Reply #54: And so it begins. Emergency Financial Mgr. fires entire government of Benton Harbor, MI

[Demeter]

http://www.eclectablog.com/2011/04/and-so-it-begins-emergency-financial.html

As you probably know, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed legislation passed by the Republican-dominated House and Senate that gives State-appointed Emergency Financial Managers (EFMs) historically broad and sweeping powers. These new powers allow the EFM to cancel or modify contracts (including with unions) and even to fire the municipality's government.

Today, for the first time, an EFM did just that. According to a press release from the Michigan AFL-CIO, Joseph L. Harris, EFM for Benton Harbor, Michigan issued "an order prohibiting all action by all city boards, commissions, authorities and other entities, except as authorized by the emergency manager."


This is a complete disenfranchisement of an entire community, an entire city in my state. The voters are now denied the ability to be governed by the people they elected in a democratic election.

This is nothing short of an abridgment of democracy in raw form.


AND WHY DID THE DWEEB IN CHIEF DO THIS? TO STEAL LAKEFRONT PROPERTY FROM THE PUBLIC PARK SYSTEM FOR A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.

MORE AT LINK, SUPPLEMENTAL LINKS BELOW:

How Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is quietly & intentionally creating more Benton Harbors

http://www.eclectablog.com/2011/04/how-michigan-gov-rick-snyder-is.html

Benton Harbor Emergency Financial Mgr. gets right to work

http://www.eclectablog.com/2011/04/benton-harbor-emergency-financial-mgr.html