FLINT, Mich.—The City of Flint and Mayor Sheldon Neeley gathered to honor U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow with a Key to the City, acknowledging her over 30 years of dedicated service to Flint, Genesee County, and Michigan. The ceremony was held in the City Council Chambers at Flint City Hall.
Stabenow, Michigan’s first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, announced her retirement earlier this year, marking the conclusion of her trailblazing career. Mayor Neeley praised her unwavering commitment to Flint, particularly her efforts during the water crisis and her work on various economic development initiatives.
Reflecting on her time with the Flint community, Stabenow expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am overwhelmed. I’m really glad to, the whole community has been so wonderful to work with over the years, and I’m pretty overwhelmed by the response today.”
Stabenow lauded the resilience and determination of Flint residents, emphasizing, “There’s such talent here. People care, they’ve got grit. They’ve been through a lot, but they’ve come back and they’re coming back. Don’t give up. We’ve got a lot of great economic development projects right now that are beginning to happen. So I’m very optimistic for the people of Flint.”
In her speech, Stabenow shared personal stories of her advocacy during the Flint water crisis, including her work with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who alerted her to dangerously high lead levels in local children’s blood. This led to swift action from the federal government, securing vital resources for the community.
Stabenow also recounted the struggles of securing federal support for Flint, such as a $107 million aid package, and praised the ongoing revitalization efforts in the city, including the blight removal program, RX Kids, and projects at Buick City, Chevy Commons, Bishop Airport, and the Flint Farmers’ Market.
As she prepares to retire, Stabenow expressed mixed emotions. “It is really hard for me to believe how fast it’s going…I certainly am gonna miss working directly with the people of Flint, but I’ll still live in Michigan, and beyond that, I’ll figure it out.”
Looking ahead, Stabenow emphasized the importance of continued progress in Congress, particularly with the upcoming Farm Bill and federal budgeting. She urged the passage of a budget by year’s end, stressing the need for stability over uncertainty in government operations.
Closing her remarks, Stabenow thanked the community for the honor, saying, “I just want to thank you again for this recognition. It means so much to me, in part because of all of you and how proud I am to be your partner. It has been truly an honor to suit up and go in every day on your behalf.”