In standing room only at Grand Rapids city hall, Milinda Ysasi officially became Grand Rapids’ newest city commissioner representing the second ward of Grand Rapids.
“Many have said that days like these are the ones our ancestors believed in…that they worked hard for and they knew that they would never see. I believe this to be true and I ask my ancestors to guide me over these next four years in this new role.”
Ysasi made history this past November when she beat Wendy Falb and became the first Latina city commissioner in Grand Rapids. She will be replacing Ruth Kelly who has served in that role for the past decade.
“Tonight as I move one step closer to governing, belonging is the word that I hope will guide me over these next four years of service. The intent of belonging is to make sure there are no others. To me that means that ensuring our investments as a city aligns with the values that we say we hold dear, to recognize that there isn’t just one truth and that this is not a zero sum game.”
During the ceremony, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss was sworn in to serve her second and last term as city’s mayor as well as returning commissioners Nathaniel Moody and Jon O Connor.
Michelle Jokisch Polo, WGVU News.
