I stopped by a pickleball court where a woman in roller skates looked meditative as she sailed over the smooth pavement, and I walked on a newly paved sidewalk near a Northside elementary school. For the 18th year, the Fretboard Festival returns to Kalamazoo to celebrate the city's stringed-instrument legacy and musical heritage. N2Q5ZDc5ODNhMWQ1NzYwODY2Y2U1YmI4MDVjY2E5NjU2OGU5NzE2OGZjNjkz ); Bill serves as trustee of Western Michigan University as well as the Genevieve and Donald S. Gilmore Foundation. In a roughly 30-minute filibuster speech, Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, spoke about the history of Christian ideals and the demonization of those who stand in opposition to approved politics., The idea is, if you live your truth, Ill live mine, McBroom said. Johnston majored in political science as an undergraduate and played . Sykes-Nehring, who was a city commissioner at the time, says there were some advantages to such a tax. Kalamazoo Mi 2018 9-11 stairclimber today. I got stuck in traffic near the Kalamazoo farmers market, which is being expanded with grants from the foundation, and talked to Ricky Thrash, who recently set up a food truck in the parking lot of his hair salon with help from a $25,000 grant. We're here to help (800) 896-5587 (Mon-Fri, 7am-6pm MDT) As soon as anyone whos antiracist or curious about equity hears the word[s] tax breaks, it is so obvious to us that thats immediately going to be racially inequitable, says Smith, who argues that the foundation could instead use money to try to solve the problems of infant mortality, poverty, homelessness and other issues worsened by the countrys wealth gap. All rights reserved. MTk0ZWM1Y2M3NzZkZTVmNjliYzExYjgyYTU1MDgzYWYzZjJlMzIwYzU5N2Ex Lindsey has been working in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years. And the Bills disagree with the idea that giving money to the city buys them influence. Owner of Schubas, Lincoln Hall accused of setting up hidden cameras to ; Senate Bill 79 would provide for penalties for storing or leaving a firearm where it may be accessed by a minor. Manual sent direct to you when you rsvp (Spanish version available upon request), bring manual to class with you, along with picture ID and non-programmable calculator. . William D. Johnston . "And the state of Michigan, in my opinion, has abandoned cities overall and not investing back into our cities . The Greenleaf Hospitality Group was formed in 2000 with the purchase of the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites property in downtown Kalamazoo. William 'Billy' Johnston age 31 was fulfilling a life long dream as a New York City firefighter on the tragic day of September 11 2001. In fact, itll be a total transformation of the 122-year-old club. "If we lowered the tax base, we felt we could be more competitive; that would create more investment in the city, thereby creating more tax revenue in the future.". Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. She is a reflective and curious learner that believes truth telling and acknowledging power are key to transformative justice. The biggest chunk goes toward reimbursing Kalamazoo for reducing property taxes$13 million in fiscal year 2021. The Southwest Michigan First Board of Directors is comprised of C-level executives, a high standard that we have continued to maintain since our foundation. The city commission then votes on the suggested board members, but the Foundation for Excellence board can reject the proposed stakeholder applicants. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The foundation sends an annual proposed grant to the city, and the city commission then votes whether to approve the money. Cant wait for further details and the chance to play the redesigned course! N2ZjMjk0MTUyM2Y1NGZiOWQ3MzUyYjI2Njc5ZmM5ZDkyYTUyNDgyNDRkMGEw JoVaughan Head, a Kalamazoo resident who was one of the first Black people appointed to the foundation board, says he was called into city hall after posting a critical comment about the foundation on Facebook. Companies led by the directors of Southwest Michigan First are responsible for 34,553 regional workers, employ a global workforce of 367,898 and generate over an estimated $4.62 billion in annual local salaries earned in the seven counties of Southwest Michigan. Rental Properties, businesses, apartments, condos and/or other real estate associated with William Johnston in Kalamazoo, MI. Dollars! he shouted, in July, to city residents in Bronson Park, a leafy plaza adorned with bronze busts and plaques honoring pioneers and philanthropists. