Rev. Pinkney does the gallant service many of us are unwilling to do. He's a DAILY court observer in the Berrien County, Michigan courthouse - the one with many, many years of arguably the state's highest juvenile and innocent incarceration rates.
Today Pinkney was approached by a probation officer who said, "I've received a report saying you're practicing law without a license here in the courthouse." Pinkney said he gives spiritual advice, not legal advice. (We wish he had told the officer that SOMEONE needs to be giving legal advice in Berrien County!)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Occupy the PGA in Benton Harbor, May 23-27
Join thousands of local and national activists as we "Occupy the Senior PGA Golf Tournament" that is coming to Benton Harbor, Michigan, from May 23-27, 2012. We will meet at Benton Harbor City Hall (200 Wall St) at 10am each day and march to the golf course! We will have speakers and food.
The PGA will be played on a $750,000,000 resort on over 530 acres near Lakeshore with a Jack Nicklaus designer golf course, with $500,000 condominiums. This is the same public land that was STOLEN inside Jean Klock Park.
Emergency Financial Manager Joseph Harris must go!! We have a dictator in Benton Harbor. Democracy is non-existent in Benton Harbor -- they're stealing our homes and lives! We are committed to escalating the Occupy Movement to support human rights.
For more information, contact Rev. Edward Pinkney (269) 925-0001
OccupyThePGA.wordpress.com
Download the PDF flier
The PGA will be played on a $750,000,000 resort on over 530 acres near Lakeshore with a Jack Nicklaus designer golf course, with $500,000 condominiums. This is the same public land that was STOLEN inside Jean Klock Park.Emergency Financial Manager Joseph Harris must go!! We have a dictator in Benton Harbor. Democracy is non-existent in Benton Harbor -- they're stealing our homes and lives! We are committed to escalating the Occupy Movement to support human rights.
For more information, contact Rev. Edward Pinkney (269) 925-0001
OccupyThePGA.wordpress.com
Download the PDF flier
Whirlpool loses appliance 'dumping' case
April 17, 2012
BENTON HARBOR, Mich.—Whirlpool Corp. has lost the latest round in its battle with competitors over imports from South Korea and Mexico.
The U.S. International Trade Commission found Tuesday that Whirlpool and other U.S. appliance makers were not harmed by competitors importing bottom-mount refrigerators from South Korea and Mexico.
Whirlpool filed a complaint last year that alleged competitors such as Samsung Electronics Co., LG Electronics Inc. and other foreign companies were violating international trade laws and "dumping" their appliances in the U.S. by selling them at less than fair value. The company asked U.S. regulators to impose extra duties on its competitors for these actions.
The U.S. Department of Commerce determined in March that the competitors were selling the products at less than fair value and issued a preliminary decision in Whirlpool's favor. That then went to the International Trade Commission for review, where the commissioners issued a unanimous decision against Whirlpool.
Whirlpool said it is reviewing the decision and determining whether it will appeal to the U.S. Court of International Trade, part of the federal court system.
Samsung and LG applauded the decision and criticized Whirlpool for launching a "baseless investigation" that was costly to U.S. taxpayers.
Whirlpool, based in Benton Harbor, Mich., makes appliances under its namesake brand as well as Maytag and KitchenAid. Its shares fell $3.03, more than 4 percent, to close at $68...
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/04/17/whirlpool_loses_appliance_dumping_case/
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Stolen Water post updated
UPDATED: Benton Harbor's Water Stolen by Harbor Shores/Whirlpool - scroll down to April 20 post.
...public parks were usurped by private interests, with the collusion of bought-off politicians...
From occupythepga.wordpress.com comments
Frankie says: April 19, 2012 Wasn’t derelict land reclaimed and used to create something that gives people a reason to come to Benton Harbor? A trophy golf course brings money in from other areas and helps create jobs. Didn’t the same private money that paid for the golf course also pay to have the beachfront re-done, and is now a cash generating enterprise? I can not explain how poorly your angst is placed. Get a life.
Reply - occupythepga says: April 20, 2012 @ Frankie: Thank you for your comment. It gives an opportunity to clear up some misconceptions. The golf course was not built on “derelict land”, it was built on land occupied by a beautiful beach and factories. Harbor Shores promised 2,000 jobs for the community (initial projections were over 4,000) and have failed to produce meaningful jobs. Most of the jobs created will be short-term construction jobs anyway, not the kind that will provide lasting employment in the community.
