KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo City Commissioners have issued a press release stressing once again that they are doing what they can to address homelessness, but there are those who say it’s not enough.
A few organized advocates have been coming to City Commission meetings for months, challenging spending proposals on the Consent Agenda, suggesting that money should be spent on affordable housing instead.
Tuesday night City Commissioners changed their policy, eliminating the right of citizens to pull items from the Consent Agenda, limiting that to commissioners only. Mayor David Anderson said it was being “abused” at a previous meeting.
A proposal extend public comments from three to four minutes passed on a 6-1 vote, with the lone dissent from commissioner Chris Praedel, who argued that residents with legitimate questions have lost an opportunity to get them answered, because of a few who have not been thoughtful about the greater whole.
Ironically the unannounced proposal to change community input rules was not on the agenda and done without the opportunity for the public to comment on the change.
The press release issued this week says the city has spent $20 million in the past five years to address the affordable housing issue, with more committed to future projects, although no new housing will be available for residency this winter.
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