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Posted on 10/15/2003 7:41:18 AM PDT by Dan from Michigan
Gov.-appointed Benton Harbor task force makes final report
The Associated Press
10/15/2003, 12:46 a.m. ET
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A 21-member task force appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to identify and defuse the causes of riots that struck the city in June has met for the final time.
Members say it now will be up to the community to implement the recommendations in its final 150-page report to the governor, which will be available Thursday.
"Some thought the state would pour tons and tons of money to eradicate problems here," task force co-chairman Greg Roberts told the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune for a Wednesday story. "The governor said the state would embrace Benton Harbor ... but Benton Harbor has to help itself.
"This is a continuing journey."
Roberts expressed confidence in the community's commitment to reverse trends such as the city's high school dropout rates and low economic status.
"We have hope where we might not have had hope three months ago," he said.
The task force's recommendations are to include revamping the city's public housing program, expanding community policing initiatives, implementing intensive early childhood education programs and working to increase minority representation on Berrien County juries, said member Sandra Dudley, who also co-chairs the group Citizens for Progressive Change.
That group will continue to explore improvement strategies for the city, Dudley said.
While task force members expressed optimism at its final meeting, some also expressed disappointment that friends of 27-year-old Terrance Devon Shurn did not participate in the group's efforts.
The city was the site of two nights of rioting in June following a high-speed police chase during which Shurn, a motorcyclist, died when he crashed into a vacant building. The Berrien County prosecutor cleared police of any wrongdoing in Shurn's death.
"But I'm glad everybody else in the community has come together," said Benton Harbor Commissioner Leroy Harvey. "We'll get the job done. We're still on the same page."
Lisa Webb Sharppe said new projections that Michigan is facing a $898 million budget shortfall make it even more important for state and local officials to seek other funding sources.
"We need to find other ways to get things done," she said. "The hard work begins now. We need to implement (changes) in a smart way."
The Rev. Edward Pinkney, pastor of the Bethel Christian Restoration Church in Benton Harbor and a member of Citizens for Progressive Change, said dedication may be more important than funds.
"It doesn't take a lot of money," he said. "It takes a lot of heart
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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Amen.
Step 1: Parental commitment
Panel on Mich. Riots Urges Better Rapport
Tue Oct 21, 5:05 PM ET Add U.S. National
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - A task force appointed to determine what caused two nights of rioting in Benton Harbor over the summer is urging improvements in the city's relationship with police.
The report released Tuesday also recommends eradicating substandard housing by 2005 in the city, which suffers from poverty and joblessness.
Hundreds of people rioted in Benton Harbor after the death of Terrance Shurn, 28, whose speeding motorcycle crashed [AS TERRANCE DID HIS "THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS" BIT] as police chased him into the city from neighboring Benton Township.
About a dozen people were hurt and 10 were arrested. Police said the rioting caused about $560,000 in property damage.
Many residents said the death of Shurn, who was black, amplified tensions between Benton Harbor police and residents in the predominantly black city.
Police were cleared of wrongdoing in Shurn's death.
Residents and community members made up the 22-member task force.
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On the Net:
Task force report:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/BH_final_report_76471_7.pdf
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Awwww. Let's all link hands and sing, "We Are The World".
I think I'll use a fuel stabilizer instead.
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