By Rev. Edward
Pinkney
The legal problems that
homeless people face everyday are exacerbated by their inability to get
to court.
Berrien County, Michigan needs to start a county homeless court
program. We need a special superior court session held at local
shelters for the homeless defendants to resolve outstanding misdemeanor
criminal cases. The homeless court should be created to help solve the
criminal justice system problems with homeless people. It should
counteract the effects of criminal cases pushing homeless defendants
further outside of society,
People experiencing homelessness often receive citations for
public nuisance offenses and then fail to appear in court. The homeless
defendants fail to appear, not because of a disregard for the court
system, but due to their status and condition. The homeless peoples’
day is consumed with a search for food, clothing and shelter. Most are
not in a position to fight procedural or substantive issues in a legal
case.
The homeless are aware that the courts also require a decent appearance
and they do not want to make a bad first impression. A homeless person
with poor hygiene or without a place to store his belongings may choose
not to appear in court at all. Many homeless people are reluctant to
attend court because of the uncertainty of court proceeding. The threat
of custody and unresolved issues can ultimately preclude homeless
people from accessing desperately needed services such as
employment, housing, public assistance and treatment.
This is why the NAACP started a homeless court watch four days a week.
Homeless people are being trained to court watch. Most courts are
corrupt with more than 60 or more court sessions each week. The court
watchers will be able to get detailed information about corruption,
side-bar deals, and trends in sentencing that are often lost. The court
watchers attend court sessions for all cases. We must record the docket
numbers, the names of participants, charges and verdicts. The data is
reported to Rev Pinkney for analysis. Rev. Pinkney appreciates the
court watcher’s personal comments and observations.
Court watchers do not have to be legal experts. Rev. Pinkney is in a
position to make suggestions and exchange ideas with other court
watchers around the country.
Court watching can be a real eye-opener. There are few experiences that
can compete with what occurs in the courts. Court watchers benefit from
watching and at the same time are helping the community by working to
stop corrupt judges, prosecutors, court-appointed attorneys and police
officers.
The court watch program through trained court watchers has one important
mission — to improve all aspects of the justice system.
Voices From Benton Harbor, MI
Homeless To Start Court Watching Berrien County
Homeless To Start Court Watching Berrien County
Rev. Edward Pinkney.
PHOTO /brett jelinek
Financial Takeover Of Benton Harbor
By Rev. Edward
Pinkney
“If the state could grant us a $5 million Fiscal Stabilization Bond, it would solve our problems,” said Benton Harbor City Manager Ron Carter. “We could do that,” said State Treasurer Robert J. Kleine.
The statements were made during a meeting held in Lansing on March 17, 2010. The state was forced to meet after the Benton Harbor City Commission appealed Gov. Granholm’s takeover decision. An “emergency manager” would have power to hire, fire, renegotiate labor contracts, and sell property.
After the meeting I found out that the long list that Benton Harbor is in the red for only added up to $4.1 million. One person jokingly suggested that benefit concerts could take care of that amount.
One might wonder why a governor who offers little or no leadership within the state would suddenly take over a city which has been in deep poverty for many years because of being only $4 million in debt?
Ron Carter talked about a 62-point plan to remedy the problems. It seemed obvious that nothing was needed for Benton Harbor but to let him do his job.
Mayor Cooke said that the main question is if a state emergency manager would sell Benton Harbor’s most valuable assets, such as its water plant. If the state of Michigan were in this to help, they’d save a lot of money and trouble by simply offering financial aid to the poorest community in Michigan.
Several people I spoke with said that Whirlpool has always orchestrated the chaos, financial and otherwise, which has characterized Benton Harbor city government. Hopefully, this bully corporation will not again have this opportunity.
Benton Harbor has been in financial straits for decades — why does Gov. Granholm choose now to intervene? Could it possibly have anything to do with the new city commission not giving Whirlpool what they want...like water and MORE land?
As we go to press, the state has taken over Benton Harbor. They could have taken measures to avoid this but they are doing what the wanted to do all along. We the people will march on city hall when the financial manager arrives.
“If the state could grant us a $5 million Fiscal Stabilization Bond, it would solve our problems,” said Benton Harbor City Manager Ron Carter. “We could do that,” said State Treasurer Robert J. Kleine.
The statements were made during a meeting held in Lansing on March 17, 2010. The state was forced to meet after the Benton Harbor City Commission appealed Gov. Granholm’s takeover decision. An “emergency manager” would have power to hire, fire, renegotiate labor contracts, and sell property.
After the meeting I found out that the long list that Benton Harbor is in the red for only added up to $4.1 million. One person jokingly suggested that benefit concerts could take care of that amount.
One might wonder why a governor who offers little or no leadership within the state would suddenly take over a city which has been in deep poverty for many years because of being only $4 million in debt?
Ron Carter talked about a 62-point plan to remedy the problems. It seemed obvious that nothing was needed for Benton Harbor but to let him do his job.
Mayor Cooke said that the main question is if a state emergency manager would sell Benton Harbor’s most valuable assets, such as its water plant. If the state of Michigan were in this to help, they’d save a lot of money and trouble by simply offering financial aid to the poorest community in Michigan.
Several people I spoke with said that Whirlpool has always orchestrated the chaos, financial and otherwise, which has characterized Benton Harbor city government. Hopefully, this bully corporation will not again have this opportunity.
Benton Harbor has been in financial straits for decades — why does Gov. Granholm choose now to intervene? Could it possibly have anything to do with the new city commission not giving Whirlpool what they want...like water and MORE land?
As we go to press, the state has taken over Benton Harbor. They could have taken measures to avoid this but they are doing what the wanted to do all along. We the people will march on city hall when the financial manager arrives.
Community Quotes:
“The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts,
think only on those things that are in line with your principles and
can bear the light of day. that is why we must stop the take over of
our city. We must show the governor and whirlpool we are willing to
fight for the city of Benton Harbor.”
— Rev D. Smith
“Everyone is given the key to heaven and the same key open the gates of hell, that is why we must recall Dennis Knowles for
misconduct and the misappropiation of Benton Harbor residents money.”
— Marquette Coats
— Rev D. Smith
“Everyone is given the key to heaven and the same key open the gates of hell, that is why we must recall Dennis Knowles for
misconduct and the misappropiation of Benton Harbor residents money.”
— Marquette Coats
The People Versus
The Corporations In America's Rust Belt
The Corporations In America's Rust Belt
A New Booklet!
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.
INVITE REV. PINKNEY TO SPEAK
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.
INVITE REV. PINKNEY TO SPEAK
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