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from Western Michigan University. We take a look at her health struggles. The Foundation for Excellence is much more than an alternative to an income tax. Both the Northside and Eastside are majority renters, who do not benefit at all from the tax breaks. Have You Heard the News About Kalamazoo CC, Part 2? The rest include the city manager, former mayor Bobby Hopewell, and applicants from various stakeholder groups like arts and business who are hand-picked by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, a separate philanthropic organization that has a Parfet and an Upjohn on its board. Past residents include Michael Johnston, Anne Johnston . Here in Kalamazoo, it is synonymous with community commitment. Megan Johnston. Ronda Stryker | PresidentBill Johnston | Treasurer and SecretaryAnnie HennJJ HennMegan JohnstonMichael Johnston. 211 S Rose St Kalamazoo MI 49007 1925 Idlewild Dr Richland MI 49083 12627 E D Ave Augusta MI 49012 7014 Lovers Ln . So far, his achievements include cutting red-tape . "Ronda Stryker and Bill Johnston have given our city, state and nation a wonderful gift that honors Homer Stryker in the most appropriate way possible," says WMU President John M. Dunn. I do think this is unique, innovative and in some ways a test, said Carrie Pickett-Erway, president and CEO of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. SEMCO Energy Gas Company Yolonda Lavender is a Kalamazoo native and serves as the Grant Program & Partnerships Director at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. Phone Number: (772) 475-ODTP +5 phones. The medical technology company he founded now sells $9 billion worth of joint replacements, medical devices and software. The two will provide $70 million in seed money for the Kalamazoo Foundation for Excellence over the next three years. Leatrice says, I proudly reside at the intersection of several different marginalized groups; my race, my disability, and my gender. She has made it her goal to positivly represent and advocate for these communities in all that she does. Though the foundation was created with the pledge to end generational poverty, the largest chunk of the money is going toward property tax breaks for the people who have already accumulated wealth through homeownership, some of whom own property in Kalamazoo but dont live in the city. Our Team Stryker Johnston Foundation For years and yearscenturies to comewe can improve, grow, invest, create, aspire differently than weve ever been able to do before, Bobby Hopewell, Kalamazoos longest-serving mayor, who stepped down in 2019, told me recently. Sources tell me that well over $100 million will be invested into the project through the largesse of the clubs recent owner, a Limited Liability Corp. led by Bill Johnston. No one had a cell phone until it was created, he says. Ronda E. Stryker & William D. Johnston Foundation - GuideStar Phone: Cell/Mobile/Wireless and/or landline telephone numbers for Norma Johnston in Kalamazoo, MI. His next Masters will be his 37th as a credentialed golf writer. Class Location: Johnstone Supply / 1840 Industrial Blvd / Muskegon, MI 49442. Trustee Johnston is the chairman of Greenleaf Companies, . YTcyMWY1MzI5YzE4ZWVmZDFkZTU3NDAwNDAyYWEzNjM0ZTQ3OGQ3NGJlOGFi She serves as the Grants & Operations Administrator at the Stryker Johnston Foundation. William U. Parfet - Wikipedia Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He's also a past co-chair and current member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Committee. An associated email addresses for William Johnston are wjohnston3***@aol.com, william.johnst***@yahoo.com and more. Michigan Obituaries Archives Online | Obits Archive As a child, Johnston learned the game caddying at Ogden's El Monte Country Club, where he recalled being able to play . A second bucket goes to stabilizing the city budget; $4.2 million in 2021. