2021 State of the City Addresses

Jan 1

Mayor Tom Barrett - Milwaukee, WI
Mayor Andy Berke - Chattanooga, TN

Mayor Bill de Blasio - New York, NY
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms - Atlanta, GA
Mayor Byron Brown - Buffalo, NY
Mayor Melvin Carter III - St. Paul, MN
Mayor Jane Castor - Tampa, FL
Mayor Paige Cognetti - Scranton, PA
Mayor Joyce Craig - Manchester, NH
Mayor Robert Donchez - Bethlehem, PA
Mayor Mike Duggan - Detroit, MI
Mayor Greg Fischer - Louisville, KY
Mayor Eric Garcetti - Los Angeles, CA
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird - Lincoln, NE
Mayor Andrew Ginther - Columbus, OH
Mayor Todd Gloria - San Diego, CA
Mayor Tim Keller - Albuquerque, NM
Mayor Emily Larson - Duluth, MN
Mayor Sam Liccardo - San Jose, CA
Mayor Lauren McLean - Boise, ID
Mayor Erin Mendenhall - Salt Lake City, UT
Mayor Jon Mitchell - New Bedford, MA
Mayor Andy Schor - Lansing, MI
Mayor Brandon Scott - Baltimore, MD
Mayor Frank Scott Jr. - Little Rock, AR
Mayor Martin J. Walsh - Boston, MA
Mayor Regina Romero - Tucson, AZ
Mayor Bill Wild - Westland, MI
Mayor Adrian Perkins - Shreveport, LA
Mayor Eric Johnson - Dallas, TX
Mayor Jessica Ancona - El Monte, CA

Mayor Tom Barrett

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett took a different approach to his annual State of the City Address this year, sharing a video with constituents on June 2 entitled “Reflections on a Historic Year."

“What a remarkable year. Not only the pandemic, but so much has happened in the last 15 months. We all faced unprecedented turmoil, challenges, and changes. When thinking about where we’ve been and where we’re heading, it’s best to tell our story from different perspectives," Mayor Barrett said.

2020 was meant to be a landmark year for the City of Milwaukee, but the pandemic halted many plans surrounding the Democratic National Convention.

With the involvement of community voices, the city created a 15-minute video that was broadcast live on the City Channel and later shared online. The video highlights how the city has addressed the pandemic, social justice, public safety, and more over the course of the last year.

“Each Milwaukeean brings a unique view, enlightened by personal experience and their own circumstances,” the Mayor said. “Listen to their voices, their sentiments, and their stories—it’s a fuller picture of our city, and our journey.”

Watch "Reflections on a Historic Year" here.

Mayor Andy Berke

Chattanooga, TN

“Here I stand again, and return today to the words I uttered eight years ago. When we ensure that every Chattanoogan has the tools and the power to write her own story, we change the arc of our city."

Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke delivered his eighth and final State of the City Address on January 28.

He looked back on his two terms as Mayor, during which he helped spur significant economic growth, build and revitalize parks, end veteran homelessness, and launch trailblazing efforts to bridge the digital divide.

Mayor Berke also reflected on the challenges and heartbreak brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated inequalities and hit vulnerable residents the hardest, making it even more important to commit to building equity and opportunity.

“Our struggles are real, but so are our blessings. Over the years, even when tragedy struck our city, I have taken refuge in our unyielding promise and the wisdom of our forebearers,” he said. “That is one reason why, despite the unrelenting headwinds we face right now, I know we will still travel far.”

Watch Mayor Berke’s address here.

Mayor Bill de Blasio

New York, NY

Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered his final State of the City Address as Mayor of New York City on January 28. He is unable to run again due to term limits.

Mayor de Blasio shared his vision for his final year in office: an agenda centered around using public health to drive a fair recovery for all New Yorkers. The plan prioritizes vaccinating against COVID-19 to jumpstart the recovery, using the City government to fight inequality, building a fairer economy, helping children recover emotionally and academically from the impact of COVID-19’s interruptions to learning, and strengthening community-based solutions to public safety and fighting the climate crisis.

“New York City always fights back,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “And we will do so again. Together, we will create a stronger, fairer and safer city for all New Yorkers.”

The Mayor outlined a series of specific goals, including vaccinating 5 million New York City residents by June; beginning to return the full City workforce in May and end remote working; and recruit 2,000 new Vaccine for All Corps members immediately.

