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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

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Benton Harbor Emergency Manager restricts park access

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 06.28.11 | 12:57 pm

Locals are no longer allowed to take early morning walks in the park under an order issued by Benton Harbor’s Emergency Manager Joe Harris.

Jean Klock Park, the city’s public waterfront which has already been partially privatized as a Jack Nicklaus golf course, will only be open from 10 am to 10 pm between May 1 and Sept. 30, according to a May 4 order from Harris.

Residents claim that the order conflicts with the city’s charter, the deed that granted the park to the city and other legal agreements.

“I am outraged that I have been stripped of my right to use my city park in the early morning summer hours, the time that I most enjoy the park”, said lifetime resident Clellen Bury. “I will be equally enraged if the park will be closed at all other times during the year except for the newly found tourist season.”

“Not only have the citizens of Benton Harbor lost their right to have representation by their elected officials, but they are also gradually losing the historical access to and use of their public parkland,“ said Carol Drake of Friends of Jean Klock Park. “Through his sole jurisdiction Joseph Harris has eroded the rights and privileges of the citizens. Is this being done to deprive the residents of access or is there another motive such as future privatization?”

The restrictions come amid preparations for some big events backed by the locally headquartered Whirlpool corporation. The Whirlpool Steelhead Ironman Triathlon and the KitchenAid sponsored 2012 Senior PGA are scheduled to take place in the park this summer.

Harris’ order on park hours is here.

A complete set of the Emergency Manager’s orders is here.

Comments

  • Thomas Allen

    I think it’s very apparent as to what’s going on here. Whirlpool now owns Benton Harbor and is letting Harris run it as he sees fit while on the city’s dime. I wonder how long it will be before a tollbooth goes up near the drawbridge. (FREE to Whirlpool employess – naturally).

    • Jay and Lucia Weinroth

      Tune in to MSNBC of an evening.  While the ruckus in Wisconsin was going on, Rachel Maddow tried to warn of what was going to happen in Michigan.  She knew about the public park, that it was deeded to the city in perpetuity as a public park, and that the “emergency manager” – a front for large corporate owners of the town were planning a condo/golf course/spa kind of thing.  Yes, having taken away the rights of the people of Benton Harbor, they were going to take away the one thing the town really loved and used.

  • http://www.unblinking.com/ Anonymous

    That order is simply bizarre. What are the grounds for issuing it?  What formal complaints were made? “People walking in a public park during the daytime”?

    Has Harris never visited a beach in December?  Or after sunset in July?  Or at sunrise in August?  Has be never been outdoors in any month with an “R” in it?

    Has he never read Glass v. Goeckel?  Does he grasp that the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that — below the ordinary high water mark — he has NO authority?

    What is the penalty for violating this order?  To whom can that be appealed?  What is the process for that appeal?  Does Harris have the staff to handle it?

    Who would enforce this order? Could any law enforcement official justify taking the time to ticket — let alone ~arrest~ — a citizen walking on a public beach, in a public park, two hours ~after~ sunrise, in the middle of the summer?

    If more than three or four people are there at once, how could any official ticket them all?  Who would ~physically restrain~ the others while ticketing the first one?  What monetary damages could be recovered by any citizen so restrained?

    How many tickets need to be issued before a class action suit is justified?  How many arrests need to be made at once to overfill the jail?  How many hearings would Berrien County’s court system hold, before citing ~Harris~ with contempt?

    Schedule a group walk at 07:00 for every sunny day beginning ~tomorrow~ and watch Harris try to enforce this load of malarkey.  Invite all politicians who enjoy a national audience to join in this weekend — the news media will be all ~over~ the event.  Maybe Harris can convince all the State Police to work overtime and detain the entire crowd of locals and tourists on… Independence Day?

    Harris’ behavior is now beyond absurd.  He’s become an utter embarrassment to everyone involved, right up to Governor Snyder himself.  What a disaster!

  • Anonymous

    As long as KFC stays open all is well !

    • http://twitter.com/kalifani6 kalifani6

      Your a cancer upon the human race and the scourge of the earth. I see the guillotine coming back in style. Maybe in your future. One can only hope. ^_^ 

  • Anonymous

    Democrats from across Michigan should hold a series of early morning walks in this park in support of the residents of Benton Harbor

    • Thomas Allen

      I’m in!

