Stay updated with breaking news from Jack urban. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Kalamazoo City Commissioners approve âpauseâ on council position with Southwest Michigan First Kalamazoo, MI, USA / The Touch | Today's R & B and Old School | 95.5 FM · 1560 AM Feb 15, 2021 11:33 PM Kalamazoo City Commissioners meet virtually on 2/15/21. (Photo courtesy of City of Kalamazoo via Zoom Meeting). The measure to do so was introduced by Commissioner Erin Knott, who also serves as the Executive Director of Equality Michigan. She said that she had received several communications on the matter prior to the meeting. “He was a champion against equality, I’ve mentioned this, you’ve heard some of that from news reports and people that have called in this evening,” Knott said. “Mr. Chatfield simply did not hold anti-DEI positions, he positioned himself to be a leader against Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” ....
City Commissioners meet virtually on 01-19-21. (Photo via City of Kalamazoo YouTube stream through Zoom meeting). KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) The Kalamazoo City Commission has unanimously approved its Fiscal Year 2021 budget as of Monday night. During a virtual meeting, Commissioners discussed the matter at length with multiple city workers. This follows multiple discussions of the budget in previous meetings, as well as a public hearing that was held earlier this month. In total, the city passed a budget of $213,892,050, with $68.3 million allocated for the General Fund. For the General Fund, this represents an overall increase of 1.03% when compared to the Adopted 2020 Budget, according to city officials. ....
2020 was a year of protests, police and change in Kalamazoo Updated Dec 30, 2020; Posted Dec 30, 2020 2020 in Kalamazoo was a year marked with protests, change and deeper looks at race, policy and those who lead. (Joel Bissell | MLive) Facebook Share KALAMAZOO, MI Kalamazoo in 2020 mirrored much of what was going on across the nation. The varying affects of the coronavirus pandemic. Protests. A deeper look at racism in America. Contention in the political sphere. And changes in leadership. After a relatively quiet start to the year, and almost eerie silence on the streets brought on by two months of COVID-driven shutdowns, things changed drastically again after George Floyd was killed May 25 by a Minneapolis police officer as two fellow officers stood by. ....
Commissioners learned police chief was fired months after the fact Updated Jan 19, 2021; Posted Dec 23, 2020 After 23 years with the department, Karianne Thomas is set to be sworn in as the sixth chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Police and firefighters have been a combine, cross trained department since 1982. Photo taken in December of 2017. (MLive.com file photo) Facebook Share KALAMAZOO, MI Two Kalamazoo City Commissioners said they only found out that Public Safety Chief Karianne Thomas was fired through an email they received from city administration sent hours before a news article revealed the truth to the public. Commissioner Chris Praedel said he found out the chief was terminated without cause from an email the city manager’s office sent to members of the Kalamazoo City Commission at 10:29 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15. ....
Kalamazoo city manager apologizes for not disclosing that police chief was fired Updated Dec 21, 2020; Posted Dec 21, 2020 Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema listens as community activists ask question during a press conference at City Hall in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. The press conference was held after protestors and counter protestors clashed in downtown Kalamazoo on Saturday, Aug. 15. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com Facebook Share KALAMAZOO, MI Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema apologized to the community for how his office withheld key information about former chief of public safety Karianne Thomas’s separation from the city. Karianne Thomas was fired, the Kalamazoo Gazette confirmed in a story published in December, months after she left her position as public safety chief. ....