Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor, Michigan and Gov. Jennifer Granholm are continuing to steal land from the residents of Benton Harbor. BH is under severe
police/court repression, and suffers severe poverty - mostly as a result of the world's largest appliance manufacturer outsourcing jobs. The following article, with commentary in caps, reveals some of the ways Whirlpool cheats the people and steals from the people of Benton Harbor.


Negotiating the next step for BH, Whirlpool

In split vote, commissioners approve talks about incentives for company's downtown development; Gov. Granholm here today to make announcement about project


By John Matuszak, Herald Palladium
Tuesday, July 20, 2010

BENTON HARBOR - City Commissioners voted 7-2 on Monday to approve a resolution supporting negotiations of financial incentives that could be worth $50 million for Whirlpool Corp.'s downtown development.

ANOTHER STUPID MOVE BY BENTON HARBOR COMMISSIONERS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE AN HONEST GOVERNING BODY IN “WHIRLPOOL/UPTON COUNTY?”

City Manager Ron Carter Jr. told commissioners that he and Commissioner Marcus Muhammad met twice with state officials to come up with the incentives that could assist Whirlpool's $85 million investment, which the company announced last week.

THIS IS NO INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY OF BH. IT SHOWS HOW WHIRLPOOL KEEPS TAKING AND TAKING AND TAKING FROM BH.

He said the resolution only gives him the authority to negotiate with Whirlpool and does not commit the city to anything. Any incentive would have to be approved by Emergency Financial Manager Joseph Harris, the commissioners and state authorities, Carter said.

HARRIS IS ANOTHER WHIRLPOOL PUPPET.

He was adamant that the city must proceed with talks or the whole deal could go down the drain.

"If we say no, they will go to another city," Carter warned.

THEY SHOULD START PACKING, THE RESIDENTS WILL HELP THEM MOVE. WP PAYS NO TAXES OR WATER BILLS TO THE CITY OF BH, IN WHICH THEY RESIDE.

That wasn't good enough for Commissioners Juanita Henry and Dennis Knowles, who voted against the resolution.

THEY ARE BOTH CORRECT. IF JUSTICE HAD BEEN SERVED, ALL 9 WOULD HAVE VOTED AGAINST IT.

Knowles called the proposal a "Trojan horse" that wouldn't create any jobs for Benton Harbor residents.

CORRECT. NO JOBS FOR BENTON HARBOR. YOU ARE RIGHT, MR. KNOWLES.

Henry objected to giving her nod to incentives without having more information.

THE INFORMATION WE NEED IS PROOF THAT WHIRLPOOL PAYS TAXES AND WATER.

"It's crazy to vote on this without talking about it," Henry said. "Don't give them a blanket approval for everything."

WHIRLPOOL ONLY TAKES, AND DOESN’T GIVE BACK.

Voting in support of the resolution were Commissioners Byron Joseph, Duane Seats II, Marcus Muhammad, David Shaw, Eddie Marshall, James Hightower and Mayor Wilce Cooke.

SHAME ON ALL 7 COMMISSIONERS.

Muhammad said it wouldn't be intelligent for a city struggling with a budget deficit to turn its back on a major corporation such as Whirlpool, and that the community should pull together to negotiate the best deal it can get.

"Whirlpool is not your enemy," Muhammad said. "Our ignorance and our disunity is our greatest enemy."

WHIRLPOOL IS OUR ENEMY. IT IS YOUR IGNORANCE THAT IS YOUR GREATEST ENEMY, MR. MUHAMMAD. WHIRLPOOL ARE THE OPPRESSORS.

MUHAMMED HAS CHANGED HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WHIRLPOOL RACE. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE HONEST REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN “WHIRLPOOL COUNTY” WHERE THE CORPORATION "CONTROLS" GOVERNING BODIES AND EVERYONE ELSE. REMEMBER, A FEW YEARS AGO CEO JEFF NOEL SPOKE AT UOFM BUSINESS SCHOOL AND ADMITTED EXACTLY HOW THEY TAKE OUR LAND.

Benton Harbor's incentive package, if approved, would include:

-- A tax abatement of personal property taxes on equipment and other inventory.

-- Vacating River Road, which borders the campus site, and selling the city's interest in the vacated portion to Whirlpool at its appraised value. Carter said the road would be used to expand Riverside Park, which Whirlpool had donated $350,000 toward previously.

NOT TRUE, CARTER. THAT WAS OBAMA STIMULUS MONEY, 7 MILLION.

-- An extension of the existing Renaissance Zone area for 12 years, and borrowing funds from the state under the Urban Land Assembly program to assist in acquiring land for the project. The city would be reimbursed by Whirlpool.

WHIRLPOOL WOULD GET 85 MILLION TAX FREE AND INTEREST FREE - BENTON HARBOR GETS NOTHING.

-- Using tax increment revenue generated by the project for the cleanup of what is now a brownfield site.

-- A tax abatement through the establishment of a commercial rehabilitation district.

-- Expediting zoning requests while protecting the city and assuring consistency with the city's master plan.

WHIRLPOOL’S TAKOVER PLAN.

Carter said he previously met with a senior Whirlpool executive, and was told the company would be adding jobs in Benton Harbor. The company previously said that no new jobs would be created.

THERE WILL BE NO JOBS FOR THE PEOPLE OF BH.

Whirlpool will also be paying taxes to the city, paying for water service, and spinning off jobs from the money spent by employees working downtown, Carter said.

THERE IS NO BUSINESS DOWNTOWN. WHO’S GOING TO FORCE WHIRLPOOL TO PAY TAXES AND WATER?

"Don't throw the baby out before the bath is full," Carter said in urging a yes vote.

WE NEED MORE INFORMATION, CARTER.

Last Thursday, Whirlpool officials announced their plan to consolidate many of its 15 offices scattered around the area over the next five years into three sites. They will construct a three-building campus along the St. Joseph River in Benton Harbor that will house 1,000 employees, and will renovate its Tech Center on Upton Drive in St. Joseph and the Administrative Center on M-63 in Benton Township.

NO JOBS FOR BENTON HARBOR - 85M FOR WHIRLPOOL.

WHIRLPOOL IS STEALING PRIME LAKEFRONT PROPPERTY, SURROUNDED BY WATER.

Whirlpool, the world's largest appliance maker, employees about 4,000 people in Berrien County.

The resolution noted that Whirlpool had evaluated numerous sites for the office complex, some in other communities, before committing to Benton Harbor. The resolution also pointed out that St. Joseph and Benton Township have offered incentives of their own.

WHIRLPOOL: STOP OUTSOURCING JOBS.

The plan is also contingent on receiving state incentives.

WHO CARES?

Gov. Jennifer Granholm is scheduled to make an announcement in Benton Harbor at 2 p.m. today about the Whirlpool investment.

JENNIFER GRANHOLM: GIVE BACK THE MILLION DOLLAR HOME YOU RECEIVED FOR FREE FROM WHIRLPOOL.

Prior to the governor's visit, she will be addressing the Michigan Economic Growth Authority meeting in Lansing, where a number of economic development projects will be up for approval, including the Whirlpool proposal.
jmatuszak@TheH-P.com