Mayor Melvin Carter - Democratic Mayors

In his State of the City Address, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter emphasized housing growth and investments in the city’s downtown infrastructure. He also highlighted significant public safety progress and announced a citywide summit to address fentanyl and the opioid crisis.

Public safety remains the Mayor’s foremost priority, with the Community-First Public Safety framework yielding significant results. As of early April, Saint Paul recorded a 73% drop in non-fatal shootings and no gun-related homicides in 2025—a testament to coordinated efforts across the police department, Office of Neighborhood Safety, and community programs. Additionally, the city purchased Minnesota’s first electric fire engine and shared plans to buy a second with a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

In 2024 alone, Saint Paul added 731 new affordable housing units, including 255 for families earning 30% of the area median income. Another 293 units are underway, with significant developments such as Mary Hall providing permanent housing for vulnerable populations. The city’s innovative housing programs, such as the 4d tax incentive program, the Inspiring Communities initiative, and the Inheritance Fund, are helping preserve affordability, promote ownership, and restore generational wealth. Looking ahead, Mayor Carter has proposed updates to rent stabilization policies and tenant protections that aim to spur new housing development while preserving vital renter safeguards.

Funded by the new “Common Cent” one-cent sales tax, Saint Paul has already delivered $11.5 million in park and recreation upgrades and committed nearly $24 million to repair 50 miles of roads. Initiatives such as The Loop, a free transportation route for youth, and a lead pipe replacement program highlight the city’s dedication to safety, accessibility, and environmental justice. On the downtown front, Mayor Carter unveiled plans to convert underused office spaces into residential units to bring 20,000 new residents to the city’s core.

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.