Residents urge cleanup of city lots; officials highlight community events and youth programs

Several residents used the citizens comment period to press Benton Harbor officials to address neighborhood maintenance and illegal dumping, while city leaders and community organizers highlighted upcoming events and youth programs.

Tony Anderson asked why city-owned lots remain unmowed and suggested the city either maintain or sell properties it cannot afford to manage. Samuel Rogers, who identified himself as a city resident and taxpayer, described overgrown grass, trees, dumped garbage and heaved sidewalks in his neighborhood and asked whether dumpsters could be provided in alleyways to help neighbors clean up together. "If Benton Harbor wants a cleaner city," Rogers said, "why they can't set a better example with their own property they own."

Earlier in the meeting a presenter described the fifth annual Day of Impact in partnership with the Whirlpool Foundation and Benton Harbor Area Schools, scheduled for June 18 to include basketball-court upgrades behind the high school. Abby Schah Muhammad, who introduced herself as the First Lady of Benton Harbor, promoted the 10th annual kite-flying event at Union Park (Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and encouraged family participation and STEM engagement.

Mayor Pro Tem Turner and other commissioners acknowledged the concerns, discussed potential use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds (the mayor pro tem referenced $380,000 in CDBG funding and suggested using about $150,000 for blight removal, including $25,000 for landfill costs and $1,000 for backhoe rental for a week), and urged residents to use committee meetings and email for follow-up. Commissioners asked staff to pursue cleanup and to improve communication about services such as street sweeping and leaf pickup schedules.