Fascism/Racism Alert: ...They Start Dissolving Governments in Michigan - EmptyWheel

[WillyT]

Using New Emergency Financial Manager Law, They Start Dissolving Governments in Michigan
By: emptywheel
Saturday April 16, 2011 7:10 am



<snip>

In what is likely to be just the first of several dissolutions of democratically elected city governments and school boards in Michigan, the Emergency Financial Manager of Benton Harbor, Joseph Harris, just took away all authority from the city’s elected government.

<...>

Harris, the former Auditor of Detroit, was appointed last year under the Granholm administration. After Harris cut cops and firemen last year, local residents started talking about firing him.

There are two things it helps to know about Benton Harbor. First, it has long been almost entirely dependent on Whirlpool for jobs. And as Whirlpool moved manufacturing out of state and country, its operations in the city have shifted from manufacturing to call center and resort work. Just about all the cities that have EFMs now–along with Benton Harbor, Pontiac, Ecorse and Detroit’s schools–or have had EFMs–Hamtramck, Highland Park, Flint, and Three Oaks–have been gutted by the shift of manufacturing under globalization.

But Benton Harbor is particularly notable because of how segregated it is. Here’s how CSM described the segregation in a 2003 report on race riots in Benton Harbor (note, the boundary between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph is the river you can see in the map above).

On one side lies St. Joseph, an Eden-like beach town, brimming with barbered lawns, boutique coffee shops, and summer art festivals. Cross to Benton Harbor, and everything changes. White becomes black, and affluence turns to poverty. Frustrated residents sit on sagging stoops and walk by boarded-up businesses.

<...>

The town of 11,000 is 92 percent black. Federal figures show that the average income is $17,000 a year.

By contrast, St. Joseph (population 8,800) is 90 percent white. Bustling with clothiers and cafes, its average unemployment rate last year was below 2 percent. Indeed, most of Berrien County is white, conservative, and affluent.

<snip>

More: http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2011/04/16/under-new-emergency-financial-manager-law-they-start-dissolving-governments-in-michigan/

:mad:

:wtf:

:kick:

[MineralMan]

1. I do not see how this can stand legally.

I simply do not.

[WillyT]

3. I Agree... The Epitome Of Un-American...

:banghead:

I hope somebody is challenging this in the courts.

:shrug:

:hi:

[MineralMan]

4. So do I. This sounds exactly like something the ACLU should

be taking on, using their best people. I hope that happens, and soon.

[appleannie1]

9. Why do you think they have worked so hard to take over the courts?

[louis-t]

2. I wondered who would be first.. He didn't waste much time.

Walker is trying to do the same thing in WI. This is out of a Koch inspired playbook. All of the states surrounding the Great Lakes have been infiltrated by these whacko, teabagger governors. The eventual goal? Selling off of the Great Lakes.

[Drale]

6. Not Illinois we did not elect the crazy person

[The Wielding Truth]

5. It's beyond reason to think that the right of a people to self rule can be usurped this

way in a democracy.

[suffragette]

7. How can this be legal?

How do you usurp elected officials ability to govern and get away with that?

This is a radical shift and can't be allowed to stand.

[reggie the dog]

13. i their eyes it is legal because benton harbor is just full of a bunch of

ni""ers. they would never do this to saint joseph. st joe is just across the lake from chicago and a popular resort town, i dated a woman from there one summer, she was one of the few liberals i ever met in that town.

[suffragette]

14. Sad, but likely indicative of their thought process

and why they think they can get away with it.

It is appalling that a governor and state legislators can change laws that allow them to nullify elections through stripping a duly elected official of powers.

Appalling and I still would think, not legal.

[glinda]

17. It may not be. Is this authority given in the state Constitution? Should an

individual(s) be able to prove harm was done by this acton it will need to go to Court(s).
I would suggest asap.

[reformist2]

8. Republicans' "final solution" for those who lose the rigged game of globalism.

Their aim is to shut down and mow down these towns. Why not revitalize them, you ask? Of course not. Why, that costs money!

[WillyT]

10. Kick !!!

:kick:

[Odin2005]

11. This is Insanity.

:grr:

[snagglepuss]

12. kick nt

[WillyT]

15. Kick !!!

:kick:

[Kurovski]

16. K&R. (nt)

[IDemo]

18. I may be wrong, but this doesn't appear to pass Michigan's constitution

From the Michigan state constitution -

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/constitution.pdf

Art. IV, § 39 Continuity of government in emergencies.

Sec. 39. In order to insure continuity of state and local governmental operations in periods
of emergency only, resulting from disasters occurring in this state caused by enemy attack on
the United States, the legislature may provide by law for prompt and temporary succession to
the powers and duties of public offices, of whatever nature and whether filled by election or
appointment, the incumbents of which may become unavailable for carrying on the powers and
duties of such offices; and enact other laws necessary and proper for insuring the continuity of
governmental operations. Notwithstanding the power conferred by this section, elections shall
always be called as soon as possible to fill any vacancies in elective offices temporarily occupied
by operation of any legislation enacted pursuant to the provisions of this section.
History: Const. 1963, Art. IV, §39, Eff. Jan. 1, 1964.
Former Constitution: See Const. 1908, Art. XVI, §5.

edit - This was a power delegated to the "duly appointed Emergency Manager for the City of Benton Harbor, Michigan", not a succession of powers by the State.

Still, highly suspect from a legal standpoint.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

19. This is REALLY bizarre...

How can they be allowed to get away with this? Now Walker plans to pull the same thing in Wisconsin.