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23, Preventing LGBTQ discrimination in Michigan just moved a step closer to reality. Nathan Dannison, one of the foundations first board members, asked for more information about where the city was investing its endowment, he says he was stonewalled. The best result we found for your search is William Douglas Johnston age 70s in Kalamazoo, MI. OTY2NTU0MWVmZGZkMGYxODY4YmJmN2MzMzdiOTU0YWNlMTVmOTYwMjFhODQ2 He was 96. You cant walk a few blocks without seeing a building with names of prominent philanthropists like Upjohn or Stryker. I say this humbly: we are able to be innovative, and its kind of a scary word, Steve Brown, the manager of the Foundation for Excellence, says as we drive from project to project, baking in 95-degree heat. REEF STORAGE, A COMMERCIAL CON was a legal description provided for the property at that moment. ZjBhNmRjMjI1MTk2ODdmZDgzZGU2YWJhYTQ1YjA2NzYxYTIyYjA4MzEwZmQ5 Other cities in Michigan with financial troubles have filed for bankruptcy or been taken over by an emergency manageran unelected person who takes power from elected officials in order to implement unpopular budget cuts. 100 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3963 - reported in August 2021 (1 year) ; 1925 Idlewild Dr, Richland, MI 49083-9451 - reported in December 2020 (1 year) ; 12627 E D Ave, Augusta, MI 49012-9716 - reported in June 2018 (1 year) ; 7014 Lovers Ln, Portage, MI 49002-4428 - reported in . William D. Johnston, B.S. '70, M.A. '74 | WMU Alumni Jennifer earned her degree from Western Michigan University in Sociology and Race and Ethnic Relations. Still, public-private efforts like these, which depend on a big chunk of philanthropic money, can be derailed by any number of variables: a change in administration, shifting donor desires, orlast, but not leastimpatient or inadequate community engagement. Upjohn M.D. Two-time TOUR winner Bill Johnston dies at age 96 But its the foundation staff and board who decide exactly how the money is spent. Kalamazoo Gazette fileBill Johnston, chairman and president of The Greenleaf Cos., during an April 2008 press conference in Kalamazoo. We were already in a hard spot. In a small city like Kalamazoo, with not that many resources of its own, the power of big donors giving tens of millions of dollars is that much greater.. Johnston, a former school principal and teacher, is married to Ronda Stryker, an heir to the Stryker Corporation, a medical equipment company. Its a contrast to the city that Kalamazoo would have been without the donor money, Brown says. OTQ4YzA1ODJiZDJjYjNkZGVmOTRkNTMwZDlmYzUzMWNmNGRmNjE5YzZlNmI3 Since the Two Bills, as theyre known to locals, launched the Foundation for Excellence in 2017 to close budget gaps in their cash-strapped cityreportedly pledging $70 million of their own money to do sothe nonprofit has distributed around $26 million a year to close budget holes, lower property taxes and fund a wish list of projects. Ronda Stryker - Family, Family Tree - Celebrity Family - celebfamily But to Sykes-Nehring, the creation of the foundation institutionalized the Billss influence at a time when the city commission was finally getting more progressive. Both are WMU alumni and both have teaching backgrounds. Information 269-337-7000 Admission 800-253-3602 . Johnston, who's married to Ronda Stryker, another admired philanthropic force in Kalamazoo, made the purchase presentation to the club's membership in 2020 and the vote to sell the club was overwhelming passed. M2M4MjQ0ZDZkYjVjNjc2Zjc5YTI0YTlhOGE2N2JmYzJhN2MyNzk5ZWE3MmFi NDA0MGI1Yzk2NTQ0ZThkOGJkNDNjZWU5YjkyNGM4YjZjMGZjNWJiMWY5NzI2 Many voiced their concerns at a city commission meeting on October 18, though they could only do so by leaving voice mails that were then played in front of the council. Last spring, as the nations focus turned to racial inequity in the wake of the death of George Floyd, some residents calculated that the money wasnt being distributed in a racially equitable way. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. While Parfet - whose quick wit disguises his passion for his community and his deep understanding of the forces that lurk behind business and community success, is a compelling speaker and a statewide leader. MWZiNjBhYTNhNzE4Y2M0OTM5ZjMzMjg4OTdkNjU3MjE1YzVlM2M2ODkyYzY2 Originally constructed by phil. William Johnston in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Michigan | Spokeo Five persons linked to this address. Its going to allow people to live a fulfilling, true, authentic life here in the state of Michigan., Related: Preventing LGBTQ discrimination in Michigan just moved a step closer to reality. NmQ0MGYwIiwic2lnbmF0dXJlIjoiOGNkYzMwMGNlNTNmZWEwYTMzMjNlZDE2 Around 81% of Kalamazoo workers lived outside city limits, and an income tax would capture some of their earnings. ft. 4400 Glenrose Ter, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 $899,000 MLS# 23001720 Embrace a lifestyle of peace, privacy, nature, and fun! But maybe they can tame them. Hes given to both Republican and Democratic candidates in Michigan, including Govs. