Kris Mbah says he’s running of Mayor of Kalamazoo to transform the city. Under a change in the city charter, voters will elect the mayor separately from six city commissioners in November.
Mbah says his family, wife daughter and child on the way are his main inspiration for running. The native of Nigeria has lived in Kalamazoo since 2000. Mbah says residents in the region should be empowered to take ownership in their own development. Mbah says he wants more of a “ground up” rather than “top down” leadership style.
The EPA has put forward a plan that would contain and cap PCB contamination at the Allied Paper Landfill site. Mbah says he doesn’t support that plan. He says all of the contamination at the site should be cleaned up. Mbah says the city should not “backpedal from its original position.”
Asked about the blue ribbon panel that is examining possible new sources of revenue for the city, Mbah says he would not support a city income tax. He says instead city owned properties should be sold and put on the tax rolls. Asked for specific properties, Mbah says the fire station on Douglas Street is one that could be put up for sale.
Mbah says the city should look for wasteful spending and duplication of services to save money. He says public safety is his top spending priority. Mbah says the morale of public safety officers suffered as a result of a study on racial profiling, but he says the study was a step in the right direction. Mbah says more transparency and relationship building events between public safety officers and the public.
Asked about economic climate, Mbah says the mayor has more authority than is currently used. He says Kalamazoo can expand its platform to more companies outside the region, including those from other countries.
Mbah says Kalamazoo could be doing more to take advantage of the Kalamazoo Promise. He says a lot of great work is being done, but more can be done. Mbah says the educational system needs support like a strong network of mentorship for the city.
Current Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell has also been invited for an interview on WestSouthwest.
