we tend to talk about places like braddock, pennsylvania or flint, michigan but we should also talk about benton harbor. you can find every last social ill that goes with industrial collapse right here. failing schools, crime, high unemployment, polluted land, corrupt government. the whole rusting away to misery and frustration and schedule one drugs deal with it, all of it. so benton harbor has not got much besides heartache but has always had this one wonderful communal asset. one cherished jewel of the community called gene clock park with a beach right on lake michigan for the people of benton harbor. it was a gift to the town in 1917 from john clock who founded the local newspaper and served as benton harbor mayor. the clarks named the park after a daughter they lost as a baby, baby jean. they told the town, quote, the beach is yours. the drive is yours. the dunes are yours all yours.