Mayor of Benton Harbor, Michigan Sets The Record Straight

[bfealk]

Run time: 05:57 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpnf-ZBm_Xg   Posted on YouTube: April 28, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheRochesterCitizen Views on YouTube: 3   Posted on DU: April 28, 2011 By DU Member: bfealk Views on DU: 1786

 
Wilce Cooke grew up in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was elected as the city’s Mayor twice.
The Mayor said that over the years the city of Benton Harbor has lost its tax base of retail and agricultural businesses. “At one time we were called the Shenandoah of southwest Michigan. We had seven or eight different foundries. We had the largest outdoor fruit market in the world and we had all the retail stores downtown here in Benton Harbor. Urban renewal came in and displaced a lot of individuals and white flight, we lost our tax base. So with no tax base, you can’t run a city on property taxes alone when your residents are unemployed.” Cooke said.

During Cooke’s first term as Mayor from 1982-1989, Cooke said the city was in a similar position financially, but he said there was one difference; he had control of city council. When Cooke left office, there was a million dollar surplus. The city had a very aggressive marketing program and brought in a new financial manager and the city was on the rebound.
The city’s government has been portrayed in the media as being incompetent. Cooke responded to that charge saying, “It’s stupid to even say that. You can’t say that this council is incompetent. The theory that Benton Harbor’s city council members have absconded with money is that. You have never read yet where they said that we have stolen anything. The council doesn’t have any money. That’s handled by the finance department, the finance people, not by the city council. We do approve bills, but we don’t handle money. When I was Mayor in 1980, we did bring in a new finance director, a new city manager, an economic development person. We brought in all new people to handle what we had to do and we did a great job. In 50 years this city hasn’t run so smooth. I was out of office for 17 or 18 years, the city got right back in the same position.”

[HolyCity2012]

1. Michigan

Michigan State Senator Bruce Caswell Thinks Foster Kids Shouldn't Have New Clothes

Bruce Caswell is a Republican State Senator from Michigan who feels that a foster kid's $80-a-year clothing allowance is just too much. Instead, we should be giving these greedy children a voucher that's only good for used clothing at thrift shops. Thankfully, it seems this brilliant idea has been dropped.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x577375

[Scuba]

2. When our Public institutions are broken, we should fix them, not....

...turn them over to corrupt corporatists.

It is our duty to see that honest and competent public servants like Cooke (assuming accuracy of the post) are elected. Sure would help if we had a free press to investigate issues and people BEFORE elections.

[fredamae]

3. That's what's so scary about this...

It wasn't "turned over" to wealthy corporatists, it was Stolen by them. The people in this case have no control, no power...the corps just came in and took over.

It can and will happen in small towns and communities in every state....the ones who are small, rural and broke...they think no one will care about and notice. There are "corporate cells" planted all around in this country, waiting for the opportunity. In the years to come, they will eventually hit "critical mass" on take overs and have momentum because there will be little to No Resistance.

Why do you think MSM has stayed Completely absent of stories about the 20 +/- states where crap like this is happening?

This is an Intentional effort of the Media Corporatist to keep All of this as Quiet as possible to give them as much space and time needed to dig in and secure their power?
Why do you think the kochs bought so many gubernatorial races?

[TxVietVet]

4. It's a fascist take over.

The kock brothers and other fascist entities want to steal municipal assets for profit and screw the people. It's just a matter of time until it's in your town. I believe that if the people don't fight it, it will continue full speed ahead.
Let's see what governor Wanker of Wisconsin does. That kochsucker will do as the koch's want. However, he's facing the fact that he has riled up the voters of Wisconsin. Now, his little power play has petered out for a while but will crank up if he feels he can get away with more.

Just a thought.

[Enthusiast]

7. That is exactly what it is.

It is a fascist take over. Unfortunately too many people won't recognize what is happening in their name until it is much too late.

[TxVietVet]

8. It's an attack, especially against minority dominated communities.

Personally, I think the Michigan governor is using this as a plan of attack to set it up for an attack on Detroit. Let's face it: conservanazis are racists. This is their chance to put Blacks (like Obama) in their "place" and "break them".

I believe some African American groups have challenged the actions in Michigan. BUT, we are not hearing much about it in the M$M. Why? Well, if it goes bad, they can sweep it under the rug if it stays under the radar. I believe the governor's friends will steal all of Benton Harbor's most valuable assets and properties before they give up and claim it's another "bu$h mission accomplished". They get what they want, prove they can get away with it, and screw the citizens. Remember, WE ARE ALL CITIZENS.

If they can get away with screwing Benton Harbor, that will embolden them to take on Detriot.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. How so?

- The review process was started at the request of the city Benton Harbor
- The study and appointment of an EFM was done under the prior Democratic governor and administration
- The published get well plan says nothing about selling off municipal assets to developers

Have you read either the state study or the get well plan? The local government was in total shambles. The state has an obligation to protect the people and stepped in under a Democratic administration.

A little background here: http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/83071327.html

[rurallib]

5. Way near the end Cooke talks about privatizing water

this is something that scares me. Privatizing water has been a target for the corporatists for a long, long time. One resource that no one can do without.
If they can pull it off in Benton Harbor, they can set up scenarios to steal municipal water all over the country.

[Action]

9. Canada has a say too

Canada and the other Great Lakes States has signed an agreement to protect the Great Lakes from being raided. Of course that was before total repub rule came to Michigan, so who knows now with Snyder.

We will be ready to roll in July to get rid of Snyder. The petition is being reviewed now so it can be placed on the ballot.

www.firericksnyder.org

[rurallib]

15. Wasn't even thinking of the Great Lakes

I was thinking more of city wells like my home town. Thanks for expanding my horizons.

[Enthusiast]

6. Wilce Cooke comes off as perfectly

credible to my mind.

Really, I see the actions of this new wave of Republican governors as simple criminality. They want to disassemble the common good and transfer these resources to their already wealthy cronies. This is theft on a massive scale as it is not in the best interest of the citizenry. It's just a continuation of the great Wall Street heist.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. You are aware that the takeover decision happened under the prior Democratic governor?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. Clearly some facts are needed here...

1) The city of Benton Harbor requested state review and intervention. It started in 2009 by the request of the City Manager.

2) The independent study which was was done under the prior Democratic Governor who approved it and appointed the current EFM under a 20 year old law. http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/83071327.html

3) The city of Benton Harbor was in complete shambles and the state has the fiduciary duty to step in and protect the citizens.

I urge everyone to read the report of the State study, the get well plan, and other relevant documents on the City website, http://www.bentonharborcity.com


As for the mayor's statement, it is self aggrandizing nonsense. No one is claiming that the city council has run off with city money or anything close to that. However, it is clear that several city departments are not doing their jobs. 100K in bad check charges alone are a pretty clear indicator. Things may have been better during his prior tenure, but for him to claim things will be fine now just because he is back in office is more than silly.

I seriously do not like government by decree. It goes against everything this nation stands for. However, the people of Benton Harbor needed to be protected and the state has an obligation to do just that. May it recover quickly and return to representative government...

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. Odd way to describe Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm

The facts in this case don't make for good spin, but they are what they are.
- It started at the city's request
- It was done under a Democratic state administration

There are enough things that are evil and wrong that we should not be making stuff up, like the poutrage over Benton Harbor.