Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed gave his State of the City Address, reflecting on the past year marked by bold action, transformative progress, and a steadfast commitment to making the city more equitable, progressive, and compassionate. The Mayor shared significant economic development, public safety, education, and infrastructure progress.
Mayor Reed highlighted the city’s flagship public safety initiative, Together We Rise, which focuses on violence prevention, community engagement, and law enforcement reform. He noted how community-oriented policing initiatives, such as the Hispanic Citizens Academy, have strengthened trust between police and diverse communities. Further, while gun violence remains a concern, the Mayor is urging state lawmakers to pass common-sense gun safety measures.
The Mayor shared the city’s work toward criminal justice reform with an executive order that forgave over $880,000 in unpaid municipal fines and fees, benefiting 3,600 cases and 800 citizens, removing financial barriers to stability. Montgomery also plans to launch a Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program soon, providing direct financial assistance to families in need.
Last year, Montgomery attracted $1.1 billion in capital investment and created 600 new jobs across 11 projects. The city launched the Montgomery Regional Tech & Innovation Ecosystem Initiative, establishing Montgomery, Selma, and Tuskegee as a regional innovation hub. Additionally, West Montgomery revitalization efforts secured a $36.6 million federal grant, the largest in the city’s history, to address redlining and improve mobility and cultural preservation.
Watch the Mayor’s full remarks here.
