In response to recent executive orders by President Trump, Kalamazoo Township officials have proposed resolutions and an ordinance to protect residents from federal overreach. Supervisor David Combs introduced these measures, which could turn Kalamazoo into a sanctuary township.
A proposal aims to affirm birthright citizenship and update the Non-Discrimination Ordinance to use gender-neutral language, with fines for violations. Combs said, "I am proposing to update that Non-Discrimination Ordinance to also be as gender-neutral as possible, to use pronouns like 'their,' and to eliminate male or female, his or her, where it's just not necessary to identify a gender binary at all." Another proposal would prevent township resources from being used in federal immigration enforcement. The removal of several items from the agenda has raised questions about the future of these proposals, according to WWMT and WOODTV.
Kalamazoo Township is considering proposals that focus on the safety and recognition of its residents. Combs, the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party vice chair and an openly liberal, bisexual man, said, "I have to choose between folks who have a preference and folks who are worried about their safety and recognition as human beings. I’m gonna serve the latter, first." The proposals aim to allow police and staff to continue their work while addressing local concerns. Combs also stated, "My job is to specifically bring forward the issues that have a direct impact on the people living in the township." These measures may raise questions about local versus federal authority, as reported by MLive.
