Benton Harbor schools are a whisker away from getting a — you guessed it — an Emergency Manager. The State of Michigan will conduct a preliminary review of the “critical and alarming financial situation” at Benton Harbor Area Schools. This is the first step in a process that would determine if the school district needs a state-appointed emergency manager. It […]

As I have written about in the past, Emergency Manager Joe Harris by-passed the normal process simply decreed that seven proposals be placed on the ballot for last Tuesday’s elections. These proposals would have altered the Benton Harbor city charter to reduce the number of City Commissioners and eliminated the ward system. In addition to the three I previously wrote […]

In a clear sign that Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joe Harris will soon be departing his position, job postings have begun appearing for a new City Manager. Benton Harbor has begun advertising for a city manager, a signal that the city’s state-appointed emergency manager, Joseph Harris, could be leaving the city soon. Before Harris can go, he said the city […]

Joseph Harris, the Emergency Manager for Benton Harbor, Michigan, is proposing a couple of major changes to the make-up of the City Commission. Emergency Manager Joseph Harris announced Wednesday he’s filed ballot language that would shrink the Benton Harbor City Commission, but widen the commissioners’ voter base. Harris said during a town hall meeting that he filed two proposed changes […]

Last month, I wrote about how the Northville School District was using the threat of an Emergency Manager to strong arm concessions from teachers in their contract negotiations. Snyder’s budget strips away money from the schools. The schools are forced into a bankruptcy situation. They turn to their employees and teachers for drastic concessions (a nearly 10% pay cut and […]

I can’t figure this out. You’ll recall that I recently blogged about Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joseph Harris restricting access to Jean Klock Park by changing the hours of operation. The change happened in May but flew under the radar until Michigan Messenger’s Eartha Jane Melzer reported on it. Now, it turns out, Joe Harris has changed the park’s hours […]

Mark Hesemann, managing director of Evergreen Development Company in St Joseph, Michigan was arrested for shoplifting porn DVDs from an “adult entertainment” store this week. Hesemann is a developer deeply involved in the Harbor Shores real estate development. One of the partners in this development is Whirlpool, the multinational appliance company that dominates much of what happens in Benton Harbor. […]

THIS seems rather arbitrary. Which probably means there’s some underlying reason for it that will raise your hackles. 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 […]

The Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice, a non-profit law firm based in Detroit, just released this news: CITIZENS TO ANNOUNCE MAJOR STATEWIDE ACTION AGAINST MICHIGAN’S CONTROVERSIAL EMERGENCY MANAGER LAW Over two dozen citizens from across Michigan will announce, on Wednesday, June 22, a major action directed against Michigan’s controversial “emergency manager” law. The new law has serious […]

On Saturday, June 18th, there will be a rally in Benton Harbor to kick off the recall of State Rep. Al Pscholka and to make sure Benton Harbor and what is happening there stays on the state and national radar screen. Click the image to download the flyer From the Facebook page for the event: Come join us as we […]

Note: to find all of my coverage of the Benton Harbor situation, click HERE. The most recent posts are at the top. Benton Harbor Emergency Financial Manager (EFM) Joseph L. Harris took further steps to reconfigure the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the group responsible for directing how brownfields, former industrial sites, are developed. Note that there is a great deal of […]