On Oct. 10, 2013, Mayor James Hightower told the Herald Palladium that the city income tax legislation on the ballot in the November, 2013 election may be illegal.
A majority of the people I talked to in the city were in favor of the city income tax. The tax would have forced corporations to pay their fair share.
Hightower says he is concerned about the welfare of the citizens, but he failed to tell them the tax was only a penny on the dollar. Tony Saunders, the new Emergency Financial Manager, said he had no public stance on the city tax issue.
They (the mayor and corporate friends) have already stripped us of our political power and now want to strip us of our economic power by pushing for a no vote on the city income tax. The taxes would have provided means for us to improve community service in the police and fire department, provide support to our schools, library, city infrastructure and streets.
Mayor Hightower is marching lock step with Joe Harris, the former Emergency Financial Manager, and now he is walking lockstep with Tony Saunders. They threw some numbers together and put on a dog and pony show to convince the citizens to vote no on the city income tax. Remember Hightower and Harris did the same thing. An independent audit shows, contrary to popular belief, that the city is still in the red.
Other officials were also against the legislation. City Commissioner Duane L. Seats stated he was voting No on the city income tax. Is it because he works for the corporations?
Mayor Pro-Tem Sharon Henderson constantly protested about outsiders coming into the city to assist the citizens in their fight for justice. She said they don’t have any skin in the game. Martin Luther King didn’t live in Memphis, but he went there to solve a wrong and was assassinated. How much skin did he have in the game?
In addition, on May 20, 2013, Mayor Hightower stated in the Herald Palladium, “Other communities benefitted from a city income tax, I don’t see why Benton Harbor won’t benefit from a city income tax.” Which vote did he truly support? Did someone take him out to the wood shed?
I will leave you with this comment. In due time, a person by his or her motives, actions and words will reveal his or her true character.
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