Benton Harbor City Commissioners are pledging to work with partners to address wayward young people in the community.
At the city commission’s regular meeting this past week, commissioners heard from Pastor Maurice McAfee of Bethel Baptist Church, who said problems range from loud music to racing vehicles to violence. McAfee said youth who commit serious crimes shouldn’t be let off just to avoid making tough decisions.
“Some things are a choice,” McAfee said. “I’m a pastor. I believe in every forgiveness, but I don’t believe in innocent kids being bullied, and to the point that they pick up a gun and do something to take revenge, and they end up in prison because the adults who are sworn to protect them are not protecting them.”
Commissioner Sharon Henderson agreed, saying the community needs to speak up when it sees dangerous behavior. She said people don’t want out of control youths tearing up the streets.
“Uneducated students, kids, torn streets and neighborhoods,” Henderson said. “People dumping trash, thinking our community is a trash dump. It’s not. They drive over to St. Joe, they turn that music down right before they get over there to the bridge.”
Commissioner Ron Singleton said residents have a right not to be terrorized, adding he’ll do whatever he can to help.
Mayor Marcus Muhammad said the city has a spiritual problem that lends itself to economic and social problems. He said church groups, city government, schools, police, and the residents have to work together to stem violent incidents and other social ills that have plagued the city this summer.
Pastor McAfee told commissioners, “It is too many of us dying on these streets, and nobody is saying a word. And it’s gotta stop.”
