Mayor Ed Gainey - Democratic Mayors

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey delivered his State of the City Address, outlining his vision for the coming year and the many accomplishments of the various city departments in 2023. In his remarks, he shared his three goals for the community: making Pittsburgh the safest city in America, becoming the most welcoming city in America, and being a city where everyone who calls Pittsburgh home can thrive.

Mayor Gainey emphasized that the budget is about the future of the next generation of city residents and their ability to thrive every day. He highlighted one of the city’s newest initiatives, City in the Streets, which are neighborhood events allowing citizens to speak directly with city officials about their concerns.

The Mayor touted Pittsburgh’s selection by the White House to be one of only five workforce hubs and said it reinforces the idea that the city is a national leader in workforce development. Mayor Gainey also noted that infrastructure has been a major priority for his administration since the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge, and the city now has a roadmap defining the status of every city-owned structure and the investment necessary for each asset.

Mayor Gainey shared the city’s partnership with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and Pittsburgh Land Bank, which makes it possible to reduce blight to further neighborhood development. His address also highlighted proposed public safety investments in people, programs, and vehicles.

Watch Mayor Gainey’s full 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.