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Benton Harbor City Council Meeting

Re: Jean Klock Park

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Louis, Frederick, and Emory Upton that started the Upton Machine Company in Benton Harbor back in 1911 based on treating their employees well, and backing up what they sold to their customers, may be turning over in their graves as they watch their business now known as Whirlpool steal property from the poorest of Michigan's residents, the citizens of Benton Harbor. There is no doubt who runs the City of Benton Harbor as you walk into the city council chambers with a picture of Whirlpool's Headquarters hanging on the wall. With the generosity of Whirlpool, Cornerstone Alliance, a nonprofit was formed and it appears to be the giant that is running the city today. With federal cash meant to help Benton Harbor, Cornerstone directors have put it into their own companies and then gone bankrupt. Gee, what ever happened to that money?

The problem for the citizens of Benton Harbor is the same problem citizens throughout Michigan have. As long as elections cannot be audited, and public officials continue to steal from their citizens, then recall elections and regular elections mean nothing. Whirlpool wants to take Jean Klock Park and make it the center of a real estate development. Their only problem would be the courts, which is like no problem at all. Ship Street Realty is doing the work on developing not only Jean Klock Park, but the river frontage between St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. Alfred Butzbaugh the Chief Judge of Berrien County not only owns property on both sides of the river, but merged his professional corporation with Ship Street Realty. Additionally, you have Law & Title Realty, LLC that merged with Ship Street Realty. Do you think that might have a few lawyers as owners. Maaaybe! The only help for the citizens would be the Upton family putting a halt to all this. If they have the genes of Louis, Frederick, and Emory, then they will say "no" to this massive theft just to save the family name.