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Benton Harbor: Whirlpool, Stealing a City, and a Recall Election
by Rev. Edward Pinkey
Editors note: A struggle against corporate power is developing in Benton Harbor Michigan. A recall election of a Whirlpool supporter ended in a community leader being charged with "alleged" voter fraud.
I attended a City Commissioner's meeting in September about the plan for a $500 million Harbor Shores development. The proposed 530-acre Harbor Shores development project is a collaborative venture between Benton Harbor, St.Joseph, Whirlpool, the Alliance for World-Class-Communities, and Cornerstone Alliance. It is common knowledge in this county that these are all the same people.
At the meeting, the former CEO of Whirlpool Corporation, David Whitwan, said that there is only one reason the development was proposed, and that is to take over Benton Harbor (not to improve the quality of life for the residents of Benton Harbor). Before Mr. Whitwan retired, he was in favor of transferring jobs out of Benton Harbor. He is now Chairman of the Alliance for World-Communities, part of Whirlpool and Cornerstone Alliance.
The community questioned their motives. Mr. Whitman, said, "Trust me, I understand your skepticism, trust me." He said he understands the skepticism of Benton Harbor residents about the promise of jobs, but, "Trust me. Often Whirlpool lied and promised things that did not happen. Trust me." Also in attendance was a Mr. Chaney who is white. He charged that Mr. Whitwan should stop lying. "This is going to be an all white community," he said.
Whitwan, stop lying! The Harbor Shores project will be a residential and commercial development bounded by Benton Harbor lake front on beautiful lake Michigan land. Most of the land is in Benton Harbor, but a small portion is in St. Joseph. Public Act 425 allows for the temporary transfer of a small portion of St. Joseph land to Benton Harbor for 20 years. But, after Benton Harbor has paid off the $89 million dollars or more infrastructure costs for roads, storm sewer, environmental clean up, etc, all of the land would become the property of the city of St. Joseph -- until the world ends. This is a $89 million "gift" from Benton Harbor to St. Joseph. A forced gift. St. Joseph City Commissioners unanimously approved this transfer of land. They will gain an awful lot if this development happens. It is a really great thing for the city of St. Joseph and for St. Joseph only. I, Rev Edward Pinkney, must admit this is a really great thing for the city of St. Joseph and for the city of St. Joseph only.
The Benton Harbor recall election has to be seen in this light. The recall of Glen Yarbrough was very important for the success of the Whirlpool dream project. The project needed the Benton Harbor city commissioner-at-large, Yarbrough, a known drug user and bully who gets his way through intimidation. They needed six votes to steal the land and make this project a reality. Without Yarbrough it could not be done.
When the recall of Yarbrough was successful, the Whirlpool dream project was about to go down the toilet, so the group came up with a plan to claim voter fraud. Judge Paul Maloney, Prosecutor James Cherry, Benton Harbor City Manager Mitchell, and Yarbrough gave the Herald Palladium's Julia Swidwa, a well known racist, the story. Everything she writes is questionable. Yarbrough was bribed with a five year offering to fund the summer youth work program, a man who has a history of stealing from the youth program. The group knew this plan would work.
My question is who has the power to make his or her acts legitimate? In the County of Berrien, the State of Michigan, the United States, that power is invested in the hands of the "haves" and it makes their acts legitimate. The "have-nots" must think about a world-wide boycott of Whirlpool products. WHEN DOES IT STOP?
Please send badly needed tax-deductible donations for legal fees to: Attorney Tat Parish, c/o BANCO, 1940 Union St. Benton Harbor, MI 4902. For information, call 269-925-0001.
The following are excerpts from a letter to a newspaper by Gaurav Jashnani:
I attended Rev. Pinkney's hearing. Fox (a witness for the prosecution) claimed she took two groups of five absentee voters into the City Clerk's office, where she stood over their shoulders and instructed that they mark "yesÂ’" for the recall. Yet, the previous witness, Deputy Clerk Kimberly Thompson, testified that no absentee voters were present in groups that day.
After Fox said that she could not remember anyone by name, the Assistant Prosecutor fed her names for her to single out individuals paid to vote. She contradicted herself while describing details about why Rev. Pinkney allegedly paid her.
Fox was only one of many witnesses lacking credibility. One witness admitted to regular cocaine use. Another has a son who recently faced charges after a drug raid at her house. Since she has become a witness for Rev. Pinkney's prosecution, her son's charges have been mysteriously reduced to a violation of probation.
Allegations have been made (and an affidavit signed) that the police are applying pressure in exchange for exaggerated or false testimony. It seems that a lot of powerful people have a interest in locking up Rev. Pinkney.
Editors Note: As we go to press, Rev. Pinkney has been bound over to trial. "Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed the racist Judge Al Butzbaugh who ordered me to trial on the testimony of Brenda Fox, a known prostitute, crack head and liar. She is being paid. She said she took ten people to the Clerk's Office to vote absentee and they were paid five dollars to vote. Everyone knows you cannot vote absentee in the Clerk's Office on election day.The Deputy Clerk told the Court you cannot vote absentee on election day. Also, Fox had signed an affidavit stating that Rev. Pinkney did not pay anyone to vote.This is the justice in Benton Harbor, Michigan," said Rev. Pinkney.
