'It's time to get to work': Akron Mayor Shammas Malik sworn in during public ceremony

Hundreds of people arrived at EJ Thomas Hall Saturday to watch Shammas Malik be publicly sworn in as Akron's 63rd mayor.

Echoing the message he broadcast during his campaign, Malik told the crowd the change he envisions for the city isn't his alone to create — it's a collaborative effort in which all Akronites have a role.He's been watching positive energy build slowly but steadily in Akron, he said, even when things have been challenging.

"So, how are we going to build on this energy?" Malik asked. "How are we going to build Akron’s future?"

The ceremony opened with musical performances and remarks from guest speakers, including University of Akron President Gary Miller, Congresswoman Emilia Sykes and Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro.

Malik took his oath of office, administered by retired Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Ted Schneiderman, on stage.

Afterward, he addressed the crowd with remarks prepared for the event.

"What an incredible gathering. This is the greatest assembly of talent in Akron since the last time LeBron James was in a room by himself," Malik said with laughter from the crowd. "All jokes aside, today is a historic day for the city of Akron."

Before thanking people who helped him on his journey to the mayor's office, Malik spoke about his mother, Helen Killory Qammar. Holding the ceremony at EJ Thomas was important to him, he said, because of his mother's connection to the venue. She spent over 20 years teaching chemical engineering at the University of Akron.

"Many of you have heard me talk about my mom," Malik said, "about how she worked hard, treated everyone with dignity and respect, and took the time to figure out how each person could be part of a larger team. Tomorrow will be 11 years since she passed away. She has always been a pillar of my life, and I wouldn’t be standing here without her."

The foundations of change

There are three things, he said, that his administration will do to harness Akron's well of positive energy in the next 100 days and beyond: construct a team, deliver high-quality city services on a consistent basis, and make tangible progress on the challenges facing the city.

"We’ve rethought roles," Malik said, "reorganizing folks under a chief of staff and a new chief of strategy. For the first time, we’ve put the fire chief and police chief directly in the mayor’s cabinet, because the leaders of those two safety forces need to be at that table."

The team is more than those at the cabinet level, he said. It includes 2,000 city employees from every department, and everyone living in the city.

"I’ve joked during the campaign that it’s a 190,000 person football team. Well, we’re gonna find a role for every last person, and we’re not going to be shy about asking for your help," Malik said.

And consistent quality city services is about more than potholes and plowing, he said. It means revamping the operation of the city departments, simplifying the way city contracts are bid and making the city website more user friendly.

A snow plow tracker designed to keep residents informed about winter weather events is on the way, he said. The way the city mows, mitigates speeding and engages with residents will be improved as well.

"This speech is being translated live into Spanish and Nepali," said Malik, "because going that extra mile to welcome folks will always be a part of Akron." Leaders, he said, serve everyone — not just one kind of person.

'The next 100 days and beyond'

During the early days of his term — "the next 100 days and beyond," he said — his administration will be rolling out initiatives meant to kick-start positive changes to safety, education, economic development, housing, the environment and more.

"What’s needed is not only new ideas," said Malik. "What’s needed is the persistence to get things done. Things like community policing, quality preschool for all our children, violence intervention, more opportunities for young people, strengthening our neighborhoods with infill housing, a downtown and neighborhoods that support high quality jobs, and so much more."

The mayor said the way these changes are accomplished is equally as important as the changes themselves.

"Together For Akron was our campaign slogan," said Malik, "but it is more than that. It’s a way of thinking about our community and thinking about our future. It starts with collaboration."

Some bridges between the city and its partners need to be repaired, while others need to be built, he said.

"We are going to work more closely with all our partners across the community — our educational institutions, our businesses, our nonprofits, our artists, our grassroots activists, everyone," Malik said. "And we’re going to build better relationships with our local, state and federal leaders — many of whom I’m happy to say are here with us today."

A time for action

He could go on, he said, to talk about the people he's met, the potential he sees for Akron's future, and how the city is transforming from the Rubber City to the Polymer City.

"I could tell you about our amazing young people," said Malik, "each one of whom has the talent to be the next LeBron James, or Chrissie Hynde, or Rita Dove, or the next Congresswoman Emilia Sykes, or David Giffels — or better yet, to be the first of a brand new generation. All we need is for them to break the mold and be the best version of themselves."

However, he said, for him, the time for talk had passed: "It’s time to get to work."

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Shammas Malik publicly sworn in as Akron's 63rd mayor