City Commission
City responds to Patriot Act

By Mary Drinkwine
Katie Marshall
News staff
October 07, 2003

The Kalamazoo City Commission voted 5-2 in support of a community resolution to protect civil liberties in its meeting Monday night.

The new Civil Liberties Act came in reaction to the Patriot Act adopted by the government in 2001 and signed by President George W. Bush. The Patriot Act is intended to use governmental tools to lessen terrorist attacks, City Manager Pat DiGiovanni said in a meeting on Sept. 8.

"I encourage people to read this resolution and use it for what it is and what it says," said Mayor Robert Jones.

According to DiGiovanni, the Civil Liberties Act upholds all laws and ordinances guaranteed under the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution and does not conflict with the Charter of Kalamazoo County.

Residents who attended the meeting had the opportunity to speak either for or against the resolution.

"I urge you not to pass this (resolution) because we shouldn't get involved in things we know nothing about," said Jim Rodband, a resident of Kalamazoo County. "The city commission has no right to make these kind of decisions, the federal government is who's involved here."

Another resident said the resolution should be used to oppose the Patriot Act.

"I urge the city commission to pass this resolution and stop the Patriot Act," said Khalid Jamal, a resident of Kalamazoo County.

Jamal also stated he has Arab-American friends whose houses were raided and children were traumatized after 9-11. He made it clear that these individuals who were targeted had no connection to terrorist actions or affiliates.

All of the commissioners had a chance to speak on their reactions to the resolution.

"I believe this resolution strikes the right bounce," said Commissioner Don Cooney, adding that it is an issue the city should take a stand on through endorsing the resolution completely.

Other commissioners looked at the Patriot Act on a community level rather than at the federal level.

"The city must raise their voice as a city," said Vice Mayor Hannah McKinney. "This act may have an adverse effect on our community."

Commissioner Al Heilman stressed that the resolution for the Civil Liberties Act does not conflict with current practices in the community.

"The city of Kalamazoo with this resolution will say we oppose the Patriot Act, when we really don't," he said. "This resolution does not oppose the Patriot Act."

The commission also approved a resolution authorizing the city to join the Michigan Emergency Management Assistance Compact (MEMAC). This resolution will create and organize a structure for large and small jurisdictions across the state to receive or provide assistance in times of crisis.

"This is an attempt to fill the gaps in the emergency system on a statewide basis," said Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Dan Weston.

Given the closing of the KDPS lock-up facility, the city commission also approved a recommendation of a mutual aid agreement with the city of Kalamazoo and Berrien County. The agreement states that if the lodging space runs out at the Kalamazoo County jail, then prisoners can be transported after initial arrest to Berrien County.

"The reason I recommend this agreement is because we (KDPS) do not have a jail and we don't anticipate getting back in the jail business," Weston said.

Weston also explained that in return for housing prisoners, the KDPS will provide training services they might not have at Berrien County. Housing prisoners there will not cost Kalamazoo County anything because KDPS is offering their services in return, according to Weston.

 

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