KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo residents are on both sides of a plan when it comes to expanding the city’s civil rights ordinance.
On Monday night Kalamazoo City Commissioners held a special meeting where they discussed a proposed ordinance that would expand limits on discrimination in housing that advocates say have resulted in a homeless crisis in the community.
City Attorney Clyde Robinson says minorities, the LGBTQ community, the disabled, and most others are already protected by the ordinance, but the amendment would add new categories.
If approved this would eliminate certain housing rejections against people who use housing vouchers, those who have been incarcerated, those who have been evicted in the past, domestic abuse victims, or any other blanket policies.
“Victims of domestic violence often times face a barrier to getting adequate housing,” Robinson explained.
When it comes to ex-felons, the ordinance states, “No person shall use any criminal history information, other than convictions contained in a conviction record, to deny an individual any aspect of housing.”
The amendment would also create a civil rights board to review complaints and increase the fine for violating the ordinance from $500 to $2,000 which Robinson says would let landlords know that they are serious.
Kalamazoo residents packed the city commission chambers to share their opinions on the ordinance.
Many residents were in favor of the measure saying that housing is a human right and this has been an ongoing problem for far too long.
However, some landlords say it could be devastating to them, especially those with only a few properties. They argued that they haven’t had an opportunity for input and it’s not fair that it’s only the landlords in the city of Kalamazoo and not other townships and areas.
More meetings are expected to take place next month before any action is taken on the proposal.
Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin, who proposed the ordinance amendment earlier this month, hopes they can wrap it up and pass a final draft in April, but it depends on the discussions ahead.
The full proposal can be found here.
(John McNeill contributed to this report)
