The presumption of innocence is a fundamental legal principle: anyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We caution the community not to be the judge, jury, and executioner against public officials or anyone else simply because charges have been filed. I have seen too many times a public official is charged, their reputation is tarnished, and when the smoke clears, they get exonerated. The exoneration never receives the same attention and comments as the initial charge.

We all know the City of Muskegon Heights has faced some challenges in recent years. Governance is not easy, especially when you govern a City with a tax base that has been decimated over the years.  A city where over 34% of its citizens live below the poverty level. A city where very few effective grassroots organizations and institutions exist to improve it. We are not saying there are none; there are some very good ones. We are saying there are not enough. You have a lot of complainers and sideline quarterbacks, but few people willing to get in the community to help without expecting anything in return- no grant, no job, no political aims- just doing good for its own sake.

I am sure there have been some poor leadership decisions as well. You can start with the Federal government, go down to the State, and then to every municipality in Michigan, and find poor decisions. The City of Muskegon Heights poor decisions get amplified because it’s the only predominantly Black City in Muskegon County, and before you think I am about to “play the race card,” I am directing this to Black residents and citizens in Muskegon County as well. The most intense criticism comes from within the community, some of which I am sure is justified, but equally, a lot of it is rooted in a more self-negating, self-disparaging collective mentality.

I don’t know all the details or facts of what’s happening in the City of Muskegon Heights; truthfully, neither do all the social media commentators. It’s way too early in the process; nonetheless, I wish the City well. I am not enjoying the political theater. I know there are some good people in the city. I also know some good people work in city government. Like any community in the world, some people are bad. Let’s not judge an entire city by the bad apples and, more importantly, let’s extend the presumption of innocence and give the process a chance to play out.