AliciaMarie Belchak for City Commission

The National Community Survey is now OPEN to all residents! Housing, safety, development, government services—everyone has a reason to participate in the 2026 National Community Survey!

Submit a response by 4/20: polco.us/n/res/signup

Thank you for sharing your voice!

🌆 🌆 🌆

Vivienda, seguridad, desarrollo y servicios gubernamentales: ¡todos tienen una razón para participar en la Encuesta Nacional de la Comunidad 2026!

Visite polco.us/n/res/signup antes del 20 de

Abril para opinar hoy mismo.

In case anyone hasn’t seen photos from the massive gasoline tanker fire from Saturday! 🔥 Superior work from our amazing Grand Rapids Fire Department and Grand Rapids Professional Firefighters Local 366 for managing to control the inferno and for protecting us all from further dangers and damage.

Wishing a hopeful and meaningful Easter to all who celebrate.

This season always reminds me how much we carry—individually and as a community—and how important it is to keep choosing renewal anyway. To keep showing up for one another. To keep believing that things can grow, even after long winters.

Grand Rapids is changing. We’re growing, evolving, and navigating big questions about who we are and who we want to become. That kind of change isn’t always easy—but it holds real opportunity if we approach it with care, openness, and a commitment to each other.

Even in my own inner-city garden, the sunny yellow daffodils I planted 20 years are starting to bloom again—small reminders that rebirth and growth comes quietly, but it always comes.

Whether today is about faith, family, or simply a quiet moment to reset, I hope you’re able to find a little space for rest, reflection, and connection. Everyone deserves to find some peace and healing.

Grateful to serve a community that continues to care deeply… even through challenges. That gives me hope every day.

Happy Easter.
Happy Spring.

💛AliciaMarie Belchak for City Commission



Photo Credit: AliciaMarie Belchak, March 2026

Last night’s Commission Night Out was a full one… in every sense.

Packed room, resource tables, neighbors connecting, and some really important conversations around road construction and an affordable housing development serving households at 50–80% AMI.

It was good to be out in community. Truly.

And… it was also one of those nights that reminds me this work isn’t always easy.

We heard a wide range of public comments—some thoughtful, some emotional, some rooted in real pain, worry, and frustration. And yes, some that were harder to hear.

But that’s part of the responsibility.

To stay present.
To hold space.
To not shut down when things get uncomfortable.

At the end of the night, I shared a simple reminder: not to rush to conclusions, and to be willing to hold tension a little longer…especially when the stakes feel high.

Because that’s where the solutions are and where better decisions come from.

Grateful for everyone who showed up, spoke up, and stayed engaged. These conversations matter… even when they’re hard.

Watch my remarks here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/h4cxfh7SkoM?t=7891&si=-GhIrLjotOce0OdA

Thanks to all The City of Grand Rapids staff who organized tables, resources & info, meeting room setup, and video streaming.

Wrapped up a full day of interviews for our next City Attorney.

I’ll be honest… these are the kinds of days that make me extra honored to be serving in this role. The hiring responsibility stays with you a bit.

There’s a lot to take in. Not just resumes or experience but how people think, how they approach tough situations, and how they understand the responsibility of the role.

That’s what I’ve been paying attention to.

Each conversation brought something different. Different strengths, different approaches. The answers were insightful and the heart shown by each is commendable. Thrilled the candidates found something valuable in the intensive process we’ve put them through too.

As I said in our brief remarks after the interviews, we have some excellent people in front of us who could step into this role. There are some clear distinctions that are starting to emerge, however, in my opinion. And I’m eager to finalize our decision tomorrow at 9 am special meeting.

Right now, we’re heading into Commission Night Out, and I’m looking forward to being back out in community—hearing from people in public comments, staying alert to how this all connects together.

Still listening. For now. One last chance for anyone who wants to weigh in!

Good morning! Heading into a full day at City Commission. It’s going to be an important one.

Today, we continue interviews for our next City Attorney—one of the first major decisions I get to be part of in this role.

And I’ll be honest, I’ve been feeling the weight of that.

Because this isn’t just about hiring for a position. It’s about helping shape how our city governs: how we interpret our charter, navigate risk, uphold transparency, and build public trust over time.

My job today is to stay grounded, listen closely, ask good questions, and help make a decision that holds up… not just today, but down the road.

There’s a lot happening in our city right now. People are paying attention. Asking hard questions. Expecting leadership that shows up with both accountability and care.

And they should be.

We have real progress to build on and real challenges ahead. That means we need legal leadership that is thoughtful, steady, and able to navigate complexity while serving the public well.

I’m committed to being fully present in this process and approaching it with the thoughtfulness this moment truly deserves—listening, weighing, discerning.

Hey,Neighbor! Join me at the Neighborhood Summit… it’s a blast. Chock full of new friends, future forward ideas, fabulous food and lots of fun. Who knows… you might even catch me dancing. Sign up now!

Watch LIVE online! with Mayor David LaGrand, The City of Grand Rapids.

2026 Grand Rapids State of the City Address Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand delivers his second annual State of the City address. ➡️Subscribe to 13 ON YOUR SIDE for exclusive content: www.youtube.com/...

Protect, plan, progress!! State of the City tonight with The City of Grand Rapids and Mayor David LaGrand.

Watch LIVE online over here: YouTube https://share.google/82W59wJJPuTKFe83w