Candidates for city office in Benton Harbor debated Friday night on a slew of issues. Topics ranged from crime, to jobs, to housing, to lead pipes, and education. Four city commission candidates debated in the race for two at-large seats. The two candidates for mayor addressed the increasingly problematic Harbor Towers apartment complex in downtown Benton Harbor.
Mayoral challenger, community organizer, and social justice advocate Gwen Johnson said the problems at Harbor Towers have dragged on too long.
“Living arrangements right now is just terrible. It’s cruel. Nobody should live there. Wait, wait, wait. I gotta finish. Back in January, current administration said they were going to be looking to put our people up in hotels. Up until this time, this day, they are, they are not, they are still living in those conditions.”
Mayoral incumbent Marcus Muhammad said Harbor Towers is a top priority now, and unfortunately, it has suffered for decades.
“When I was shooting hoops at this high school, Harbor Towers needed help. And it’s unfortunate that it had to wait until I’m in this office. But what I can guarantee you, I’m working on the problem now and if reelected at the end of that term, you’ll see a total transformation.”
The election is Tuesday, November 7. You can watch a replay of both the city commission and mayoral debates here.
