Photo: Voice of Detroit
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder visited Benton Harbor for a parade in May.
These days the elected commissioners of Benton Harbor, Michigan, aren't allowed to do much. The state's expanded emergency financial manager law gives the emergency manager -- in Benton Harbor's case, Joe Harris -- nearly complete control over what happens in the city. The state has deemed that curbing democracy in towns like Benton Harbor is part of fixing towns like Benton Harbor.
Back in June April, Mr. Harris issued an order restricting the town's elected officials to three duties. According to Order 11-21 (pdf) Order 11-05 (pdf), they may
- Call a meeting to order.
- Approve meeting minutes.
- Adjourn a meeting.
But the Benton Harbor commissioners have continued trying. This month, they voted unanimously to declare September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Benton Harbor, in honor of the signing of our nation's founding document. You'll notice that declaring anything is outside the duties Emergency Manager Harris has left to the commission. They're simply not allowed to vote for a celebration of Constitution Week.
Now City Commissioner Marcus Muhammad forwards over a note from Benton Harbor's Acting City Clerk telling commissioners that Mr. Harris wants to add this to the minutes from that meeting:
“THE FOLLOWING ACTION TAKEN OR DECISION MADE BY THE CITY COMMISSION WAS NOT AUTHORIZED BY THE EMERGENCY MANAGER AND IS NULL AND VOID, AND OF NO FORCE OR EFFECT."
That means no Constitution Week, at least not as declared by the elected officials of Benton Harbor. The commission may lose this local skirmish. Under the expanded Public Act 4, the emergency manager has the power to authority the commission at will. But in the wider view, the commission is forcing him either to bend a little or to exercise his power in a way that shows how absolute it is.
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Okey Moler, perhaps you personally felt "belittled" by my simple presentation of the facts. Are you referring to the Michigan Constitution by any chance? You see, this is a state issue, not federal. The powers granted to the EFM are state issued powers. Your simple lack of understanding on this very important fact seem to imply that you do not understand it. I will not resort to using bold face type like you, I am not trying to "shout" down my opponent because I can present a valid argument. You see, the EFM did not tell people they had no right to gather, he simply said that the commission had no standing to create a publicly sponsored event. Big difference. I know, that story does not read as good as blaming the big bad boogie man, but that is all it is. Why don't you try reading about the real history of the financial problems in this town, and read about the people who completely agree with Joe Harris? You might be surprised.
wow.
whether that 'wow' is for this actual... move by 'Commisar' Joe Harris or the fact that i'm actually not that surprised he and the Reichpublicans [yeah, i know, i'm mixing political systems] did it, i'm not exactly sure.
I don't think this tells the whole story. Is there a city expense for having this holiday, e.g. days off for city workers, parade duty, etc. When I worked in Michigan 25 years ago the state would periodically have to intervene in Benton Harbor, often taking over departments of the city where there had been fraud and abuse. Benton Harbor is disfunctional - always has been. Tell both sides of the story. As spoken by a liberal Democrat
In celebrating the constitution there is only one side..I live in an area burb now..Snyder is killing this state..And your comments are code...
I was going to suggest just going ahead and having an "informal" celebration/teach-in on the Constitution all week as well.
Just one question: Is there still a public park in Benton Harbor?
Assuming that Jean Klock Park is within the municipal boundaries of Benton Harbor, then yes, there is still a public park in Benton Harbor. (Google Maps)
Oh Canada!! is looking better and better every day.
all of you lets not just talk , get out there and SIGN THE SNYDER RECALL TODAY
take a neigbor with you www.firericksnyder.org
All Michiganders get out there and SIGN that recall Snyder Petion now
take a Neighbor with you or take everyone that has not signed ,
we only have a couple Days left to do this ! check the Wesite
www.firericksnyder.org
they should do they it any way...Go to parks, display flags...picnic and video when the poo poo show up...because they will
Cowman and CherMar... keep repeating! Maybe a fact or two will sink into the media-washed brains of the rest of the commentators bent on ignoring reality.
The mindset I am reading on here is frightening... the heck with facts... we want what we want and we want it now!! We don't want to pay our way and we don't want to pay for our mistakes.
Everything I'm reading says they want this guy to go away, but no one says what they would do to correct the problem. And, better yet no one recognizes that the elected officials are still behaving irresponsibly. Hello!!! Anybody home???
What is to stop the people of Benton Harbor from just going ahead and having a celebration on thier own for Constitution Week? They could go in to ANY city park, it is public property, and have a picnic, with flags and music. What is he going to do, call the county Sherrif to disburse them? If he does, then have the cameras ready and send it to you tube, and facebook. It seems like a win- win situation. Either they get to celebrate Constititution Week right under his nose, or they get to show how bad he and the EM Law is by posting to the internet.
I suggest that the officials & citizens of Benton Harbor should go ahead & celebrate
Constitution Week any way they want to. Also, I think the Benton Harbor elected
commissioners could continue to declare commemorative weeks or other public
spirited endeavors as they choose to. Some suggestions: Bill of Rights Week,
Mom & Apple Pie Week, Report the News Truthfully Week, Read to Your Kids Week,
Stop Outsourcing Jobs Week, Eat Healthy Foods Week, Fair Taxation Laws Week,
Fair Voting Laws Week, Support Unions Week, Physical Fitness Week, Freedom of
Conscience Week , Aliens May Be Among Us Week (They are the ones who are
making the birds fall from the sky.) , etc., etc.