KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema is giving the homeless camped out in Bronson Park until 7:00pm this evening to pack up their tents and leave.
At a heated meeting, Ritsema pointed out that the city had held up its part of the bargain to address the demands of the protestors, but the homeless failed to leave Bronson Park as they promised. In fact the encampment keeps growing.
He says there are health and safety issues with the encampment which is not permitted under city rules. He estimates that the homeless in the park, estimated to be as many as 150 people, represents only 2% of the homeless population, and their efforts to remedy homelessness has to be directed at all of the community’s homeless.
It touched off a stream of abuse from members of the homeless camp who were attending the meeting, some who yelled threats, obscenities and insults at the Commissioners.
A couple of citizens also spoke in favor of removing the camp, because it was an eyesore, was scaring others from using the park and making the downtown a less attractive place to visit and live.
Ritsema says he will continue to work with the group to seek solutions to homelessness and to try to respond to their immediate demands, but the camp has to come down.
