Akron Mayor Shammas Malik is urging voters to reject three housing-related charter amendments headed for the Nov. 3 ballot, arguing the proposals raise legal and practical problems that the city would be left to untangle.
The amendments were advanced by the grassroots group Freedom BLOC, which began with 13 housing proposals and, after meetings with city officials, narrowed its push to a smaller set of ballot measures for 2026. City officials voiced concerns about several of the ideas, but the group shelved some and moved forward with others.
Malik told the Beacon Journal in an Oct. 6 interview that he will instead introduce legislation on two housing issues — criminal-history and security-deposit protections — before the end of the year if the charter amendments fail. He said the council route would allow more time for consensus and community engagement.
One flashpoint is a proposal that could subpoena police officers, which Malik said could conflict with the police union contract and state labor law. Freedom BLOC leaders counter that the city pledged to act on fair-housing training and rent-receipt requirements earlier this year and never followed through.
Akron school leaders and housing advocates across the region are watching the outcome closely, with some education leaders warning the state’s approach to struggling schools and housing instability are linked. With early voting underway across Ohio, Malik’s public opposition sets up a high-profile fight over how the city addresses its housing crisis.