Mayor Cassie Franklin - Democratic Mayors

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin delivered her fifth State of the City Address, where she issued five new directives to address some of the city’s challenges and support the community’s ultimate vision of ensuring the best quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors. Mayor Franklin’s priorities include education, parks and recreation, downtown revitalization, violence prevention, economic development, behavioral health, housing, and climate action.

In her remarks, Mayor Franklin shared new public safety directives that will help keep residents safe and give law enforcement the resources they need to be successful. This includes establishing a violent crime unit that will focus on the response and investigation of violent crimes throughout the community, advocating for common-sense gun laws at the state and federal levels, pursuing Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and more.

Mayor Franklin also discussed Housing Choices for All, where she will direct staff to move forward with strategies to help increase the housing supply at all price points, including permit streamlining and development incentives. The city also continues to help its unsheltered population find increased support and services while finding long-term housing solutions.

The Mayor also cited efforts to combat climate change and build a resilient community by continuing to electrify their bus fleet, transition buildings away from fossil fuels, and develop an urban forest management plan.

Watch Mayor Franklin’s full speech 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.