OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Detroit Transition: 76th Mayor Mary Sheffield Sworn In (Jan 9, 2026)

City Council — Friday, January 9, 2026
BodyDetroit, Michigan
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, January 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:09:02

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

And to serve you.

0:01

Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing.

0:06

A Detroit that works for everyone.

0:09

We are a city of innovators, of champions, of change makers.

0:14

Tonight, Detroit, we step forward together in this next great chapter.

0:18

Together, we will invest in every corner of our city.

0:22

Rebuilding our neighborhoods, creating great jobs, lifting every Detroiter out of poverty, and reclaiming Detroit as its wifeful place among the world's greatest things.

0:34

Together, we made history, Detroit.

0:38

Together, we will build a brighter future.

0:41

Together, we will rise higher.

0:48

Hi, welcome to the Rise Higher Detroit Transition Office.

0:52

I am proud to announce that we are headquartered right here in our neighborhood at the beautiful Mary Grove campus.

1:23

It's a new day.

1:32

And I'm feeling good.

1:50

You know how I feel.

1:56

You know how I feel.

2:02

It's a new life.

2:22

Butterflies are having fun.

2:25

You know what I mean?

2:29

Sleep in peace when day is done.

2:32

That's what I mean.

2:34

And this old one is a newer and a boa.

2:47

She stands here proudly.

2:49

As the first woman ever elected to lead this great city, whether you voted for me or not.

2:56

I am here to listen to you.

2:58

To fight for you and to serve you.

3:01

Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing.

3:05

A Detroit that works for everyone.

3:09

We are a city of innovators, of champions, of change makers.

3:13

Tonight, Detroit, we step forward together in this next great chapter.

3:17

Together, we will invest in every corner of our city, rebuilding our neighborhoods, creating great jobs, lifting every Detroiter out of poverty, and reclaiming Detroit as its wifeful place among the world's greatest things.

3:33

Together, we made history Detroit.

3:37

Together, we will build a brighter future.

3:41

Together, we will rise higher.

3:48

Hi, welcome to the Rise Higher Detroit Transition Office.

3:52

I am proud to announce that we are headquartered right here in our neighborhood at the beautiful Mary Grove campus.

5:02

It's a new sun.

5:15

Dragonfly out in the sun.

5:17

You know what I mean, don't you know?

5:22

But the flies are having fun.

5:24

You know what I mean?

5:28

Sleep in peace one day is done.

5:31

That's what I mean.

5:33

And this old one is a newer in a boat.

5:46

She stands here proudly as the first woman ever elected to leave this great city.

5:53

Whether you voted for me or not, I am here to listen to you.

5:58

So fight for you and to serve you.

6:00

Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing.

6:05

A Detroit that works for everyone.

6:08

We are a city of innovators of champions of change makers.

6:13

Tonight, Detroit, we step forward together in this next great chapter.

6:17

Together, we will invest in every corner of our city, rebuilding our neighborhoods, creating great jobs, lifting every Detroiter out of poverty, and reclaiming Detroit as its rightful place among the world's greatest seats.

6:33

Together, we may history Detroit.

11:05

And now the seventy-sixth Mayor of the City of Detroit, Mary Sheffield.

12:23

Now join us in singing the national anthem performed by Detroit Opera House resident artist Brianna Robinson.

15:33

Please welcome to the stage, the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences Choir to sing the Black National Anthem.

16:09

Hi, my name is Derek.

16:12

We are rising higher to build a future Detroit deserves, and everyone is here for it.

17:39

Let's it freeze out loud as the road single song, sing the song of the faith and the heart that is talking.

20:23

Let's freedom bring so the victory is on.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████53%
Community Engagement██████████████16%
Religious Observance█████████11%
Public Comment███████8%
Arts And Culture████5%
Poverty Reduction███3%
Human Rights Commission██2%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Detroit Transition: 76th Mayor Mary Sheffield Sworn In (Jan 9, 2026)

On January 9, 2026, the City of Detroit held a historic investiture ceremony to install Mary Sheffield as its 76th Mayor, marking the first time a woman has led the city in its 324-year history. The event featured the swearing-in of the Board of Police Commissioners, City Clerk Janice Winfrey, and the full Detroit City Council led by President James Tate. The ceremony included national anthems, invocations from four faith leaders, and remarks from poet laureate Jessica Kerr Moore. Following the oaths, Mayor Sheffield delivered an inaugural address emphasizing a "beloved community," economic justice, and a mandate to lift every Detroiter out of poverty, while Council President James Tate committed to a partnership grounded in accountability and resident-focused outcomes.

