Mayor Brandon M. Scott - Democratic Mayors

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott delivered his State of the City Address, reflecting on his tenure in office, how the city has weathered many challenges from the pandemic, and his vision for the future. Mayor Scott’s priorities include public safety, youth, parks and recreation, libraries, housing, infrastructure, workforce development, small businesses, and seniors.

In his remarks, Mayor Scott said the city is making continuous strides toward building a safer community and addressing violence at every level through community investments and supporting law enforcement. A key element of the Mayor’s efforts is Baltimore’s Comprehensive Prevention Plan, which has decreased homicides and non-fatal shootings.

The Mayor also shared establishing a 9-1-1 diversion program, investing in a Safe Streets program to mediate conflicts, launching a re-entry program, and developing a hospital-based violence intervention partnership with health care systems. He also discussed the city’s efforts to tackle the proliferation of guns and called on Congress to advance meaningful gun reform.

Mayor Scott additionally highlighted efforts to address housing concerns in his region, including tackling vacant properties and blight and increasing more Black homeownership opportunities.

Watch Mayor Scott’s full remarks 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.