AKRON, Ohio — Shammas Malik, Akron's 63rd mayor, is the youngest person and first one of color to lead the city. Speaking to 3News on Tuesday, he told us safety and education are at the top of his list of priorities.
"Safety is an economic development strategy," Malik, who was sworn into office on New Year's Day, said.
Meanwhile, the first 48 hours of his term have been filled with appointing cabinet members.
"I think we've landed on a really great cabinet," he stated.
Now, he focuses on his 100-day plan.
"The No. 1 thing I can do is make sure people feel this is a safe community to live in," he said, adding his belief that things like business opportunities and infrastructure can be grown out from that foundation.
In that vein, Malik is also tasked with appointing Akron's new chief of police following the resignation of Steve Mylett. He tells WKYC the process will likely take three to five months to accomplish, but that the city will hold meetings to gather input from the community on what they wish to see in the new head of law enforcement. The department will be run by an interim chief in the meantime.
"I have a number of things I want to see," the mayor said when asked what he'd like in a new chief. Along with a focus on "integrity," he cited, "experience with a larger organization, commitment to some of the proactive policing that I want to do with community policing, and building trust with residents."
Malik, who attended the Akron Public Schools system and graduated from Firestone High School, has also put his focus on education, as well as the challenges students face such as "inter-generational poverty."
"We have a lot of students who are homeless at any given time during the year," the mayor lamented. "We can support on that 'out-of-school time' piece — where our students are when they're not at home and not at school."
On Saturday, Malik will be publicly sworn in as mayor at E.J. Thomas Hall in front of the community. He also plans to appoint an economic development director later this week.