Key Outcomes

  • Election Results Cited: Mayor Sheffield noted her recent election victory secured 77% of the vote, describing the result as a "mandate for possibility" rather than a mandate for her alone.
  • Leadership Swearing-In: The following officials were sworn into office and began their terms:
    • Mayor: Mary Sheffield (76th Mayor and first woman to lead the city).
    • City Council President: James Tate (District 1).
    • City Council President Pro Tem: Homan A. Young the Second (At Large).
    • City Council Members: Mary Waters (At Large), Angela Whitfield Callaway (District 2), Scott Benson (District 3), Letitia Johnson (District 4), Renata Miller (District 5), Gabriela Santiago Romero (District 6), and Denzel Anton McCampbell (District 7).
    • City Clerk: Janice Winfrey (referred to as Miss Janice Murphy in the swearing-in sequence, later addressed as Janice Winfrey in remarks).
    • Board of Police Commissioners: Eva Garza DeWals (Chair), Darrell Woods (Vice Chair), Henrietta Ivy (District 1), Lavish T. Williams (District 2), Scott Bowman (District 4), Beverly J. Watts (District 5), Lisa Carter (District 6), Victoria Camille (District 7), and Robert Jones (Member at Large).
  • Strategic Directives: Mayor Sheffield directed her administration to prioritize:
    • Safe and affordable housing.
    • Good-paying jobs and support for startup businesses.
    • Reliable transit connecting residents to opportunities.
    • Safety rooted in prevention and accountability.
    • Empowerment of youth and investment in neighborhoods across all areas of the city (East, West, Southwest).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Poet Laureate Jessica Kerr Moore: Expressed full support and pride for Mayor Sheffield's election, describing her as a "hugger" and a "resilient" woman who represents a "fearless, feminine, grassroots" leadership. She framed the election as a victory for equity and economic justice, highlighting Sheffield's focus on pregnant mothers, babies, and poverty reduction.
  • Faith Leaders: All four interfaith speakers (Reverend Spencer Ellis, Reverend Faith Fowler, Rabbi Israel Penson, and Imam Rodwane Mardini) expressed deep support and blessings for the new administration. They prayed for clarity, strength, and compassion, specifically requesting that the mayor prioritize ending poverty, ensuring children have medicine, supporting mothers with birthing care, and creating safe neighborhoods.
  • Council President James Tate: Expressed full support for Mayor Sheffield, noting he watched her grow into a leader. He stated that the City Council will support the mayor while also pushing for necessary results to ensure residents receive the outcomes they deserve.

Discussion Items

  • Inaugural Address (Mayor Mary Sheffield): Delivered a vision for a "Detroit that works for everyone." She emphasized that public service is a sacred responsibility and outlined a platform to invest in neighborhoods, expand city services, and value labor and startups. She specifically highlighted her first bold announcement regarding lifting up pregnant mothers and babies.
  • Council President Remarks (James Tate): Stated that City Council will operate with "accountability and respect" in partnership with the Mayor. He affirmed the Council's discipline with resources, focus on outcomes, and readiness to make tough decisions for the betterment of residents.
  • Rabbi Israel Penson's Gift: Presented a "tsadaka box" (charity box/divine justice) to Mayor Sheffield as a daily reminder of her responsibility to the people and the mandate to channel kindness and justice. The position expressed was that leadership is a position of service and servitude, not power.

Consent Calendar

  • No routine administrative items or consent calendar agenda discussed in this transcript; the meeting focused entirely on the investiture ceremony.

Meeting Transcript

And to serve you. Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing. A Detroit that works for everyone. We are a city of innovators, of champions, of change makers. Tonight, Detroit, we step forward together in this next great chapter. Together, we will invest in every corner of our city. Rebuilding our neighborhoods, creating great jobs, lifting every Detroiter out of poverty, and reclaiming Detroit as its wifeful place among the world's greatest things. Together, we made history, Detroit. Together, we will build a brighter future. Together, we will rise higher. Hi, welcome to the Rise Higher Detroit Transition Office. I am proud to announce that we are headquartered right here in our neighborhood at the beautiful Mary Grove campus. It's a new day. And I'm feeling good. You know how I feel. You know how I feel. It's a new life. Butterflies are having fun. You know what I mean? Sleep in peace when day is done. That's what I mean. And this old one is a newer and a boa. She stands here proudly. As the first woman ever elected to lead this great city, whether you voted for me or not. I am here to listen to you. To fight for you and to serve you. Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing. A Detroit that works for everyone. We are a city of innovators, of champions, of change makers. Tonight, Detroit, we step forward together in this next great chapter. Together, we will invest in every corner of our city, rebuilding our neighborhoods, creating great jobs, lifting every Detroiter out of poverty, and reclaiming Detroit as its wifeful place among the world's greatest things. Together, we made history Detroit. Together, we will build a brighter future. Together, we will rise higher. Hi, welcome to the Rise Higher Detroit Transition Office. I am proud to announce that we are headquartered right here in our neighborhood at the beautiful Mary Grove campus. It's a new sun. Dragonfly out in the sun. You know what I mean, don't you know? But the flies are having fun. You know what I mean? Sleep in peace one day is done. That's what I mean. And this old one is a newer in a boat. She stands here proudly as the first woman ever elected to leave this great city. Whether you voted for me or not, I am here to listen to you. So fight for you and to serve you. Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing. A Detroit that works for everyone. We are a city of innovators of champions of change makers.

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