KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – A very public disagreement between the Maddie Jordan Woods, the Director of the Northside Association for Community Development, and Kalamazoo County Housing Director Mary Balkema over whether the county will help to improve housing near Graphic Packaging in Kalamazoo may have ended a long friendship between the two women.
Woods charged that Balkema’s position would effectively “redline” the area, keeping dollars from flowing in from other sources as well.
Balkema called the redlining claim “unbelievable” stating she had been publicly shamed.
Balkema says their friendship was built up over years, “you can tear it apart in minutes”.
In the statement released exclusively to WKZO reporter John McNeill, Balkema replied that she cannot in “good faith recommend new housing” in any area where families may be exposed to health risks.
Graphics Packaging denies that the plant is emitting anything that might be causing health problems but lawsuits are still pending, and testing is not complete.
The friendship and collaboration between Woods and Balkema has resulted in improved housing in a neighborhood that still has a great many needs. How this flap will affect that work remains a question, but their friendship appears to be mortally wounded.
(reporting from John McNeill)
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