Mayor de Blasio also established a permanent City task force on racial inclusion and equity in 2020 and named a Charter Revision Commission that will have a two-year mandate to focus on racial justice and reconciliation.

Watch Mayor de Blasio’s full address here.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms

Atlanta, GA

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms delivered her 2021 State of the City Address at the end of March, outlining plans to vaccinate Atlantans, reduce crime, address homeless, advance affordable housing efforts, reignite youth engagement opportunities, and improve city services and infrastructure.

The Mayor identified public safety and crime reduction as her administration's top priority at the moment.

“Mayors and leaders across the country are recognizing gun violence as a public health emergency, and I join them in that sentiment," she said.

Vaccinating Atlantans — particularly in communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 — is another primary concern for Mayor Bottoms, who announced the City is working with local, state and federal agencies to encourage residents to receive the vaccine.

The City will canvas door-to-door in underserved communities to raise vaccine awareness and provide assistance, including with transportation and registration, and continue to heavily promote community mass vaccination sites around the city.

Read Mayor Bottoms' State of the City Address here.

Mayor Byron Brown

Buffalo, NY

During his 15th State of the City Address as Mayor of Buffalo, Byron Brown expressed pride at his City’s resilience and ability to work through the pandemic.

“We have achieved one of the best fiscal positions in our city,” Mayor Brown said, adding that not one city employee was laid off as a result of the pandemic.

Mayor Brown discussed the police reforms the City implemented in 2020, including banning choke holds and issuing appearance tickets instead of arrests for non-dangerous offenses.

"We've invested in non-lethal options for police officers to utilize to keep everyone safe in police interactions. We've created and deployed a specially trained behavioral health team to respond to mental health calls, along with mental health professionals from Endeavour Health Services," he said.

The Mayor also highlighted his Stand Up Buffalo program, which would financially aid in tenants, homeowners and small businesses.

"Finding the partners and the opportunity in this challenging time to ensure a safe, affordable and healthy housing units for all of our residents — that is what we do in Buffalo,” he said.

Watch Mayor Brown’s address here.

Mayor Melvin Carter III

St. Paul, MN

“At this moment, the state of our city is hopeful,” St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter said in his State of the City Address on May 27. He outlined a number of accomplishments from the past year and ongoing priorities, including economic recovery, racial justice, and public safety.

Early in the pandemic, the City launched the Saint Paul Bridge Fund to provide more than $4 million to families and small businesses most vulnerable to the economic impact of the crisis. Mayor Carter also launched a guaranteed income pilot program, which is providing 150 families with $500 monthly through early 2022 to make sure families with children can make ends meet.

Mayor Carter’s address came the week of the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.

“The peace we seek, the safety we seek, the security and stability we seek is only accessible by realizing the justice of sustaining safe, secure, and prosperous neighborhoods for all of our residents,” he said. “This is why in our city, we've continued our fight towards securing this justice for all our neighbors.”

Reshaping the relationship between the community and law enforcement has been one of Mayor Carter’s core goals since his inauguration in 2018. The City has revised policies to better distinguish between passive and aggressive resistance and to replace an outdated use of force continuum.

Following a rise in crime during the pandemic, St. Paul has also made a concerted effort to address gun violence, successfully getting more than 245 illegal guns off the streets so far this year.

Read Mayor Melvin Carter’s full address here.

Mayor Jane Castor

Tampa, FL

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor shared her 2021 State of the City virtually on June 2, addressing the city's progress in areas like affordable housing, transportation, resiliency, and development.

Mayor Castor set a city goal of adding 10,000 new affordable housing units by 2027. The city has invested $10.7 million in affordable housing efforts in the past two years alone.

The Mayor also outlined efforts to uphold her commitment to create resilient neighborhoods, including hiring a Sustainability and Resilience Officer and launching a comprehensive roadmap to address community needs — both firsts in the city’s history.

Business development is another main priority for Mayor Castor, especially supporting small, minority, and women-owned businesses. In 2020, the city worked with 60 women-owned businesses, totaling more than $9.2 million in contracts, and the Mayor added LGBTQ-owned businesses to city’s WMBE Equal Business Opportunity Program.

This year’s State of the City also featured a virtual tour of the places where Tampanians live, work, and play.

Watch the full video here, and view a State of the City fact sheet here.

Mayor Paige Cognetti

Scranton, PA

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti delivered her 2021 State of the City Address in City Hall this Spring, reflecting on an unconventional first year in office and the progress her administration achieved amid the challenges of 2020.

