The Water Crisis in Benton Harbor / Benton Harbor Community Water Council are the real Heros

The Struggle that has taken place in recent years in Benton Harbor is a case in point, and one that holds a number of lessons for the American people. The fight in Benton Harbor is a war over whether Benton Harbor residents will have prosperity, democracy, live in poverty or have clean, safe water under heels of open corporate rule. The attack on democracy in Benton Harbor shows that corporate power structure is determined to crush anyone who stands in its way. I would like to thank the Benton Harbor Community Water Council for the incredible work that was done to get Benton Harbor clean safe water, without applying continue pressure on the State and Federal government nothing would have been done. It took three long years for government and the Mayor to acknowledge their was a water crisis. No victory lap here.

The drinking water crisis in Benton Harbor has upended the lives of thousands of residents and created an environment and public health disaster that after years of inaction, finally captured the nation's attention. While dangerous levels of lead in the drinking water system garnered national headlines, the drinking water crisis ran much deeper and involved violations of several safe drinking water regulations.

The cause of this multi-faceted drinking water crisis was decades in the making and has its roots in racial discrimination and segregation that has plagued Benton Harbor since the mid-20th century. The loss of Benton Harbor water system's customer base has been at the root of many of its problems, first through flight of the white residents in the 1970's as the Benton Harbor's black population was growing and then through the loss of whole wholesale and industrial customers during the era of emergency management. With too few residents and customers to serve, the water system has struggle to generate revenue causing cuts to the water system's staff and budget. This, in turn has caused a wide variety of water quality and 

treatment issues that go beyond the lead contamination.

Thanks to the tireless faces of the Benton Harbor Community Water Council and Rev Edward Pinkney, Benton Harbor's water system is now providing safe water to its residents -something it hasn't done for years .All the lead service  lines- has been replaced.

But now Benton Harbor faces another pending drinking water crisis, the water , now safe to drink, is unaffordable for its residents. Even with grant funds to cover capital cost at the water treatment plant and to replace lead service lines, a recent report found that Benton Harbor must raise water rates over 205 annually for the next nine years to ensure the water system covers its costs. if this occurs, it is estimated that the average residential water bill will increase from $42 per month to $272 per month.  What is good is safe drinking water if residents cannot afford it?

What happened in Benton Harbor should never ever happen to another Community, another City, another town, never ever.                

 

Rev Edward Pinkney

Charges against Rick Snyder dismissed...

 Commentary

Auchter's Art: What's the correlation?

Michigan Radio | By John Auchter

November 3, 2023

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John Auchter

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For Michigan Radio 

State criminal prosecutions of the Flint Water Crisis ended this week with a decision by the Michigan Supreme Court refusing the state’s appeal of lower-court decisions to dismiss charges against former Governor Rick Snyder. It marks the end of a chapter in a very sad book.

Wherever you happen to stand on holding accountable the public officials who put Flint under state-appointed emergency management, I think we can all agree that the optics (not to mention the results) were terrible. And we can add this as a lesson learned — next time rich, "successful" businessmen tell us that they are better than career politicians because (1) they get things done and (2) they take responsibility, maybe we don't believe them.

For the record, I don't think how our state government handled the Flint Water Crisis is the only reason why Michigan population is stagnated. But it certainly hasn't helped. When you're a place that gets several inches of snow on Halloween, you already have enough challenges to keep and attract people.

John Auchter is a freelance political cartoonist. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Michigan Radio, its management, or its license holder, the University of Michigan.

Slap in the face of humanity: Cop City - Atlanta

Keep the solidarity going: how to support the movement to #StopCopCity

As our allies in Atlanta keep fighting for community safety, we urge you to continue supporting their struggle to halt the construction of Cop City, a police training facility that threatens large swaths of the Weelaunee Forest and would massively expand militarized policing in Atlanta and elsewhere. At critical moments such as this one, it’s important to remember that local battles are part of our collective struggle for freedom from policing and mass incarceration. At the same time, those of us not in and/or from Atlanta must follow the leadership of the people on the ground, who know their community’s needs best. Please read on for ways to offer and sustain solidarity for the movement to Stop Cop City!

