Michigan City Chafes Under State Control - NYTimes.com

Michigan City Chafes Under State Control - NYTimes.com

"Critics say the new powers, granted by the state’s new Republican leadership, are Michigan’s way to shrink benefits for public workers and undermine the strength of labor unions, just as officials have tried in Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Michigan’s state-appointed emergency managers do have authority to set aside union contracts, giving the state, in the eyes of some, the opportunity to crush any local union deals in the name of budget repair.

“It’s dictatorship, plain and simple,” said Dennis Knowles, a city commissioner who sat in a darkened, mostly empty City Hall office the other day."Full Article - NYTimes.com

Information | about Today's Rally and Facebook pages, and Heartland Revolution

VIDEO | Rachel Maddow | Michigan | Organize and sue: plan to fight emergency manager law

msnbc video: Organize and sue: plan to fight emergency manager law

Posted on Facebook page | Working Michigan | Chris Kopacz


Photo: Jean Klock Park, Benton Harbor

If you haven't heard yet, Rick Snyder is displaying the DISGUSTING audacity to actually show up in Benton Harbor as the Grand Marshall of the annual Blossomtime Parade next weekend, May 7. There needs to be a HUGE protest against this. Does anyone have any info about any planned events?

Organize and sue: a plan to fight emergency manager law

April 25: Rev. Jesse Jackson and Michigan’s black lawmakers say they are preparing to challenge the state’s emergency financial manager law in court. State Rep. Fred Durhal of the Legislative Black Caucus outlines the plan. msnbc video | Rachel Maddow | April 25, 2011

Working Michigan

Working Michigan

Posted on Facebook |Chris Kopacz
If you haven't heard yet, Rick Snyder is displaying the DISGUSTING audacity to actually show up in Benton Harbor as the Grand Marshall of the annual Blossomtime Parade next weekend, May 7. There needs to be a HUGE protest against this. Does anyone have any info about any planned events?
Organize and sue: a plan to fight emergency manager law
www.msnbc.msn.com
April 25: Rev. Jesse Jackson and Michigan’s black lawmakers say they are preparing to challenge the state’s emergency financial manager law in court. State Rep. Fred Durhal of the Legislative Black Caucus outlines the pl

Video | Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to city leaders in Benton Harbor - southbendtribune.com

Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to city leaders in Benton Harbor - southbendtribune.com

"In front of an audience of church leaders and city leaders on Wednesday, Jackson encouraged the city of Benton Harbor to fight for democracy.
"Clearly we must prepare to file a major lawsuit to restore democratic rights in Benton Harbor," said Jackson. He encouraged church and city leaders to form a coalition.
Jackson spoke in front of an audience of about 30 people inside the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Benton Harbor.
In March, Michigan's governor signed a law granting more powers to emergency managers. On Friday the emergency financial manager in Benton Harbor — hired to help balance the budget there — suspended the decision-making powers of city officials. That order means they can only call meetings to order, adjourn them and approve minutes of meetings. On Wednesday Jackson encouraged city leaders to fight back.
"I am enthusiastic," said Benton Harbor Mayor Wilce Cooke, "I think it was a great meeting. There is a movement out there in support for Benton Harbor to help us oversee and overcome the adversity that we have with a financial manager.""
Video and Full Article Here- southbendtribune.com

Jackson: ‘We will take this to the Department of Justice’ | Michigan Messenger

Jackson: ‘We will take this to the Department of Justice’ | Michigan Messenger

posted on Michigan Stands Up For Democracy | Richard T. Rapscallion Jr.
Possible Federal Intervention
Jackson: ‘We will take this to the Department of Justice’ | Michigan Messenger
michiganmessenger.com
The Reverend Jesse Jackson says the move by Benton Harbor Emergency Financial Manager Joseph Harris is illegal. In an interview with Fox 2 News, Jackson says... Full Article | Michigan Messenger
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IMPORTANT VIDEO: MAYOR OF LANSING MICHIGAN SPEAKS OUT ABOUT BENTON HARBOR | RACHEL MADDOW

WATCH VIDEO HEREThe Maddow Blog - Something to say about Benton Harbor
Posted on facebook by | The Rachel Maddow Show

Feeling mad about Benton Harbor, Michigan? Rev. Jesse Jackson's speaking out today, and last night on the show an outraged mayor.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson is reportedly heading to Benton Harbor, Michigan, today, the first city to have its elected officials sat down under the state's new emergency financial manager law.

"Our Founding Fathers are rolling over in their graves at what's happening in Michigan. It is dire, and it is sad -- a sad day for democracy. It's really everything you said. It is taxation without representation. You know, it is the corporatization. We're seeing the corporatization of our Democratic process.

Today, in Michigan, they trained something -- the government is training 200 EFMs, emergency financial managers. This is an industry now that the administration is going to be in. They have lowered the bar for taking over cities.

It used to be -- EFMs were very rarely used. Their powers were circumscribed. They were to go in and deal with the finances and work with the powers that be.

Now, they are in charge. Now they can fire elected officials. It is unprecedented in Michigan and I think in America and it's dangerous." Mayor of Lansing Michigan


WATCH VIDEO HERE The Maddow Blog - Something to say about Benton Harbor

About the Rally Next Week
On Wednesday, April 27th there will be a march/rally in Benton Harbor, Michigan in response to the usurping of the rights and democratic process of their city government and their citizens by empowering a non-elected Emergency Financial Manager to take over the day-to-day operations of Benton Harbor.
We will start at the Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce located at 38 West Wall Street and then march to City Hall.
We need your help to get the word out to make this protest huge in numbers.
Thank you,Heartland

LINK TO RALLY INFO: RevolutionHeartland Rally | Benton Harbor | Wednesday April 27, 2011

Michigan's Governor Rick Synder
PHONE (517) 373-3400
EMAIL Rick.Snyder@michigan.gov
DIRECT LINK TO OFFICAL WEBSITE CONTACT PAGE

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Michigan City Takeover Plan Criticized as Attack on Democracy

www.democracynow.org/2011/4/19 Feature Article

Posted on Facebook page by | Michigan Stands for Democracy | Richard T. Rapscallion Jr.

Jessie Jackson is on Benton Harbor... :)
Michigan City Takeover Plan Criticized as Attack on Democracy | www.democracynow.org

"Residents of Benton Harbor, Michigan, voiced outrage Monday night after the city's elected mayor and city commissioners were stripped of all power by an unelected emergency financial manager appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. Last week, the emergency manager issued an order saying the city comm..." Full Article | Democracy Now

Who to VOTE for in Milwaukee and Racine on April 5th!

Who to VOTE for in Milwaukee and Racine on April 5th!
Posted on facebook by: Milwaukee Protests
Who to VOTE for in Milwaukee and Racine on April 5th!
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Time: ‎7:00AM Tuesday, April 5th

Jesse Jackson at pre-election Wisconsin Capitol rally: 'Keep hope alive! Vote! Vote! Vote!' - Isthmus | The Daily Page

Jesse Jackson at pre-election Wisconsin Capitol rally: 'Keep hope alive! Vote! Vote! Vote!' - Isthmus | The Daily Page

Posted in Twitter by: IsthmusTDP
Jesse Jackson at pre-election Wis Capitol rally: "Keep hope alive! Vote!" http://isthmus.com/r/?r=159b #wiunion #wearewi