KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – City of Kalamazoo Vice Mayor Don Cooney voted no against a contract for street engineering downtown at last night’s City Commission meeting, not because he opposes it, but because he says they are not doing enough to fight poverty.
Cooney says the city has managed to raise millions in grants to plan for the big two-way conversion of streets, but still there is no plan to take on poverty, and he will vote no on similar projects until they do.
He said for him it’s a question of priorities.
City Commissioner Jeanne Hess says Kalamazoo is split by two highways running through the downtown and fixing that will remove barriers that have divided the community. She says that will also help reduce poverty.
Cooney said he thinks someone in city staff should be working harder to come up with a plan and grants to fight poverty, but made no specific recommendations.
reporting from John McNeill
