LaGrand launches 'Mayor Mondays' to connect with Grand Rapids residents

Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand set a goal during his time in office to talk with local folks about the big issues around the city and increase transparency in local government.

After taking the oath of office in December 2024, LaGrand announced his ongoing series of public community conversations aimed at connecting, building trust and promoting government transparency: Mayor Mondays. 

Although the nature of the first Mayor Mondays event, held on Jan. 13 at the Kent County Democrats headquarters, covered issues around policies at the national and state levels, LaGrand said these events going forward will have a more local focus—specifically on critical issues in Grand Rapids, including justice and policing issues, infrastructure and development and housing. 

The Jan. 13 event was co-hosted by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who has held her seat since January 2019 and recently announced her bid for the upcoming Michigan gubernatorial race. Local and state-level officials joined LaGrand and Benson, including State Rep. Phil Skaggs (D-East Grand Rapids) and State Rep. Carol Glanville (D-Grandville), as well as some other new faces to local government: Third Ward Commissioner Marshall Kilgore and First Ward Commissioner AliciaMarie Belchak. 

“Our space was filled to capacity with thoughtful and engaged members of the community, and it is refreshing to see elected officials who prioritize open and direct communication with them,” said Kent County Democrats Communications Chair Matthew Morrey.

The schedule for upcoming Mayor Mondays will rotate, with meetings held in the city’s First Ward on the first Monday of the month, the Second Ward on the second Monday, and the Third Ward on the third Monday. Each month, the topic of conversation will change, and attendees are asked to keep all questions and comments relevant to the topic.

In February, the discussion will focus on justice and policing.

LaGrand, who served as a state representative representing the Grand Rapids area from 2016 to 2023, has been a vocal advocate for better government transparency. In 2021, he led a bipartisan package of bills that required conflict of interest disclosures for state officials and candidates. On Wednesday, the state Senate passed a similar bill package that would remove Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) exemptions for the governor and lawmakers. 

According to the National Center for Public Integrity’s 2015 report, Michigan ranked last overall, including failing scores in public access to information, executive accountability and legislative accountability.

Glanville and Skaggs both gave an update on legislation that was passed (and stalled during the amendment process) in the Michigan House during the 2024 Lame Duck session. Skaggs underscored that neither state House Democrats nor Republicans held enough seats to pass legislation independently, so bipartisan support was needed for any bills to pass.

Benson addressed audience members on the recent election, community concerns and updates on Michigan’s electoral process. Benson touted high voter turnout in both midterm and general elections, as well as young voter participation rates. In Kent County, 71% of voters voted in the Nov. 5, 2024 election. 

Benson credits this in part to community action and grassroots movements that encourage voter registration, participation and local engagement. LaGrand and Kilgore both concurred, emphasizing the need for open meetings and accessible language.  

“Anyone can be involved in improving our communities,” said Kilgore. 

LaGrand emphasized that he and other Grand Rapids local officials were elected in nonpartisan races and that he takes the “discipline” of making himself accessible to all members of the public very seriously. 

The second half of the meeting operated as a town hall, with representatives answering questions from audience members. Topics ranged widely, but one area of commonality was the need for more transparency at all levels of government and other anti-corruption measures. 

The event concluded with varying degrees of calls to action: calls to engage in the local civic process, advocate against misinformation, increase government accountability and a galvanizing call by Rep Skaggs to “reject cynicism and despair” despite frustrations.