Business owners were outraged after the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan decriminalized littering, public defecation, and urination in the name of ‘Equity’ despite the opposition of many.
On Monday, the Kalamazoo City Commission voted to water down some misdemeanor crimes so that they are merely civil infractions in the code of ordinances. Part of their reasoning was that people convicted of these crimes could have their lives negatively affected.
“One thing a lot of people don’t realize is a misdemeanor is for life as much as a felony. So many things come with a permanent record on somebody’s record,” explained Commissioner Chris Praedel.
Now, many of the business owners in the area are in an uproar over the changes.
During an interview with ‘Fox & Friends First’ host Todd Piro on Thursday, July 21, Becky Bil, who is the co-owner of Pop City Popcorn, reportedly said, “I don’t have a horrible time outside my shop particularly … but my neighbor has had human feces outside his door.”
Cherri Emery, the owner of Cherri’s Chocol’art, echoed Bil’s concerns, telling the news outlet that “I don’t understand why it would be proposed that the law would be less restrictive than it is now.”
“I don’t understand why we would make it easier for them,” Emery said.
According to a report from Fox 17, Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson said he hopes the change will allow police to better use their time related to these issues, and that the effort is part of changing ordinances for equity. He said that it is “fair and equitable to who these laws were most affecting, the unhoused population, as well as provide a better solution for those trying to get on their feet.”
Commissioner Praedel added:
“I definitely empathize with the downtown business owners too. They have invested a lot to be in downtown, and a lot of those spots are mom and pop shops where that is their life income. We want to be respectful of that. We hear them. We are listening to them, and we care a lot, but we care about everybody in the community,” Praedel said.
While Commissioner Stephanie Hoffman recommended people develop empathy and compassion about the issues.
“If you see a person who may be defecating, someone in their sane mind would not do that,” Hoffman explained.
Sources: TheGatewayPundit, MLive, Fox 17
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