Public engagement and transparency were at the core of Mayor Cognetti’s vision for city government when she took office.

“We’ve held nearly 60 town halls and over 1,700 meetings,” she shared. “To keep our team here at City Hall accountable and open, we’ve begun our virtual town halls twice a week and implemented the 311 line that allows the people to report issues within the City with a quick response.”

Mayor Cognetti said that targeted efforts on budget and spending allowed the City of Scranton to weather the economic storm of the past year better than many of its peer cities. Her team is in close touch with the Biden administration to share what Scranton needs and how they can help them craft policies and programs that will deliver immediate results for families and businesses.

In the next year, education and workforce development efforts are at the forefront of Mayor Cognetti’s vision for Scranton.

“Our future is only as strong as the plans we put in place now and the young minds we
shape,” she said. “Every kid in Scranton is from the same place as the President – the bar is high and it’s on us to give each kid here the ability to achieve their dreams.”

Watch Mayor Cognetti’s full address here.

Mayor Joyce Craig

Manchester, NH

Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig delivered her State of the City Address in an open format to allow residents to engage and ask questions about her administration’s accomplishments and goals for the coming year.

Most of the dialogue addressed the City’s response to the pandemic. Mayor Craig discussed the $44 million Manchester is set to receive as part of the American Rescue Plan. Her office has received hundreds of public comments about how the money should be used. The majority of recommendations concern transportation, infrastructure and housing.

The City recently released an affordable housing report, which recommended the formation of a Housing Commission. Mayor Craig also hopes to boost Manchester's affordable housing fund in 2021.

“These funds provide the first real opportunity for the city of Manchester to really look at how we can increase affordable, workforce housing,” the Mayor said. “We know that is critically necessary.”

Watch Mayor Craig’s address here.

Mayor Robert Donchez

Bethlehem, PA

Mayor Robert Donchez delivered his final State of the City Address in late April, offering reflections from two terms as Mayor of Bethlehem and the city’s resiliency throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Mayor Donchez is unable to run for re-election in 2021 due to term limits.

Amid the pandemic, the City of Bethlehem remained committed to developing recreational areas, infrastructure, sustainable environmental practices, and a high quality of life for its residents, the Mayor said. He praised the Bethlehem Health Bureau in particular, which played a significant role in keeping Bethlehem Area School District “students and staff safe, healthy, and school doors open.”

Mayor Donchez has set the City of Bethlehem on a path to becoming more sustainable, including investments in 100 percent renewable electricity for municipal operations and cost-saving energy reduction initiatives.

“We will aim to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 33 percent by 2025, 60 percent by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2040,” he said.

Looking forward, Mayor Donchez is confident the city will continue to plan, adapt, and invest to meet the needs of its growing and diverse population.

“One thing is certain—our future is very bright and Bethlehem will continue to be the jewel of the Lehigh Valley,” he said.

Read the Mayor’s full address here.

Mayor Mike Duggan

Detroit, MI

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan delivered his 8th State of the City Address from the city’s new $1.6B Stellanis assembly plant, which will soon employ thousands of Detroiters. He discussed COVID-19 response and recovery, affordable housing and jobs during his address.

“Now the question is, who’s going to get the jobs?” Mayor Duggan asked. “What equity means is eliminating the barriers.”

The Mayor shared information about his People Plan, a $50 million investment over the course of five years with the goal of growing equity in the city. The People Plan will create opportunities for Detroiters through community health efforts, scholarships, training for skilled trade jobs and support for those with a criminal record.

Eliminating discriminatory practices like redlining is another priority for the City. “There should be a single rate for the state," Mayor Duggan said. "And I’m going to make it my business the next five years to keep going back to Lansing until we get rid of redlining altogether.”

Mayor Duggan also praised the Biden Administration's role in making transit more accessible in the city by providing 80 new buses for the DDOT fleet.

Watch Mayor Duggan’s address here.

Mayor Greg Fischer

Louisville, KY

Mayor Greg Fischer reflected on the challenges Louisville faced in 2020 and shared a bright vision for the future in his annual State of the City address.

His priorities for 2021 include addressing and eliminating COVID-19, rebuilding the city’s economy, advancing urgent goals for racial equity and justice, and reducing gun violence.

“We have all been tested in ways we’d never expected,” he said. “And while sometimes those tests found us wanting, we persevere, we keep moving, keep learning, keep working to heal our city and move forward.”