Tell Georgia prosecutors to drop the domestic terrorism charges against Stop Cop City protesters, using this action toolkit from Defending Rights & Dissent Send emails and make phone calls to Georgia officials and the Cop City contractors, using this script and contact sheet from Stop Cop City Solidarity Support Community Movement Builders, Black Alliance for Peace – Atlanta, the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, and other local movement leaders Take action and voice your disapproval to the politicians, contractors, and investors driving Cop City, using this action support toolkit from Stop Cop City Solidarity Read and share the coalition letter from Defending Rights & Dissent, signed by the NLG, Civil Liberties Defense Center, Project South, Human Rights Watch, and other allies  Sign onto the letter in solidarity with the movement to Stop Cop City Learn more about the struggle against policing by engaging with the following resources: [Webinar Recording] The Abolitionist Struggle to Stop Cop City: History, Geography, Intersections by Haymarket Books [Webpage] About the Movement to Stop Cop City by Stop Cop City Solidarity [Article] A brief history of the Atlanta City Prison Farm by the Atlanta Community Press Collective, explaining the long history of stealing land from the Muscogee people in what is now Atlanta [Book] No More Police by Mariame Kaba and Andrea Ritchie National Lawyers Guild PO Box 1266 New York, NY 10009-8941

Benton Harbor ARPA funding - Has fraud been committed?

Rev. Pinkney found a media report listing recipients of Benton Harbor’s $9.8 million ARPA funds. The city filed the lists (see the end for the most recent list) on 4/19/21 and 4/20/22. American Rescue Plan Act distributes federal money to municipalities to aid Americans in covid recovery. At least that's the stated purpose. 

The problem is, there is no evidence or record of ARPA grants or funding 

in the Benton Harbor community.

Rev. Pinkney believes the city has acted illegally in four ways:

- Bank Fraud

- False Statement to a Financial Institution

- Money Laundering

- Fraud Scheme

By filing the list below, the city states to the federal gov. that everything on the list is true. Pinkney does not believe the list is correct and true, so therefore, Wire Fraud has also been committed.

He wants the city to supply the following information:

   1.  Why were there no ARPA funding community meetings? 

No community discussion? Other towns included residents in the funding decisions.

   2.  Was there a vote on the list below?

   3.  Who in Benton Harbor has the authority to assign the massive figure of one and a half million dollars to anybody? 

The amount itself definitely warrants a discussion among residents!

Benton Harbor residents reading this list will most likely question it's veracity.

Residents relief                   1,560, 000. (million!)

Renter assistance                500,000.  

Utilities                                500,000.

Internet access.                   30,000.

Neighborhood improvement 

Vacant Lot clean up            150,000.

Park Safety improvements  350.000.

Block Club                            40,000.

Youth Employment             200,000.

Camera System                    250,000.

Fire Hydrants                       75,000.

Water& Sewer                      1,200, 000.

Non profit- Small Business loans   112, 882. 

Church internet                    30,000.

Community Garden             12,882.

Income tax                             250,000.

Where is the public engagement and government transparency in Benton Harbor?

 November 21, 2022

Ms. Tiffany Moore

Chief Clerk

Benton Harbor City Hall

200 E. Wall Street

Benton Harbor, MI 49022

RE: Immediate Request for Extension of Comment Period and for a Public Hearing Regarding the City of Benton Harbor Water System Alternatives Analysis

Dear Ms. Moore:

We, the community leaders and residents of Benton Harbor, in partnership with the other undersigned organizations (collectively, the "Signatories"), request an immediate extension of the public comment period for the City of Benton Harbor (the "City") Water System Alternatives Analysis (the "Report) and request a public hearing to ensure that the residents of Benton Harbor both fully understand the Report and have an opportunity to have their voices heard!

The Unilateral Administrative Order (the "Order") dated November 2, 2022, very clearly mandates that the City provide a substantial public comment period that lasts at least 30 days, and requires receipt, review, and acknowledgement of all public comments.? The minimal 30-day review period chosen by the City includes the Thanksgiving holiday, ultimately reducing the amount of available time for the public to review and respond to the 156-page Report. Furthermore, the City failed to schedule a public meeting to explain the contents of this complex and lengthy Report. The proposed comment period and comment process do not provide sufficient notice or opportunity for the public to understand, let alone meaningfully comment, on the Report. Sadly, this approach is consistent with the City's past processes of failing to provide the residents of Benton Harbor with

accurate and up-to-date information about the quality of their water and the potential future of their water system. Indeed, we understand that as of November 2022, City officials are currently telling residents that the water is safe to drink when, in fact, filters are still required for a minimum of six months to ensure that the drinking water is free from lead contamination.

