Mayor Eileen Higgins - Democratic Mayors

Mayor Eileen Higgins delivered her first State of the City Address just over a month into her tenure, speaking directly to residents about the city’s current moment and the work ahead. She highlighted early priorities and initial accomplishments, emphasizing a commitment to listening, cutting red tape, and building a city government that works more effectively for the people it serves.

Mayor Higgins praised Miami’s public safety team, noting that crime is down and that Miami remains one of the safest big cities in America. The city’s economy is strong, with unemployment far below national levels, innovative companies continuing to relocate to Miami, and more than 2,000 small businesses opening their doors in the city last year.

The Mayor spoke about listening closely to residents and city workers who are frustrated by outdated processes and unnecessary red tape. From stalled flood protection projects to aging facilities and permitting delays, Mayor Higgins said the city is ready for change, and her administration is ready to act and build a city government that works for all residents.

To meet that moment, Mayor Higgins outlined how her administration will deliver results people can see and feel. She announced the deployment of Sprint Teams to tackle concrete challenges, break down silos, and solve real problems in real time, including ending long permitting delays this year. The Mayor also detailed the team she has put in place to drive reform and shared her decision to move her office into the administration building to work alongside city staff, underscoring her commitment to building a government that is responsive and ready to work for Miami.

Watch the Mayor’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.