The city recently opened its first drive-through vaccination site and has undertaken efforts to get as many people vaccinated as efficiently as possible. However, the Mayor stressed the importance of continued measures like masks and social distancing to prevent more lives from being lost.

Last month, Mayor Fischer released a plan for advancing racial equity in seven key areas: Public safety; Children and families; Black employment; Black wealth; Housing and neighborhood investment; Health; and Voting. He also discussed the signing of Breonna’s Law, which bans no-knock warrants and expands requirements for use of body cameras.

Read Mayor Fischer’s full address here.

Mayor Eric Garcetti

Los Angeles, CA

“The state of our city is strong and bruised, bursting with joyous possibility while it cracks with sorrow. But if you ask me for one word that defines Los Angeles in 2021, I would tell you that we are becoming.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti delivered his annual State of the City address from the Griffith Observatory on April 19, presenting a budget and vision for the city that will focus on economic recovery, racial equity, homelessness, climate action, and more.

The Mayor described his eighth budget as a "roadmap to a city built on justice and equity," beginning with an urgent priority: ending the pandemic. The budget sets aside $75 million to deliver vaccines, testing, and PPE to Angelenos in all neighborhoods across the city.

"If job one is to end this pandemic, then job two and three and four, for every day as long as I am your mayor, is that we demand — and deliver — justice," Mayor Garcetti said.

His proposed "Justice Budget" includes $1 billion towards fighting homelessness, $25 million for relief checks for 5,000 businesses, $12 million for a new program to address institutional racism, and an additional $235 million in rental assistance.

Mayor Garcetti also announced that Los Angeles will soon launch the largest Guaranteed Basic Income pilot of any city in America. The pilot will provide $1,000 a month to 2,000 households for an entire year, no questions asked, to combat poverty anywhere it exists in the city.

"We’ve already seen evidence of success [with Guaranteed Basic Income] in cities like Stockton," he said. "When L.A. gets involved with a transformational issue, we don’t just follow — we lead."

Watch Mayor Garcetti's address here.

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird

Lincoln, NE

Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird delivered her annual State of the City Address at a Leadership Lincoln event last month.

“City government, when it's working like ours, frees people from worries about the basics of city living so they can instead focus on pursuing opportunities that improve their lives and their family's futures,” she said.

Mayor Gaylor Baird outlined accomplishments from her first two years in office, including expanded efforts on affordable housing and workforce development, new environmental initiatives, and success in leading the community towards recovery from the pandemic.

Approximately 73% of Lincoln residents 16 and older have been vaccinated, outpacing the rest of the state. The Mayor highlighted that the health department has undertaken significant efforts to reach out to Lincoln’s minority communities.

Mayor Gaylor Baird encouraged the community to come together as the pandemic continues.

“If you are feeling proud of our community, too, please take the time to spread the love,” she said. “Spread the love by doing something to take care of someone who needs support. Spread the love with a kind gesture, be it big or small. Of course, right now the most impactful gesture that shows you care for others is to get vaccinated.”

Watch Mayor Gaylor Baird’s full address here.

Mayor Andrew Ginther

Columbus, OH

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther delivered his annual State of the City Address on April 14, reflecting on the challenges of the past year and the unique opportunity this moment presents.

"We are still working to get to the other side of the pandemic, grappling with the need to reform police and end systemic racism,” Mayor Ginther said. "Columbus – and cities across the country – are seeing an unprecedented spike in violent crime. At the same time, there is great hope and a tremendous opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and to build back stronger.”

The City has made a strong effort to support and invest in residents since the onset of the pandemic, including a partnership with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to provide internet hot spots to students of Columbus City Schools.

Mayor Ginther noted that the pandemic has exacerbated existing disparities within the Columbus community. "Nowhere has that been more apparent than with crime – especially those crimes involving our youth both as victims and assailants,” he said.

The City has invested $2 million in CARES Act dollars for anti-violence efforts and continues to work with partners and community groups to curb violence. Mayor Ginther also highlighted the expansion of programs like ReRoute, Safe Streets, and Safe Neighborhoods.

Watch Mayor Ginther’s address here.

Mayor Todd Gloria

San Diego, CA

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria delivered his first State of the City address on January 13, covering a wide range of topics including pandemic response, housing and homelessness, transportation and mobility, sustainability, race and equity, and economic development.

When Mayor Gloria took office last month, he inherited a $150 million budget shortfall, largely due to tax revenue losses from major industries like entertainment and tourism.

“The state of our city is fragile right now, but I have faith it won’t be for much longer,” he said. “At our core, our city is strong because San Diegans are strong.”