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Lara's connections and jobs at similar companies. Previous to Ronda's current city of Palm Beach, FL, Ronda Stryker lived in Richland MI, Ocean Reef FL and Key Largo FL. Golf Show, Moore serves as a Governor for the Golf Association of Michigan and Chair of the Communication Committee. View All View By Location. Kalamazoo Gazette obituaries and Death Notices for Kalamazoo Michigan area . A rainbow flag was photographed on the campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich., Tuesday, June 21, 2016. 14 Classic Cars That Will Make Any Car Buff Swoon - Town & Country Once-cash-strapped nonprofits are expanding their missions, helping residents get job training, do their taxes and adjust to life after prison. Snyder, whom Parfet has supported financially, changed the states revenue-sharing model so that local communities kept fewer sales tax dollars. 2023 Southwest Michigan First All Rights Reserved.Web Design by Blue Fire MediaSitemap | Login, Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Lending, Senior Vice President & Global General Counsel, Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan, WMU Homer Stryker M.D. YWI5NGI3NDQ3NjcwMTJiZjZhYTkwYmQxYjkxYzdkN2UwY2IxMGU3OGFiNzM5 She has experience in grant writing, organizational design, and youth development. The truth is, the people who want to donate to fund a city are the people who want to buy a city government, she says. ZTUzM2YyY2UyZmNmMWY1ZDIyMjYzOTkzMzYwZjMyOGZmMDVjODkxOTUxYzhk From 1978-1985, he was athletic director, assistant principal and principal at Mattawan High School in Mattawan. It will be housed at the W.E. YWUwODk1ODEwYTI2YjUyMjdkZjk4ZmUzMmYzOWM2ZTBhZTYzMzY1ZmU0NzU2 Trustee Johnston is the chairman of Greenleaf Companies, which include Greenleaf Trust, Greenleaf Hospitality Group and Catalyst Development LLC. Rick Snyder and Jennifer Granholm. In addition, he is Chairman of Greenleaf Companies (inclusive of . Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson at City Hall. Parfet, a political conservative who has donated heavily to state and national Republican campaign committees and to the campaign of Donald J. Trump, is an investor who spent decades as an executive and board member at big companies like Stryker and Monsanto. Local product displayKalamazoo Valley Museum, Philanthropy Must Move from Charity to Solidarity, Eliminating Biphobia Through Breath, Brotherhood, and the Arts, Using a Data-Driven Strategy to Advance Racial Equity in Grantmaking, Protecting Nonprofits That Protect Us During Crisesand Beyond, Reimagining Philanthropy to Build a Culture of Repair. OGRmOWI5MjFlNDRjOTQ3N2JjMTMwODI3MDg0NjcyYzg3NDM2MDIyNDUwZDBk We are thrilled to be strong foundational partners in the creation of this new innovative school of medicine.. CHICAGO Michael Johnston, co-founder of record label Audiotree and the son of Kalamazoo billionaires William Johnston and Ronda Stryker, pleaded guilty after being accused of using hidden . Since the city planned to lower property taxes to offset the creation of the income tax, some residents would actually pay less in taxes than before, Sykes-Nehring says. Once they find out that this Foundation for Excellence transforms the community [and] reduces poverty, philanthropists in other communities may look and say, Build an arena, or put money into the city budget? Were kind of a laboratory for some extreme generosity approaches to urban governance. Exactly how those aspirational projects are chosen is a little unclear. 1995. Bethel Church's pastor Bill Johnson's wife and co-pastor, Beni, sadly passed away on July 13, at the age of 67. The city of Kalamazoo recently received a $500 million donation from local businessmen William Parfet and William Johnston. Plus 17 calling features including voicemail, call forwarding, and caller ID. The biggest chunk goes toward reimbursing Kalamazoo for reducing property taxes$13 million in fiscal year 2021. I started to really worry about my family, whether or not it was worth it to continue on, she says. Jennifer is from Gary, IN. People Living at 1925 Idlewild Dr Richland MI - FastPeopleSearch Subscribe today and get a full year of NPQ for just $59. Support independent journalism and knowledge creation for civil society. We can pretend that it is not and hope that it will go away, or we can learn how to become bear trainers and start to get our hands around this thing., But Dannison doesnt want to be that bear trainer. If