GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss made her final State of the City speech Thursday night.
Bliss is term limited, but got to serve an extra year in office because of a change to when city voters elect a new mayor.
Bliss will leave with some major projects underway in Grand Rapids. The Acrisure Amphitheater and a new soccer stadium are both in development.
"One of the greatest joys of my time in public office is that I have been fortunate to be surrounded by people who not only believe building an ever-better Grand Rapids is possible but who also act to make that possibility a reality," Bliss explained.
This was her ninth State of the City address, also called the Farewell Address, where she spent some time thanking all the people who helped her along the way.
"We have certainly accomplished a great deal together during my time as mayor," Bliss said.
She did go on to talk about how public and private partnerships have and will continue to build the city for a brighter future.
"That effort to restore Valley Field ... the rebuilding of MLK Park Lodge, the ongoing progress to remove those finicky obsolete dams from the Grand River. It's gonna happen," Bliss said during her speech.
Mayor Bliss highlighted her accomplishments, including the addition of 100 miles of bike paths, upgrades to Grand Rapids' fire departments, the installation of thousands of free smoke detectors and more.
"I'm proud of the revitalization and the strength of our neighborhoods," Bliss told FOX 17.
Not all moments during her term were bright. She also served during the riots in the summer of 2020.
The mayor did explain that when it came to policy, the city's handling of cannabis was an issue that could have been better handled.
"We tried to build in on the front-end opportunities for individuals who lived here in Grand Rapids, and especially for individuals who've been most harm. If you look at the number of marijuana facilities we have in the city, most of them are not owned by people of color," Bliss said.
Bliss spent a good amount of the address on her efforts to end homelessness in the city, adding she plans to make those efforts a priority for the remainder of her term.
“If there is any city that can end chronic homelessness, I believe it is Grand Rapids,” said Bliss. "Let's come together with a clear goal to house 100 individuals who have been chronically homeless by the end of this year."
She adds nearly two dozen people who faced chronic homelessness were given permanent homes in 2023.
Bliss finished the address by noting the 13,000 new trees planted in the city since she first took office, inviting attendees to take trees home on their way out of the venue.
Bliss will end her time in office after serving for roughly 19 years, first as a second ward commissioner, then as the city's first female mayor.
Watch the full address below:
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