Mayor Ras Baraka - Democratic Mayors

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka presented his eighth State of the City address, centering his remarks on the theme of “Newark Forward” while sharing the city’s accomplishments over the years. His top priorities include public safety, economic and workforce development, housing, and COVID-19 recovery.

“We are here to say that our families are strong and our city is growing. That we have not run from any of our problems, that we have faced them down, and are changing our trajectory one day at a time. We are proud from where we have come and are confident in our road ahead,” said Mayor Baraka.

Mayor Baraka highlighted the city’s many accomplishments over the past year, including lowering unemployment, reducing homicides and crime rates, building a full-service homeless shelter, forming an Equitable Growth Commission, investing $20 million in low-income housing, and expanding access to broadband and wifi to more residents.

Watch Mayor Baraka’s 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.