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Residents urge housing and cooling supports, raise concerns about racism, ICE enforcement and flood-prone development
Summary
Speakers at public comment called for immediate housing help and cooling stations, criticized local racial equity and administrative practices, warned about ICE enforcement and 287(g) agreements, and asked the city to stop development that worsens flooding.
During the public-comment period at the June 16 Kalamazoo City Commission meeting, multiple residents pressed the commission on housing, homelessness, racial equity, immigrant enforcement, flooding and neighborhood impacts.
Shauna Espinosa opened public comment by asking the city to provide cooling stations and water at public events and to move more quickly on housing supports: "We need housing now," she said, adding that seniors, veterans and children face immediate risk without stronger safety nets. Espinosa also urged mental-health services to be made accessible where people are, noting barriers faced by people who are unhoused.
Another speaker, identifying only as Kaye, criticized city leadership and hiring practices and described concerns about systemic racism and rushed processes. Kaye said a prior Office of Inspector General report (referred to in comment) found…
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