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

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

Posted on Michigan Stands for Democracy Facebook page by | Jonny Cache

“Effectively disbanding their duly-elected government is not, however, the answer …”

"And, waiting on the sidelines like vultures ready to pick over the carcasses of these cities are Snyder and his Emergency Financial Managers (EFMs). They can come in, disband the local government, thereby disenfranchising the local residents, modify or cancel union contracts and use their now-expanded powers to restructure, reconfigure and otherwise refashion the cities in their own vision.

Got some nice public lands on the shores of Lake Michigan or a river, maybe a nice park or nature preserve? Think of the revenue that could be generated by selling or leasing it to your corporate friends for development into a McMansion development or golf course.

Got some development grants coming in to help the community expand services? Think of how those plums can be repurposed to put money in the coffers of your corporate friends.

I'm generally not cynical enough to believe that this is a conservative conspiracy to kill off selected communities and then pick over their bones and divide the spoils among the wealthy victors. But, more and more, as you look at the budget priorities and how they seem aimed at destroying already-vulnerable communities, you really begin to see a pattern developing. And, when you couple that with the enhanced powers of the EFMs, what happened this past week on the shores of Lake Michigan begins to look more and more like Rick Snyder is intentionally working to create more Benton Harbors in the State of Michigan." Full Article Here