Mayor Gloria shared a bold vision for the city’s future, including his "5 Big Moves" regional transportation network blueprint, a data-driven approach to improving streets, and efforts to improve walkability and pedestrian safety.

The Mayor plans to make changes to the city’s approach to combating homelessness, including by making mental health clinicians — not members of law enforcement — the first point of contact for people experiencing homelessness.

"We have to not only help people get off the streets. but stay off the streets," he said.

Read or watch his full State of the City address here.

Mayor Tim Keller

Albuquerque, NM

Mayor Tim Keller delivered his third State of the City address in a virtual format in March, reflecting on the challenges of the past year and outlining plans for the city's future. In addition to ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts, Mayor Keller's priorities include tackling crime, addressing homelessness, and boosting economic development.

Since Mayor Keller took office, his administration has created more than 4,000 new job opportunities, including projects with Netflix, Orion and NBCUniversal. He also shepherded in Albuquerque’s own "new deal," investing $200 million in new streets and sidewalks, two new community centers and a new library.

Addressing homelessness remains a chief priority for Mayor Keller. He discussed the City's agreement to purchase the Gibson Medical Center, which will serve as the first 24/7, low-barrier Gateway Center. In 2021, the Keller Administration will follow through on the largest investment for the unhoused population in Albuquerque's modern history, making the vision of an integrated behavioral health and homelessness system a reality.

Mayor Keller also shared a number of efforts the City has undertaken to support residents throughout the pandemic, including providing free childcare for frontline workers, $1 million in rental assistance for local families and individuals and nearly one million meals to seniors.

Watch Mayor Keller's State of the City Address here.

Mayor Emily Larson

Duluth, MN

Mayor Emily Larson looked towards the future in her April 5 State of the City Address, focusing on new initiatives to advance her vision for the City of Duluth.

"I promised to build a more inclusive, collaborative, fair, and sustainable city for all neighbors, across all neighborhoods. This core vision still guides me," she said.

Mayor Larson discussed Community Policing 2.0, an initiative aimed at creating a more community-oriented policing approach in which everyone feels safe. "I’ve directed our police department to engage with our community in a top to bottom Racial Bias Audit to identify problems and areas we need to address in our approach to policing," she said.

Mayor Larson announced the City will commit $2 million to create the Duluth Housing Trust Fund with the goal of creating more affordable housing. "It will help rehab or renovate dilapidated units to make them livable, develop infill sites, and support accessory dwellings on existing properties," she said.

The City will also create a 311 system to make it easier for residents to submit requests, ask questions, and make non-emergency reports.

Watch Mayor Larson's address here.

Mayor Sam Liccardo

San Jose, CA

Mayor Sam Liccardo focused primarily on COVID-19 recovery during his annual State of the City address, which was held virtually on December 30.

Though the City of San Jose has been “bruised and battered” in 2020, Mayor Liccardo said, he has been heartened by how deftly the community has come together to meet these challenges.

“Our faith instructs that while we remain physically apart, we still live in one community, one city, together,” he said. “It summons the collective resilience needed to emerge stronger from this pandemic — but only if we’re working together.”

Mayor Liccardo's main focus in 2021 will be to support struggling families and small businesses. He pledged to advocate for extending the statewide eviction moratorium and continue to urge Congressional leaders for more relief.

He will also bring forth a plan to reimagine policing and continue to invest in more resources for youth — especially youth of color.

“Let’s make San Jose the first city in America where no child’s trajectory is constrained by her ZIP code, immigration status, or race,” he said.

Watch his full address on his Facebook page here.

Mayor Lauren McLean

Boise, ID

In her second State of the City Address, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean spoke directly to the community about her priorities for housing, pathways, climate action, and more. She also highlighted residents’ continued resilience through the COVID-19 pandemic, and honored community heroes who have stepped up during a challenging year.

“From our earliest days, we are optimistic people who step up and care for each other,” Mayor McLean said. “We are creative, coming up with Boise solutions to challenges – which we see as opportunities. We work together to protect our residents and grow our economy all while addressing challenges, like climate, head on.”

The Mayor shared several upcoming initiatives and projects, including new affordable housing units and an online engagement tool to allow the community to provide input for the investment of American Rescue Plan dollars.

She also announced that the City of Boise is on track to beat its city government 100% clean electricity goal by 2023 – seven years ahead of its 2030 target.

Watch Mayor McLean’s full address here.

