2026 Swearing-In Ceremony

Thank you. Thank you so much.

The energy in this room – it is electric. I am overwhelmed and proud of how you are showing up for this new chapter, Albany!

As you know, we had to change locations for this event because we simply ran out of room. We wanted as many people as possible to be able to join us for this historic moment, and I am absolutely floored by the size of this crowd.

There are so many people I want to acknowledge and thank, but I’m not going to be able to get to you all. Please know that I deeply appreciate each one of you for coming out today.

For starters, I would like to thank a woman who paved the way for me. A woman who shattered the glass ceiling and a woman who treated her tenure as a relay race, focused on what was in front of her while all the while reaching back to pass the baton. That woman, that shero, that torchbearer, is Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan.

I also want to give a special “thank you” to another glass ceiling breaker: Our Speaker, Speaker Carl Heastie. Speaker, thank you for supporting women leaders the way you do! From your team to your actions, you always use your platform to elevate voices that are often silenced. New York State is blessed to have you as one of three in the room!

I do want to publicly acknowledge my husband, Don. Thank you for choosing to go on this journey with me, for believing in me even on the days when the path felt uncertain, and for always showing up even when the road has been rocky. We are perfectly imperfect, taking on life together as best we can.

And, of course, my girls – Noble and Nile – you are my “why”. Mommy loves you so much.

I would be remiss if I did not honor my parents, Kinita Crawford and Rodney Jones Sr., both deceased, but I know beaming with pride. And my grandmothers, Flossie Hinson and Doris Bradshaw, two of the toughest people I’ve ever met. One waitressed for 50 years while the other, an entrepreneur, served as a beautician for over 50 years. I come from humble beginnings and on cold days like this, my grandmother Dorris would have us up at the crack of dawn, loading up her car with antiques to sell at flea markets around town.

On these bitter cold days, the car wouldn’t start. I would look at her and she would look back at me and, refusing to accept humiliation and defeat, she would turn into a magician/ mechanic and within minutes we were on our way. The journey from birth to here hasn’t been easy, yet here I stand.

To God be the glory!

And to my family, mentors, friends, community leaders, faith leaders, elected officials, city employees, and to every resident of Albany, I thank you for the trust you have placed in me. I stand before you today deeply humbled, profoundly grateful, and fully aware of the responsibility that comes with the title I have assumed.

This moment is the result of generations of perseverance by people who loved Albany. They fought for this city, they invested in it, and they kept alive a belief in its future - even when the deck seemed stacked against them. I carry that perseverance and that history with me, and I will honor it by recommitting myself every day to the work that lies ahead.

But today is not about yesterday. Today is about tomorrow. And it’s about making a choice – a choice to believe that Albany’s best days are ahead. And, I feel that in my soul.

I know a lot of you in this room know my story. If you’ve heard this one before, please indulge me for a moment.

My Albany story started a little over 20 years ago with an acceptance letter to attend the University at Albany. A special shout out to the University at Albany. It’s a great day to be a Great Dane!

I left my hometown of Washington, D.C. not knowing that I would be embarking on a journey that was life-altering and that would lead me to finding my home. Don and I chose Albany, although I sometimes joke that the city chose me because it kept reeling me back in – even when I wasn’t sure what I wanted. Maybe you have experienced something similar. There is a pull that this city exerts on your heart and your soul.

My pastor, the Rev. Dr. Damone Paul Johnson, once counseled me to grow where you’re planted. And that is what Don and I have done. We chose to put our roots down in Albany - not because it was easy, but because it felt right. Because this city has heart. Because it has grit. Because it has neighborhoods that collectively raise children, streets that tell centuries worth of stories, and people who care deeply about one another.

Those born and raised here and those of us who have chosen Albany know what a special place it is. But we don’t want to gatekeep our city! We want many more people to choose Albany so it can be vibrant for years to come.

To do that requires ensuring that the soil here is fertile, so that others can grow where they are planted.

Fertile soil in this case means opportunity.

It means safety.

It means inclusion.

