Commissioners hold off on new ordinance vote in Benton Harbor

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Law enforcement said they have reached a 'boiling point' with these mobile nuisance parties.

The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety shared photos and videos last week during a committee meeting with city leaders, saying it shows just how violent and dangerous these parties can get, and why an ordinance is needed to stop them from happening within city limits.

The commission was supposed to vote on that ordinance tonight, but they took it off the agenda, sending it back to committee.

But that did not stop the community from talking about it during public comment.

"Younger crowds are eighteen through twenty-five. Twenty-five and up don't have these nuisance parties. We have fun, Benton Harbor is a big- little community that's a family. When we come together, it's a family not they shooting here, or we have to worry about them fighting. No that's what they see the city as because that's what y'all put it out there as," stated a Community Member.

That was just one of several comments.

One attendee was upset about the last-minute decision to postpone the vote.

Another had concerns about not being able to host get togethers on their own property.

And many said their needs to be a distinction between what law enforcement deems a nuances, verse a simple community get together.

Public Safety and Public Works Committee is set to talk more about the ordinance during their meeting on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.