But the community will change, because the golf course will bring gentrification. As land values and rent rates rise, Benton Harbor community members already living in poverty will be forced out to make room for more wealthy residents. The integrity and future of the culture and community are at stake.
You’re correct that there was some derelict land involved–the scattered parcels that Harbor Shores offered in unfair compensation for the pristine 22 acres of Jean Klock Park stolen from the public. After the give-away was approved by federal agencies who failed to do their job, it came out that several of the parcels, previously industrial sites, are so contaminated with toxic heavy metals that they’re unsafe without remediation.
Having the beachfront “redone” included clearing 8 acres of trees, stripping the dunes of vegetation, brush-cutting wetlands, and removing 900 truckloads of dune material to shape the course. This occurred despite lawsuits against the development being unresolved, so that by the time they reached decision on appeal, they were considered moot points. Pollution from the greens is reported to be running into the park via drainage ditches that were not indicated in the plans.
You may continue to believe Harbor Shores’ promises if you choose, but they have failed to meet many of their commitments already. They have been caught illegally stealing water from Benton Harbor’s Paw Paw River. According to Harbor Shores themselves, over two-thirds of the projected tax revenue, assuming the project doesn’t fail in this era of declining popularity of golf, will benefit St. Joseph and Benton Township, not Benton Harbor. Likewise, the 2004 land grab that took four acres from the park for development has not translated to jobs or meaningful revenue.
We stand for the human rights and self-determination of the people of Benton Harbor. The democratic processes that should have allowed them to have a real voice in what happens in their community and to their public parks were usurped by private interests, with the collusion of bought-off politicians.
Frankie says: April 19, 2012 Wasn’t derelict land reclaimed and used to create something that gives people a reason to come to Benton Harbor? A trophy golf course brings money in from other areas and helps create jobs. Didn’t the same private money that paid for the golf course also pay to have the beachfront re-done, and is now a cash generating enterprise? I can not explain how poorly your angst is placed. Get a life.
Reply - occupythepga says: April 20, 2012 @ Frankie: Thank you for your comment. It gives an opportunity to clear up some misconceptions. The golf course was not built on “derelict land”, it was built on land occupied by a beautiful beach and factories. Harbor Shores promised 2,000 jobs for the community (initial projections were over 4,000) and have failed to produce meaningful jobs. Most of the jobs created will be short-term construction jobs anyway, not the kind that will provide lasting employment in the community.
But the community will change, because the golf course will bring gentrification. As land values and rent rates rise, Benton Harbor community members already living in poverty will be forced out to make room for more wealthy residents. The integrity and future of the culture and community are at stake.
You’re correct that there was some derelict land involved–the scattered parcels that Harbor Shores offered in unfair compensation for the pristine 22 acres of Jean Klock Park stolen from the public. After the give-away was approved by federal agencies who failed to do their job, it came out that several of the parcels, previously industrial sites, are so contaminated with toxic heavy metals that they’re unsafe without remediation.
Having the beachfront “redone” included clearing 8 acres of trees, stripping the dunes of vegetation, brush-cutting wetlands, and removing 900 truckloads of dune material to shape the course. This occurred despite lawsuits against the development being unresolved, so that by the time they reached decision on appeal, they were considered moot points. Pollution from the greens is reported to be running into the park via drainage ditches that were not indicated in the plans.
You may continue to believe Harbor Shores’ promises if you choose, but they have failed to meet many of their commitments already. They have been caught illegally stealing water from Benton Harbor’s Paw Paw River. According to Harbor Shores themselves, over two-thirds of the projected tax revenue, assuming the project doesn’t fail in this era of declining popularity of golf, will benefit St. Joseph and Benton Township, not Benton Harbor. Likewise, the 2004 land grab that took four acres from the park for development has not translated to jobs or meaningful revenue.
We stand for the human rights and self-determination of the people of Benton Harbor. The democratic processes that should have allowed them to have a real voice in what happens in their community and to their public parks were usurped by private interests, with the collusion of bought-off politicians.
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