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April 19, 2011

Michigan City Takeover Plan Criticized as Attack on Democracy 
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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 commissioners have no power beyond calling meetings to
order, approving minutes and adjourning meetings. City Commissioner
Dennis Knowles compared Benton Harbor to a dictatorship. He said, "For
the people we represent, they are truly being disenfranchised."
Meanwhile, Rev. Jesse Jackson toured Michigan on Monday to help build a
coalition against Gov. Synder. Jackson said, “We don’t like one-man
rule, except in Benton Harbor. We are setting up here what we are
fighting there. Your vote for elected officials doesn’t count, and
that is decimating democracy."



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