    • Anonymous

      To protest the democratic appointed EFM?

  • Anonymous

    Don’t forget to sign a recall petition! This is an absolute agenda by our State government to take away the rights of citizens and rape what’s left of Michigan to fill the pockets of the rich and Corporations. They do not want to bring jobs. They do not want to improve Michigan’s economy. Their one and only motivation is GREED. They are out to get what they can and move on, and if you believe otherwise, it’s only because you haven’t lost enough yet.

  • Anonymous

    Do you think it has something to do with the people who own those newly built million dollar homes on the beach wanting the beach to themselves in the morning. How nice- a PUBLIC owned private beach.

    • CarmanK

      Hey, that’s a thought. If the new development is part of Benton Harbor the tax dollars from the rich should be going into support of the PUBLIC PARK.

  • Anonymous

    Harris might have issued the order, but you can be sure he was told to do it by someone else. This is happening in other lake shore communities too. South Haven recently started leasing their local parks to generate revenue for the City at the same time restricting public access. Other Cities and Counties further north along Lake Michigan have been restricting the types of use and hours of access to public parks.

  • Eddie273273

    STALAG BENTON HARBOR
     What rights ?
    What Constitution ?
     Don’t forget what the regressive republicans are doing “to” you .
     Recall Snyder
     He’s bad for Michigan .

    • http://www.facebook.com/lobur12n12 William C. Lobur

      granholm appointed efm for benton harbor, no?

      • http://www.facebook.com/lobur12n12 William C. Lobur

        but it’s too late to recall her

      • Anonymous

        No

  • Thomas Allen

    Does this violate the Michigan Supreme Court’s decision in Glass v. Goeckel: that walking along Lake Michigan’s shore is a public right. Just enter from Grand Blvd!!!

    http://www.coreyhughes.com/documents/Right%20to%20Walk%20on%20Beach.pdf

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_T7JC55CTVRIFB4BJGGZLHGRARI AK 47

    What is an “Emergency Manager”?  Is this an elected position in Benton Harbor? Why, if it is a elected position, did anyone vote for them?  I just don’t get any of this.  Just walk on the beach any time you well please, in groups if necessary, and take back your town…or…do whatever your told to do, and just be good sheep.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=12130705 Shane Jones

      Emergency Managers are dictators appointed by King Snyder, the governor of Michigan, to run cities with financial problems.

      • Anonymous

        Granholm appointed J. Harris…… Snyder did make him the dictator though….

      • CarmanK

        “perceived financial problems”. In addition, there is no accounting for the EFM salaries and there is no public accounting for the taxpayer dollars being collected. It sounds awfully unconstitutional to me. Does the ACLU get involved with such matters. It is obvious the MI Atty Genl isn’t concerned about his people’s constitutional rights. Seems to me, no respectable golf pro would want to be part of any project that deprives american citizens of their equal rights and access to property.

  • Anonymous

    Stupid article and very one-sided. I can get in the park before 10:00 on any day. Many public parks with beach access have hours of operation. It’s for public safety.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Margie-Kronewitter/100001007920889 Margie Kronewitter

    I can’t think of WORDS to describe what is being done to Michigan by Snyder and his Millionaire Minions.  Recall the Republican Resource Rapist.  The State belongs to the people.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Margie-Kronewitter/100001007920889 Margie Kronewitter

    Watch the You Tube where Jessie Ventura shows Michigan’s Fresh Water being basically given to Nestle’ Corporation to be bottled and sold back to the people.  It may be taken down soon. 

  • Anonymous

    This efm legislation was introduced by Al  Pscholcka state representative that has Benton Harbor as part of his purview. He is a former aid to Fred Upton who’s family ran Whirlpool for many years. He also has many financial interest in the Benton Harbor area and was part  of  the outfit that developed Harbor Shores. Why hasn’t he been indicted along with Upton for their part in what is obviously an illegal enterprise. If they get away with this EFM bull$hit this is the beginning of the end of Democracy. Also Snider signed this EFM legislation not Granholm. She instituted it in Detroits school system and these bastards turned it into a way to disregard the will of the people. Thru years of inept management of the city of Benton Harbor too many of the areas residents seem to think that this EFM is a good idea. Better wake up.

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