here) grassroots plan for community redevelopment, the project was blocked by the National Park Service (NPS) late last year for failing to involve the local community in decision-making and offering inadequate parcels in trade for the waterfront.
Developers resubmitted the plan, and the NPS-mandated public hearing and comment period, which concluded last month, revealed deep concerns about the plan and its purported benefits to the town. Over 300 written comments were submitted to the city.
Jean Klock Park is the only Lake Michigan waterfront owned by an African-American community and the proposed golf development has emerged as a national environmental justice story with pieces in The Washington Post, and Chicago Tribune. Last month, Michigan Messenger revealed that two top backers of the project, Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) and Whirlpool CEO Jeff Fettig, live just down the street from the planned course....
To say the community doesn't want to give it up is an understatement. I don't know why there are conservation organizations involved and more verbose about this. I realize CEOs believe they can covet any project as nothing short of genius, but, to remove pristine use of this area when an entire community objects to it is more than worrisome. Perhaps the only sin the Benton Harbor Community committed was to ask the National Park Service to charge admission to those outside the community in order to benefit the community in a small way. It is lake shore and summer bathing can be a premium.
In all honesty, the exploitation of the lake shore area could be happening about a few city blocks or so from the park where motels and concessions could be an attraction.
As everyone knows, Benton Harbor is the first city in the USA to be remanded to a Financial Manager. Governor Snyder washes his hands of any knowledge of what is transpiring with his Financial Managers. Unbelievable, that a Governor of any state would actively seek to destroy the democratic processes of elections and simply look the other way, but, hey who wants to be burdened by such things when they go wrong in elections.
The Financial Manager of Benton Harbor has been exceptionally aggressive in destroying the ability of the Mayor and Council to conduct their duties. The Financial Manager is Joseph L. Harris. He must have made a New Year's Resolution because he is discharging elected officials and assigning his own people in their place.
"Benton Harbor - Port of Opportunities" (click here)
Order 12.1 and 12.2 destroys the Benton Harbor Planning Commission. But, Order 12.3 is very curious. See, Mr. Harris has taken the power away from the elected Mayor and Council so there really isn't anything they can do to spend more monies nor resolve the city's debt. But, what is so curious is that a completely disarmed Mayor Pro Tem is being replaced.
WHEREAS, the Emergency Manager (click here) has determined that it is in the best interest of the
City to rernove Marcus Mutrammad from position as Mayor Pro Tem and to appoint Sharon
Henderson as Mayor Pro Tem.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE EMERGENCY MANAGER OF THE
CITY OF BENTON HARBOR" PURSUANT TO ACT 4:
1. That Marcus Mutrammad is hereby removed from the position of Mayor Pro Tem.
2. That Sharon Henderson is hereby appointed to the position of Mayor Pro Tem.
3. This Order shall become effective immediately.
SO ORDERED this this 10th day of January,2Ol2.
LIke, ahh? What the heck is this already! Perhaps understanding what Mr. Mutrammad has to say may bring light to the query. Yes, indeed.
At first blush, (click title to entry - thank you) you might think Mr. Harris was moving autocratically to sideline one of his critics. The now-former mayor pro tem, Marcus Muhammad, has called for an investigation into the relationship between Mr. Harris and the powerful nonprofit that's building the Habor Shores golf result stock-imaged above. That nonprofit is backed by Whirlpool, which has its corporate headquarters in Benton Harbor and is the biggest economic player in the sad, busted-up town.
So it would make sense that Mr. Harris would want to quiet Mr. Muhammad. But it turns out that Mr. Harris says he made the move at the request of the new mayor, who wanted to appoint his own mayor pro tem. The new mayor can't do that, because in an order last year (pdf) Mr. Harris stripped Benton Harbor's elected officials of all powers except the ability to call a meeting to order, approve the minutes, and adjourn the meeting. Now the unelected manager is carrying out, autocratically, the normal duties of the democracy he gutted.
Which is weird.
Weird it is. No doubt in my mind. It would seem Mr. Harris is abusing power and seeks to remove his critics from office. Why? I have no clue, because, if Mr. Harris actually believes that will quite Mr. Mutrammad he forgot that doesn't mean he will NOT become mute. No insult to the handicapped intended.