you think that hundreds of millions of dollars given to a city is automatically a good thing, youre so wrong, says Matt Smith, a local librarian who gives talks about the history of redlining in Kalamazoo. The state civil rights act protects against discrimination in housing, real estate, public accommodations, public service, education and employment based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status and marital status. Kalamazoo billionaires' son accused of secretly recording naked - WWMT We formally recognize Mr. William D. Johnston and Mrs. Ronda E. Stryker alongside Mr. William U. Parfet and Mrs. Barbara A. Parfet for their leadership in co-chairing the medical school's tenth anniversary gala WMed Live: A First Decade Celebration. Jennifer brings experience in grant writing and creating organizational processes. City crews are repairing sidewalks, repaving pickleball courts, building a splash pad for kids in a low-income neighborhood and replacing lead pipes, their work marked by orange-and-white construction barrels and closed roads. They got about 4,000 points of contactroughly 5% of the populationincluding about 1,200 people who had attended meetings, 1,000 people who had responded to surveys, and 1,000 who commented on a living wallessentially a plywood board in a park that graffiti artists and others could tag with ideas. William D Johnston. And though the initial announcements about the foundation talked about funding Kalamazoo in perpetuity, financial documents hint that the Bills were not raising as much as they had hoped. In 2016, the city launched a project called Imagine Kalamazoo 2025, holding open houses, community picnics, and online surveys that asked residents what they wanted to see in their city. All documents about the foundation live on the citys websitethe Foundation for Excellence does not have a separate website. I am certain he would be thrilled to know that medical education and research are taking place in Kalamazoo. He also serves on the board of directors of Southwest Michigan First Economic Development . MjYzMjUwNWFjNzE2ZGI1NDI3NzA2OTVkMTk4YjZkZDkzMjQ2OTczZTU3NzFi The commission also has a say in who is on the Foundation for Excellence Board, which includes stakeholders from different neighborhoods and groups like health care, the arts and education. William U. Reputation Score: 2.13 - 3.76. Although Kalamazoo is home to two hospitals, a university, and a college, these big nonprofit institutions dont pay property taxes. This is a wonderful development for our community and for this new medical school, says Borgess President and CEO Paul A. Spaude. Stage It! - Award Winners - Center for the Arts Bonita Springs Walter was born in Cincinnati, OH on October 4, 1921, the son of the late Walter William Johnston Sr. and Elsie Bernstein Johnston. Actor: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. If you believe Wordfence should be allowing you access to this site, please let them know using the steps below so they can investigate why this is happening. Our strength comes from our impressive membership of community members that value excellence, both personally and professionally. It was a historic moment Wednesday, March 1, in the state Senate when legislation to ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in Michigan passed the chamber in a bipartisan vote. Current Address: MLHV W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI. I visited a dusty lot across the Kalamazoo River, where hundreds of people were living in tents as part of a growing homeless encampment. A century-old private dining club perches by the front steps of City Hall, where a crowd of mostly white patrons dined at white tablecloths on a summer evening. Bill Walsh, 8-time Kalamazoo Mens All-City Champion was my uncle. William Johnston Phone Number, Address, Age, Contact Info, Public MTgyMWIwMzA1MzcxY2MzYjJiOGQ1NGQ5YjA0NzQxMjVlOWIwYzI3ZGMxZGIy William Johnston and Bill Parfet are two billionaires with a mission to stabilize the city of Kalamazoo in southwest Michigan. Billionaires are sending tourists into space, deploying the National Guard to the border, and funding the budgets of cities like Kalamazoo, while the rest of us look on, some awed, some disgusted. YjllODQ2ZjQxZDQ1NzRlYjY5MzdlYTYyMTcyZTBlMjZkYTA4ZTVmYzk2Zjg3 Johnston and Stryker are longtime philanthropists with deep roots in Kalamazoo. It has never rejected the foundations suggestions. Ran Stryker Corp. for 32 years before retiring as . This latest aspect of the clubs promising