GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — On their final day to cast their ballot for the 2024 general election, residents of Grand Rapids are also deciding on their next mayor.
With the race between David LaGrand and Senita Lenear coming to a close, current Mayor Rosalynn Bliss looks back on her nearly 20 years of public office in Grand Rapids. She hopes to see the next mayor continue servicing the people.
First elected as a City Commissioner in 2005, Mayor Bliss served in that role for 10 years before taking office as mayor in 2016.
"So much has happened in the last 19 years in our city," said Bliss as she recalled serving on the city commission while navigating the Great Recession. "I really had a whole host of goals when I started back in 2016. Goals around environmental sustainability and building stronger neighborhoods, and building really vibrant neighborhood business districts."
Bliss says she feels the city has moved the needle in the right direction to accomplish those goals, but find it hard to narrow down what she if most proud of.
"I'm in the midst of of this 100 and 100 initiative where we're trying to get 100 individuals who've been chronically homeless housed in 100 days," said Bliss.
Her office has started a homeless outreach team and has worked with local leaders to aid the unhoused population, but makes it clear there is more to do.
"We have invested heavily into violence prevention efforts, in a mental health response team, we've seen our crime stats improve, so we've seen a reduction in overall crime in the city," said Bliss. "Then you look at some of the work and developments downtown, from the river restoration, to the rivers edge redevelopments, to the amphitheater and soccer stadium, all of those things I think everyone should be proud of."
Bliss made the comment that she has been attending many groundbreaking ceremonies, but a new mayor will be in office to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremonies, highlighting the various developments across the city, particularly in the Third Ward that she says will make a lasting impact in public health, education and housing.
"We need more housing at all price points across our city, and I would argue across the whole county," said Bliss, adding what she hopes to see from the next mayor. "I hope that we continue to focus on a real holistic approach in our city. We can't just be focused on one thing. We need to recognize that great cities are working on a number of issues at the same time."
At the conclusion of the interview, Bliss took the opportunity to give a very personal message to the city:
"Serving as mayor of our city has been the privilege of a lifetime, and even with all the stress and the sleepless nights, and the late night calls, it really has been just such a joy, and a privilege, and an honor to serve. I'm gonna miss a lot of the people that I've had a chance to work with over the years. So I just say thanks. Thanks to everyone in this community who have put their faith in me and supported me over the years."