The Signatories also request additional information relating to the public water systems's existing debt and corresponding cost calculations. Similar to the lack of transparency of the public comment period and process, there is also a lack of transparency regarding the cost estimates in Table ES-1 in the Report. Table ES-1 is premised on a certain amount of debt that the City claims to have; yet this information is not included in the Report. This is a key piece of information that

________________________________

1 The Signatories reserve the right to submit comments to this City in addition to this letter.

2 Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, Unilateral Administrative Order, 1111 (Nov. 2, 2021).

would help residents of Benton Harbor understand the financial analysis in the Report. We strongly request the City make this information publicly available during the comment period and prior to a public hearing.

Hosting public hearings is standard procedure when local agencies seek public comment. Hearings give the public the opportunity to share their opinion, ask questions, and make their voices heard. They enable comments to be submitted in both a written and oral format. Not all residents may have the time or technology to submit a formal written comment and may instead choose to give comments orally, on the record. Given the complexity of this particular report, and the need for accessibility for submitting public comments, the residents should have the opportunity to submit comments orally at a public hearing. During the hearing, the City should take the time to clearly

outline the contents of the Report and accept all oral public comments. These public comments should become part of the record of comments that the City is required to review and address under Paragraph 111 of the Order before submission of the comments to EPA.

For the reasons described above, it is imperative that the City extend the public comment period by at least another 30 days, to January 2, 2022, to give the public time to review, understand, and provide meaningful comments - both written and oral - on the Report. We also strongly request that the City host a formal public hearing in advance of the due date of public comments to both: (1) further describe the contents of the Report to the public; and (2) give Benton Harbor residents an

opportunity to provide oral comments on the Report. The Signatories reserve the right to submit any additional comments and requests, as necessary.

Given the very tight deadlines and impending Thanksgiving holiday, we request a response before November 23, 2022 on these requests. Please reach out to Reverend Edward Pinkney at (269) 369-8257 with any questions, and please provide your response in writing by email.

Sincerely,

Reverend Edward Pinkney, President, Benton Harbor Community Water Council

Gwen Swanigan, Founder/CEO, S.H.A.R.P. Foundation

Dr. Donald Tynes, Public Health Director, Benton Harbor Health Center

Emma Kinnard, President & Marvin Heywood, Vice President, Fresh Start Children's Garden

Alvin Gray, President, Black is Beautiful and Save Our Children,

Blake William, President, Get Out the Vote

Elnora Gavin, We the People Michigan

People's Choice, Doris Mitchell, President

_____________________

3 Not all residents are able to submit a written comment for various reasons, such as limited access to the internet, limited written English proficiency, or simply that they prefer oral communication to written communication.

Supporting partners:

Ecology Center, Rebecca Meuninck, Deputy Director

Environmental Transformation Movement of Flint, Mona Monroe-Younis, Executive Director

Flint Rising, Nayyirah Shariff, Executive Director

For Love of Water (FLOW), Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director

Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, Nicholas Leonard, Executive Director

Lawyers for Good Government, Jillian Blanchard, Director Climate Change Program & Lauren

Thomson, Staff Attorney

Michigan Environmental Council, Conan Smith, President and CEO

Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, Sylvia Orduño, Organizer

Natural Resources Defense Council, Cyndi Roper, Senior Policy Advocate

People's Water Board Coalition, Nicole Hill, Vice President

Safe Water Engineering, Eli Betanzo, Principal

Water You Fighting For, Melissa Mays, Founder

CC:

Debra Shore, Regional Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency

("USEPA") Region 5

Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, USEPA

Tera Fong, Director, Water Division, USEPA Region 5

Candice Bauer, Water Division, Chief, Ground Water and Drinking Water, USEPA Region 5

Robert Kaplan, Regional Counsel, USEPA Region 5

Cheryl Newton, Assistant Regional Administrator, USEPA Region 5

Alan Walts, Director, Tribal and Multi-media Program Office, USEPA Region 5

Bruno Pigott, Deputy Assistant Administrator, USEPA

Lies Clark, Director, Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Department of

Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy ("EGLE")

Aaron B. Keatley, Chief Deputy Director, EGLE

James Clift, Deputy Director, EGLE

Eric Oswald, Director of the Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division, EGLE

Regina Strong, Environmental Justice Public Advocate, EGLE

Kristina Donaldson, Clean Water Public Advocate, EGLE