future hasnt been shared publicly with the membership. About half of the annual grant to the city goes to lowering property taxes of Kalamazoo residents. NTIzOWNjY2VhNTEyMTRiMzJiNzdmYzk2MjJmYjFhZDEzZTY5NDY0NzhlNzFk He disputes the idea that the Bills dictated anything to the city. Yzk2NTI4MzI1ZTE4OWE4NzhkNGQ2MTUzMzhiMmJkMzEyMmY5Y2NiNGI5OTM2 From our inception over a century ago, we have been built and guided by Members that seek out the best- from championship grade golf to the finest . What better name for a medical school that is a true community collaboration.. She uses the landline number (269) 323-8361 . Bill Johnson - IMDb Megan Stryker was born in 1985 and completed her Master's Degree from New York University in Public Administration in 2013. After years of revitalization efforts, restaurants were opening and new people were starting to move to Kalamazoo. Theres a long history in the U.S. of the rich stepping in to fund cultural amenities like museums, but lately theyve started stepping in to fund projectsin Kalamazoo and elsewherethat have long been perceived as the governments responsibility. Its long been suspected that the wealthy Stryker family, whose grandfather founded the medical device company, Stryker Corp., had something to do with an anonymous $100 million donation three years ago that allowed Western Michigan University to create a new medical school in Kalamazoo. Baeuerle, Virginia L. Bhuyan, Janet . NjNhYWNiMTQ3ZTYzYWZmMTBkYjYwNGVhOWZkMjM3OWE5YjdmNWVhMTA5ODBh The professional staff and golf shop managers take great pride in using creative merchandising techniques throughout the store! They have also lived in Murphysboro, IL and Mendon, MI. Construction at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market, where a renovation is being partially funded by the Foundation for Excellence. Past Addresses: Vero Beach FL, Richland MI +6 more. I do think the taxing structures that exist today are making it really hard for cities, counties and others to really be the community they want to be. Check Facebook. 180 East Water Street Suite 3000. But like this summers cicada emergence, the buzz has been deafening. Megan . We sell some of the best brands for a great golfing experience. MGY0MDBlYTNkYmIzYTlkMWNiY2E3ZWNlY2EwYjU1NmQ1NmMyMGYifQ== Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Two Rich Men Decided to Fund a Failing City. Then . -----BEGIN REPORT----- When I asked Haywood what he thought about the Foundation for Excellence, he brought up the property tax breaks. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He wanted to make sure the city wasnt making money off tobacco or petroleum firms or from companies that created weapons of war. ODFiNGQ2MjMwNjU4NmYwMmYzN2I2NjQ4NTA4ZWUzOTA2MzYyYjJmNjRiY2Q3 NDg1OGVmZGQzNDRiNDdkMGIzNTZjZGM2OGQwY2JlODhmZjI5YmFiMzQ4NGI1 Every year, the foundation gives a grant to the city; this year it gave $25.78 million. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Y2VhMDZlOTQxMjczNmQ3OWQxM2MyMDk4YmFjMmViYTU5NDFmMDg1M2E3Yzkw Among these are Oakland Hills CC, Meadowbrook CC and Blythefield CC. Among Dr. Strykers many patents and most famous innovations were a turning frame to prevent bedsores in bedridden patients and an oscillating saw to remove casts. 211 S Rose St Kalamazoo, MI 49007. The firm includes Greenleaf Trust, Greenleaf Hospitality Group and Catalyst Development, L.L.C. William D Johnston living in Kalamazoo, MI Contact Details Age 95. ), short course, practice rangeto be moved to the southwest. There is a public stance by the city that citizens have input; I have not seen any instance where the public has significant input, says David Benac, who lost to David Anderson in the 2019 mayoral race and who has become a vocal opponent of the foundation. According to the agreement signed between the Bills and the city, Kalamazoo then must spend the money in two ways. Because of the pandemic, meetings that were supposed to be held with public comment are still held on Zoom, and the public can only comment by calling in before the meeting and leaving a voicemail. She was trained in community mediation through the New York Peace Institute. She says that city manager Jim Ritsema told her if they went that route, then you all will be able to continue the status quo. In other words, says Sykes-Nehring, one of a handful of progressive candidates elected to the city commission in 2015, They didnt like the direction the city was going in and they wanted influence, so this ensured some influence. Ritsema declined to comment.