Why the City Manager Matters: Kalamazoo at a Crossroads

With longtime City Manager James Ritsema retiring on November 18, 2025 (City of Kalamazoo), Kalamazoo is entering a pivotal transition. This change comes at a moment when our city faces an affordable housing crisis, rising homelessness, and growing mistrust in local governance.

Unlike the mayor — an elected official with limited direct administrative power — the city manager is responsible for day-to-day operations, budget management, and departmental oversight. In many ways, the city manager is the most powerful unelected figure in Kalamazoo.

More than 60% of U.S. cities with populations over 25,000 use a council-manager system of government. In Kalamazoo, this means the city manager’s influence touches everything from housing and zoning to policing and public works.

The Housing Crisis in Numbers

Housing affordability is at the center of Kalamazoo’s challenges — and the city manager will be central in addressing it.

Nearly 28.1% of Kalamazoo County households spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
For renters, the burden is even greater: 48% pay more than 30% of their income toward rent.
Between 2019 and 2023, home values rose 46% in Kalamazoo County, while household incomes grew by only 19%.

This mismatch is forcing families to make difficult choices, leaving less money for food, transportation, healthcare, or emergencies.

Rising Homelessness

The most visible consequence of these pressures is the rise in homelessness.

The January 2025 one-night survey counted 791 people experiencing homelessness in Kalamazoo County — including 176 children.
That number is 127 higher than in 2024, a nearly 20% increase in just one year.
Of the total, 709 were in shelters or transitional housing, while 82 were unsheltered.
The disparities are stark: 41.8% of the homeless population is Black, despite Black residents making up just ~12% of Kalamazoo County’s population.

These realities underscore the importance of having strong, accountable city leadership that prioritizes housing stability and equity.

Why Public Input Matters

Despite its power, the city manager position is not elected. Accountability comes only through city commission oversight and community engagement.

Other Michigan cities have set strong examples. Ann Arbor held community listening sessions before hiring a new city administrator, and Grand Rapids invites residents to weigh in on important city issues through its public input portal. Kalamazoo residents should expect the same level of transparency.

Nationally, housing affordability has ranked as the number one priority for local governments in recent years. For Kalamazoo, where housing and homelessness dominate the civic agenda, it is essential that the next city manager reflects community priorities.

Bronson Park at the heart of downtown Kalamazoo, surrounded by civic landmarks, historic churches, and modern office towers. Photo Credit: Bill Dolak via Flickr

Conclusion

The city manager isn’t just another bureaucrat — this role will shape how Kalamazoo enforces housing codes, allocates its $200+ million budget, and responds to homelessness. With our city at a crossroads, the choice of city manager will impact residents more than almost any other decision in 2025.

Residents deserve transparency. Residents deserve a voice. Residents deserve a city manager who understands that one of the most pressing issues facing Kalamazoo today is the housing crisis.

— Jennifer L. Dayton

Founder & Executive Director, Kalamazoo Justice Project

The Kalamazoo Justice Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing housing injustice and supporting tenants through advocacy, transparency, and truth.

Sources & References

Photo Credit: Photo by Bill Dolak on Flickr