Governor Jennifer Granholm and her cronies at the state of Michigan are taking desperate measures to carry out a hostile take over of the city of Benton Harbor.
In a letter to Benton Harbor Mayor Wilco Cooke, Governor Granholm stated that there is a financial emergency in the city. Yet no satisfactory plan exists to resolve a serious financial problem that her cronies helped to create.
The new Benton Harbor City Manager, Ron Carter, is more than qualified to resolve the serious financial problem that exists in Benton Harbor. If the governor wants to help the city, she should come with her checkbook in her hand. This Governor is the worst Governor the State of Michigan ever has had. She is nothing but a Republican who is dressed up like a Democrat. She is totally for the corporations. She has proven the point that the Republicans and Democrats are the same.
She came to Benton Harbor and gave the residents a song and a dance. She sang and we danced. When will the residents of Benton Harbor take a stand against corporate power — the Governor, Whirlpool and Harbor Shores? City commissioner Marcus Muhammad compared a possible take over to a coup d’etat. (Herald Paladium) The hostile takeover is the worst thing the residents can allow to happen. They will sell off all lake front land, including the high school.
The governor’s office was responsible for the take over of Jean Klock Park. The Harbor Shores golf course charges annual fees of more than $3500, far above the means of most residents of Benton Harbor who previously had free access to the 73 acres of park on Lake Michigan. The governor stated her goal is to make the state of Michigan a strong and committed partner to Benton Harbor. Her commitment is only to Whirlpool and Harbor Shores. Let’s run her out of the state.
It is Black genocide from the cradle to the grave. Black life is at risk. The blue print for how systematic killing of Blacks is being carried out by Governor Granholm, Whirlpool, Harbor Shores and Berrien County court system is no longer invisible.
It is high time the citizens of Michigan and around the country refuse to let our tax dollars be wasted and given to the rich. It is high time that we take a moral stand in Benton Harbor, a city positioned in Jim Crow laws, juxtaposed with Whirlpool. How can we turn our backs on the oppression and poverty in Benton Harbor and live with ourselves? It is time for the residents to take a stand and stop the take over.
What State Takeovers Mean For Our Communities:
New golf course.
PHOTO /brett jelInek
By Marian
Kramer
“In Highland Park, Michigan, the state takeover of our city meant taking away the vote for folks to elect their city officials. It meant the selling off of all of our different assets without the people’s consent, without the vote of the people. It meant the City Council no longer had a decision making role. All decisions were in the hands of the dictatorship of the ‘appointed’ Financial Manager. The Financial Manager only adhered to the Governor and whatever board the Governor set up. It meant there were a bunch of layoffs. We operated with a bare minimal. They contracted out a lot of the work. We only had one or two inspectors for the whole city. They said we were broke, but millions of dollars went out to private contractors. They shut down the only public library in the city. They tried to privatize the water but we won that back. They were going to privatize the management of the water with 80% of profits going to the management company and 20% to the city of Highland Park. It meant that the citizens of Highland Park would be responsible for any financial needs for fixing equipment, etc., not the management, although they were making 80% of the profits. The whole process shows that government and the corporations work hand in hand today and the form of rule in America is not democracy for the people.”
Marian Kramer is co-chair of the National Welfare Rights Organization
“In Highland Park, Michigan, the state takeover of our city meant taking away the vote for folks to elect their city officials. It meant the selling off of all of our different assets without the people’s consent, without the vote of the people. It meant the City Council no longer had a decision making role. All decisions were in the hands of the dictatorship of the ‘appointed’ Financial Manager. The Financial Manager only adhered to the Governor and whatever board the Governor set up. It meant there were a bunch of layoffs. We operated with a bare minimal. They contracted out a lot of the work. We only had one or two inspectors for the whole city. They said we were broke, but millions of dollars went out to private contractors. They shut down the only public library in the city. They tried to privatize the water but we won that back. They were going to privatize the management of the water with 80% of profits going to the management company and 20% to the city of Highland Park. It meant that the citizens of Highland Park would be responsible for any financial needs for fixing equipment, etc., not the management, although they were making 80% of the profits. The whole process shows that government and the corporations work hand in hand today and the form of rule in America is not democracy for the people.”
Marian Kramer is co-chair of the National Welfare Rights Organization
Community Quotes
“Governor
Jennifer Granholm cannot run her own house. How do you expect her to
run Benton Harbor? She destroyed Highland Park and Pontiac. It is
like asking the hungry wolf, who has not eaten in weeks not to eat
you. It is all about whirlpool stealing lake front land.”
— Wilma Williams
“We must recall Dennis Knownles for misconduct and for the misappropriation of tax payer money which is over $2000 for telephone abuse. He must go also for voting yes for the hostile takeover of Benton Harbor.” —Rev D. Smith
— Wilma Williams
“We must recall Dennis Knownles for misconduct and for the misappropriation of tax payer money which is over $2000 for telephone abuse. He must go also for voting yes for the hostile takeover of Benton Harbor.” —Rev D. Smith
The People Versus The Corporations In America's
Rust Belt
A new booklet
published by the People’s Tribune discusses the victories and next
steps in the struggle against the corporations in Benton Harbor. A
battle has been won, and this should be celebrated, but there is still
a war going on. Will America have prosperity and democracy, or live in
poverty under the heel of open corporate power? Will the American
people move to take over the corporations before they take over
society? Place your orders now. Send $3 for each pamphlet or
order 10 for $20 to People’s Tribune, PO Box 3524, Chicago, IL
60654-3524.
This article originated in the People's Tribune
PO Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654, 773-486-3551, info@peoplestribune.org.
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