It means a city where effort is rewarded, voices are heard, and the dreams of individuals, families, business owners, artists, executives and everyone in between have room to take root.

That is the Albany we are called to build - together. And we are not bound by the past; we can create our own image of what Albany can be as opposed to what it has been.

First, though, we must acknowledge that a city cannot grow if some of its people feel invisible.

It cannot thrive if decisions are made without listening to those most affected by them.

This is why immediately after Election Day my team and I hit the ground running, establishing the most inclusive and far-reaching transition this city has seen. You will hear more about this shortly.

As mayor, my pledge to you is that I will govern with love, compassion, openness and intention. I will listen - especially when the conversations are difficult. I will seek out perspectives from every neighborhood, every background, every generation. And I will ensure that City Hall is a place of access, accountability, and respect. Our government and its powers should not be used as a weapon to beat and tear people down. Instead, it should be wielded in a way that lifts people up and makes their lives easier.

That is how trust is built.

And trust is the foundation of progress.

Also critical to building trust – to creating the fertile soil of this city – is focusing on public safety.

Let’s be real. We know that people will not choose Albany if they do not feel safe on our streets, in our neighborhoods, and in our public spaces. Full stop.

Safety is not an abstract concept. It is not only about data and statistics. It is deeply personal. It is about feeling comfortable walking home at night. It is knowing your children are safe at the bus stop. It is trusting that help will come quickly when you call for it.

That said, we must be clear: safety and justice are not competing values. They go hand in hand.

And so, we will support our police officers and first responders who work tirelessly to keep us safe. We will also invest in smart, effective and community-centric public safety strategies while not wavering on accountability and professionalism.

At the same time, we will continue to address the root causes of violence – including housing instability, economic insecurity, and lack of opportunity. Because true safety is a balance between effective law enforcement and a combination of prevention, partnership, and care.

That is the Albany we will build.

Fertile soil also means opportunity - for everyone.

A city is strongest when everyone has a stake in its success. That means creating pathways for working families to get ahead. It means supporting young people, so they see a future for themselves right here in Albany. It means ensuring that prosperity is not limited to a few blocks or a few zip codes but shared across every neighborhood.

My administration will invest in education, workforce development, and housing available at all income levels. Let me repeat that: We need and must have housing available at all income-levels. To our developers, housing advocates and elected leaders, I look forward to working with you promptly to begin developing the housing we desperately need.

We will support the small businesses and entrepreneurs who are the backbone of our local economy. And we will work to make Albany a place where talent is nurtured, innovation is welcomed, and hard work is met with real opportunity.

Which brings me to business and growth.

Albany must be a city that says “yes” to possibility.

That means removing unnecessary burdens for businesses of all sizes – innovators who are just getting started, family-owned shops that have been here for decades, and larger employers who are looking to invest and create jobs.

To do that, we will streamline processes, modernize city government, and be a partner - not an obstacle - to responsible growth. Because when businesses thrive, jobs are created, neighborhoods are strengthened, and the entire city benefits.

And on the topic of fun, I’ve heard you loud and clear! My administration will be working diligently to turn the lights back on and make Albany fun again!

Growth does not mean losing who we are.

It means becoming more of what we can be.

And that future will not - can not - be built by our city government alone.

It must be built by residents who care. By community organizations and elected officials and public employees who show up every day, by educators, healthcare workers, artists, advocates, entrepreneurs, and many others who believe in Albany enough to give their best to it.

I believe in Albany.

I believe in its people.

I believe in its resilience.

And I believe in what we can and will accomplish when we move forward together.

I do not take the oath I made today lightly. I took it with resolve, with humility, and with hope.

Hope that is rooted not in promises, but in purpose.

Hope grounded in action.

Hope that grows when we tend to the soil together.

Let us choose Albany – today, and every day.

Let us invest in one another.

Let us build a city that is safe, welcoming, and full of opportunity.

And let us ensure that when future generations look back on this moment, they will say: this was when Albany dug deeper, extended its roots and grew to be stronger, fairer, and more united than ever before.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the great City of Albany.

Onward and Upward!