KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Kalamazoo City Commissioners have declared a gun violence health crisis, and the County Board is expected to issue their own declaration tonight.
The city declaration was issued during a virtual meeting Monday night.
The City has gone one step further and allocated a million dollars in COVID-19 relief money for efforts to reduce firearm deaths, which have hit record levels during the pandemic.
Talks have already begun between City and County officials. Deputy City Manager Laura Lam says it’s not just a city issue and will take a community solution.
“It’s a really unprecedented level of partnership that we’re seeing come together between our city, as well as our county commission officials,” Lam said. “Really acknowledging what we’re aware of and how detrimental community violence has been.”
Mayor David Anderson says it’s a complicated issue and is going to take a concerted effort.
“We need to publicly demonstrate how we’re going to work together in a very high-profile way,” Anderson said.
Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin agreed, saying those who have already been working on Kalamazoo’s gun violence problem will need everyone’s help.
“Violence of any source is not a City of Kalamazoo issue, it’s a community issue,” Griffin said. “It’s gonna take all of us to put our hands on deck and support those who have already been doing the work.”
Commissioners also allocated another $1.1-million from ARPA funding to the United Way to continue ongoing efforts to help small businesses and residents who have been hit hard by COVID.
“This is one opportunity this evening to start the phasing of stimulus funding in our community, but it doesn’t limit our ability to come back and do different things with the dollars that are remaining,” Lam added.
The City still has over $36-million dollars from the American Relief Plan, some of which will be allocated in the city’s 2022 budget.
— John McNeil and Brandon James contributed to this reporting —
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