Fascism comes to Benton Harbor

Fascism: n. a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

~ Merriam-Webster Dictionary


It’s happening.

Remember how last month I posted about Rick Snyder signing a law making it possible for emergency financial managers appointed by the state to go into struggling cities and school districts and usurp the authority of local elected officials?

Well, Benton Harbor has the dubious honor of being the first municipality to experience this assault on representative democracy. (The Detroit Public Schools is hosting imaginatively-named emergency financial manager Robert Bobb.) Last Thursday, the city’s emergency financial manager, Joseph Harris, issued an order stripping all city boards and commissions of their authority to take any action. Under the order, the boards and commissions can now call meetings to order, approve minutes of meetings and adjourn meetings. Period. They can’t do anything else without Mr. Harris’ permission.

Benton Harbor residents are poor – the per capita income is $8,965, the lowest in Michigan – and almost entirely African-American. Benton Harbor is actually half of our local "Twin Cities," the other being St. Joseph, across the St. Joseph River. St. Joseph must be a fraternal twin because it sure isn’t identical. Its population is over 90 percent white and its per capita income is almost triple that of Benton Harbor.

Some people know that actors Vivica Fox and Ernie Hudson, the late professional wrestler Bobo Brazil, comedians Arte Johnson and Sinbad, and the late jazz pianist Gene Harris all called Benton Harbor home at one point. Or maybe you heard about the rioting back in 2003, when a mixed-race police officer caused the death of an African-American on a motorcycle. Three-hundred state troopers came into town to stabilize the situation.

I first heard about this place, located west of Kalamazoo in Berrien County, a few years ago because it’s home to Jean Klock Park, a 90-acre park with Lake Michigan frontage that was donated to the city back in 1917. Through the years the park survived a number of development threats – until 2003, when the city announced it was selling some of the park for lakefront residential development.

Lawsuits took place and settlements were reached and then it was revealed that the threat wasn’t thwarted after all because the Whirlpool Corporation, headquartered there, was advancing the idea of a signature golf course and glitzy second home community that would become the “Harbor Shores Golf and Beach Club." So what if the park included rare natural resources like Great Lakes dunes, marshes and wetlands? So what if the poor residents of Benton Harbor enjoy their park? So what if the original donors, John and Carrie Klock, intended to honor their dead daughter, Jean, by providing a special place for children in perpetuity?

Snyder’s predecessor, Jennifer Granholm, refused to get involved, telling residents that the battle was a local issue outside of her jurisdiction. The fact that Fred Upton, an heir to the Whirlpool Corporation founded by his grandfather, has represented the 6th District in the U.S. Congress since 1987 probably had no bearing on her decision.

If anyone outside of Michigan is reading this and thinking, “I don’t care ‘cause I don’t live there,” think again. This kind of “Rob from the Poor to give to the Rich” crap is happening all over the place – in Wisconsin and Indiana and Ohio and even in the hallowed halls of Congress.

Whirlpool commemorates its 100th anniversary this year, and St. Joseph is preparing to celebrate “Upton Week” in June. I hope the people of Benton Harbor can shake off their doldrums and come to the party – if it’s okay with Mr. Harris.


Sources: MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show, savejeanklockpark.org, Michigan Messenger