Someone want to explain how Snyder is actually getting away with this mess? The unemployment in Michigan is improving and there is absolutely no need to sell every city's assets to the highest bidder.
I am worried. The citizens of Benton Harbor thought their wishes were honored years ago, but, evidently their rights to have their own will in regard to their city's lands is being trampled again. Perhaps the CEOs can get in their newly built electric cars and travel a short distance to places other than the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan as valued by Benton Harbor!
To say the community doesn't want to give it up is an understatement. I don't know why there are conservation organizations involved and more verbose about this. I realize CEOs believe they can covet any project as nothing short of genius, but, to remove pristine use of this area when an entire community objects to it is more than worrisome. Perhaps the only sin the Benton Harbor Community committed was to ask the National Park Service to charge admission to those outside the community in order to benefit the community in a small way. It is lake shore and summer bathing can be a premium.
In all honesty, the exploitation of the lake shore area could be happening about a few city blocks or so from the park where motels and concessions could be an attraction.
As everyone knows, Benton Harbor is the first city in the USA to be remanded to a Financial Manager. Governor Snyder washes his hands of any knowledge of what is transpiring with his Financial Managers. Unbelievable, that a Governor of any state would actively seek to destroy the democratic processes of elections and simply look the other way, but, hey who wants to be burdened by such things when they go wrong in elections.
The Financial Manager of Benton Harbor has been exceptionally aggressive in destroying the ability of the Mayor and Council to conduct their duties. The Financial Manager is Joseph L. Harris. He must have made a New Year's Resolution because he is discharging elected officials and assigning his own people in their place.
"Benton Harbor - Port of Opportunities" (click here)
Order 12.1 and 12.2 destroys the Benton Harbor Planning Commission. But, Order 12.3 is very curious. See, Mr. Harris has taken the power away from the elected Mayor and Council so there really isn't anything they can do to spend more monies nor resolve the city's debt. But, what is so curious is that a completely disarmed Mayor Pro Tem is being replaced.
WHEREAS, the Emergency Manager (click here) has determined that it is in the best interest of the
City to rernove Marcus Mutrammad from position as Mayor Pro Tem and to appoint Sharon
Henderson as Mayor Pro Tem.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE EMERGENCY MANAGER OF THE
CITY OF BENTON HARBOR" PURSUANT TO ACT 4:
1. That Marcus Mutrammad is hereby removed from the position of Mayor Pro Tem.
2. That Sharon Henderson is hereby appointed to the position of Mayor Pro Tem.
3. This Order shall become effective immediately.
SO ORDERED this this 10th day of January,2Ol2.
LIke, ahh? What the heck is this already! Perhaps understanding what Mr. Mutrammad has to say may bring light to the query. Yes, indeed.
At first blush, (click title to entry - thank you) you might think Mr. Harris was moving autocratically to sideline one of his critics. The now-former mayor pro tem, Marcus Muhammad, has called for an investigation into the relationship between Mr. Harris and the powerful nonprofit that's building the Habor Shores golf result stock-imaged above. That nonprofit is backed by Whirlpool, which has its corporate headquarters in Benton Harbor and is the biggest economic player in the sad, busted-up town.
So it would make sense that Mr. Harris would want to quiet Mr. Muhammad. But it turns out that Mr. Harris says he made the move at the request of the new mayor, who wanted to appoint his own mayor pro tem. The new mayor can't do that, because in an order last year (pdf) Mr. Harris stripped Benton Harbor's elected officials of all powers except the ability to call a meeting to order, approve the minutes, and adjourn the meeting. Now the unelected manager is carrying out, autocratically, the normal duties of the democracy he gutted.
Which is weird.
Weird it is. No doubt in my mind. It would seem Mr. Harris is abusing power and seeks to remove his critics from office. Why? I have no clue, because, if Mr. Harris actually believes that will quite Mr. Mutrammad he forgot that doesn't mean he will NOT become mute. No insult to the handicapped intended.
Someone want to explain how Snyder is actually getting away with this mess? The unemployment in Michigan is improving and there is absolutely no need to sell every city's assets to the highest bidder.
I am worried. The citizens of Benton Harbor thought their wishes were honored years ago, but, evidently their rights to have their own will in regard to their city's lands is being trampled again. Perhaps the CEOs can get in their newly built electric cars and travel a short distance to places other than the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan as valued by Benton Harbor!
