Mayor Jane Castor - Democratic Mayors

Mayor Jane Castor delivered her State of the City Address, making her message clear: invest in the fundamentals to keep Tampa’s momentum strong for years to come. With one year remaining in her second term, Mayor Castor reinforced her mission to ensure Tampa is Built to Last. From critical underground utilities to nationally recognized parks and high-quality affordable housing, her administration and City Council members have focused on tackling the city’s toughest challenges with long-term solutions.

Mayor Castor highlighted major investments in public amenities and infrastructure to expand opportunity and improve the quality of life across Tampa. She pointed to Fair Oaks Park, a new $34.7 million recreation complex delivering long-awaited amenities for East Tampa residents, and to the Hanna Avenue City Center, a one-stop hub for residents, recently recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as the Best Project in Florida for its sustainability features. The Mayor also emphasized continued progress through the city’s $3 billion PIPES Program, including major water system upgrades, replacement of aging water and wastewater pipes, and development of new technology to remove harmful “forever chemicals” from Tampa’s water supply.

Mayor Castor noted continued investments in affordable housing, transportation, public safety, and climate resilience. Since 2019, Tampa has invested more than $100 million in affordable housing efforts, supporting the creation of 8,300 affordable homes while expanding homeownership and repair assistance programs. The Mayor also pointed to record paving, expansion of the Green Spine Cycle Track, enhanced ferry service, and continued Riverwalk expansion, while highlighting Tampa’s continued ranking as one of the safest cities in the nation and ongoing stormwater and wastewater upgrades to strengthen resilience against flooding and drought challenges.

Watch the Mayor’s full remarks here.

More State of the City Addresses

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Mayor Paige Cognetti

Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti delivered her State of the City Address, outlining a six-year turnaround that has taken the city from the brink of financial distress to a position of stability and growth, while continuing investments in public safety, infrastructure, quality of life, and lower costs for residents. Mayor Cognetti also highlighted Scranton’s financial progress, including three credit rating upgrades since exiting financially distressed status in 2022 and achieving its current A- rating with a stable outlook.

Minneapolis , Minnesota

Mayor Jacob Frey

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.

Boise, Idaho

Mayor Lauren McLean

In her seventh State of the City Address, Mayor Lauren McLean emphasized the progress the city of Boise has made in creating a city for everyone. The Mayor also highlighted the progress the community has made in affordable housing, public safety, transportation, and quality-of-life investments while working to preserve the sense of belonging and opportunity that residents value.