In his State of the City Address, Mayor Jacob Frey said the city is strong but emphasized that Minneapolis must refocus on the fundamentals of city government and on delivering results. Reflecting on a difficult year marked by disruption and challenges across the community, Mayor Frey said the city demonstrated resilience and resolve while stressing the importance of prioritizing safe streets, stable housing, and a strong local economy.
Mayor Frey highlighted continued progress in public safety, including declines in violent crime and a significant increase in applications to the Minneapolis Police Department as the city works to rebuild staffing levels. He outlined investments in a comprehensive safety strategy through expanded Community Safety Ambassadors, violence prevention efforts, overdose prevention tools, restored streetlights, and ongoing police reform work under the consent decree. Mayor Frey also announced new efforts to support Uptown’s recovery through increased patrols, expanded cleaning and maintenance, storefront activation, free Friday evening parking, and investments in local events and public spaces.
The Mayor reaffirmed that housing and economic growth remain central priorities, highlighting the creation and preservation of 890 affordable homes over the past year, as well as efforts to streamline permitting, reduce development barriers, and accelerate office-to-residential conversions. He also pointed to continued economic momentum with more than $1 billion in annual construction activity and a record 60,000 downtown residents, alongside new initiatives to reduce burdens on small businesses, expand redevelopment tools, and invest in commercial corridors and neighborhood events.
Watch the Mayor’s full remarks here.
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