Mayor Allen Joines - Democratic Mayors

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines delivered his State of the City address, sharing that the city has faired well despite pandemic challenges and has seen a recent surge in economic and workforce growth. Mayor Joines’ top priorities include homelessness, affordable housing, poverty, public safety, economic and workforce development.

In his remarks, Mayor Joines shared that the city’s net job growth was 3.5%, the third-highest in the Southeast. He further noted that Winston-Salem was tied with other major Southern cities in the percentage increase of new business startups.

“I believe the state of Winston-Salem is very positive, is very strong, and going in the right direction,” said Mayor Joines.

Watch Mayor Joines’ address here.

More State of the City Addresses

Las Vegas, Nevada

Mayor Shelley Berkley

Mayor Shelley Berkley delivered her State of the City Address, looking to the future and outlining how Las Vegas will continue to be a leading city that assists those in need, creates new opportunities, and provides safe and beautiful neighborhoods and amenities. She emphasized the city’s continued focus on helping vulnerable residents through expanded services, including the MORE Team pilot program, which connects individuals experiencing homelessness with mental health professionals, health workers, and street medicine, as well as the new Community Court that prioritizes structure, monitoring, and resources over punitive approaches.

Nashville, Tennessee

Mayor Freddie O’Connell

In his State of the Metro Address, Mayor Freddie O’Connell described his vision for a Nashville that is affordable, safe, healthy, welcoming, and prosperous, a city for everyone, and emphasized that progress will be purposeful, even when it is not always loud or linear. He outlined steps his administration will take to make Nashville more affordable, including proposals to cut the grocery tax, expand access to childcare, support small businesses, create jobs, build more housing, and invest in children from birth.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Mayor Indya Kincannon

In her seventh State of the City Address, Mayor Indya Kincannon proposed a lean budget that continues to prioritize public safety, affordable housing, parks, and high-quality people-focused services. She also emphasized the importance of being good stewards of taxpayer dollars, noting that her budget proposal covers essential services without raising taxes, even as the city navigates inflation, rising costs, and broader economic uncertainty.