Mayor Erin Mendenhall

Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall delivered her second State of the City Address at the end of January, offering her vision of a more equitable and inclusive future for city residents.

“The pre-COVID status quo was not good for everyone. It wasn’t just for everyone, it wasn’t safe for everyone and it wasn’t fair for everyone,” she said. “Instead of Salt Lake City getting back to normal and re-creating what once was, we are seizing this opportunity and striving to make our city better.”

In addition to building pathways of opportunity for residents, Mayor Mendenhall plans to build on existing goals in regard to environmental sustainability, including evaluating efficiency goals and forming a Sustainable Infrastructure Steering Committee “to remove barriers to green infrastructure.”

Mayor Mendenhall also shared a number of achievements from her first year in office, including exploring zoning modifications to allow more affordable housing, improving public transit ridership, creating a joint resolution with the City Council to electrify the city’s transportation, and planting 1,000 trees in the city’s west side.

Watch Mayor Mendenhall’s State of the City Address here.

Mayor Jon Mitchell

New Bedford, MA

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell delivered his annual State of the City Address virtually on October 21, sharing updates on COVID-19 recovery efforts as well as accomplishments regarding the police and school departments, local small businesses, and the fishing industry.

The city is set to receive $64 million in federal relief funding, which “affords us a chance to grow the pie and reset the discussion about the importance of the city reinvesting in itself,” Mayor Mitchell said. He is submitting an outline of how the funds should be invested with the City Council in the near future.

The City of New Bedford continues to become a safer place to live, Mayor Mitchell said, thanking the Police Department and Neighborhood Task Force for their role in reducing crime rates.

“In 2020, as violent crime skyrocketed in cities across the country, it dropped in New Bedford some 5%. Property crime fell 21%. This continues a record of success over the last five years in which crime overall in the city has fallen 39%, one of the sharpest declines in the country,” he said.

Mayor Mitchell also celebrated the city’s rebounding economy and growing food scene. New Bedford has had more restaurants open than close during the pandemic.

Read his full State of the City Address here.

Mayor Andy Schor

Lansing, MI

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor delivered his fourth State of the City address virtually last week, discussing COVID-19, racial justice, economic recovery, small business support, and more.

Following the renewed push for racial justice and equity this summer, the City of Lansing has taken action in a number of areas. Mayor Schor worked with Lansing Police Chief Daryl Green to reform traffic stop policies for minor offenses and eliminate “no knock” searches. He also created the Mayor’s Racial Justice and Equity Alliance (MRJEA).

“We remain focused on ensuring everyone is able to access city resources and that all people are treated with the same level of respect and dignity regardless of the color of their skin or how they identify,” he said.

The City of Lansing will use nearly $1.5 million of Community Development Block Grant funds in a number of ways, including $600,000 towards emergency financial assistance and disaster planning training to small businesses; $100,000 in emergency financial assistance and disaster planning training to City of Lansing microenterprises; and an additional $780,000 to the city’s existing funding to prevent homelessness.

“Certainly, no one predicted a pandemic, or the economic challenges we would face as a result,” Mayor Schor said at the close of his address. “But I know we are all ready to move forward and focus on what is next for this wonderful community.”

Watch his full address here.

Mayor Brandon Scott

Baltimore, MD

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott delivered his first State of the City Address on his 100th day in office, highlighting his administration's initial progress towards building a safer, more equitable and more accountable Baltimore. He shared challenges and goals for the city in regards to education, jobs, public safety, economic development and more.

In order to ensure public safety agencies are working in partnership to address violence, Mayor Scott recently shared a request with Governor Hogan to restart the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which has been defunct.

“If combating crime was easy, everybody would do it. But it’s not,” Mayor Scott said. “Keeping neighborhoods safe is hard work, and it takes a comprehensive approach that requires all of us to play a role. And the vision I laid out for Baltimore is a major step forward.”

The Mayor also shared a number of new initiatives his administration will focus on in the weeks and months ahead, including launching "Open Checkbook" to explore City expenditures; taking action to ensure no one loses their home to tax sale during the pandemic; and establishing a local language access mandate to provide access to City services in languages beyond English.

Read Mayor Scott's State of the City Address here.

Mayor Frank Scott Jr.

Little Rock, AR

Mayor Frank Scott Jr. highlighted COVID-19 response, job growth and quality of life improvements in Little Rock during his annual State of the City Address in March.

“We’ve experienced historic job growth during a pandemic with nearly 4,000 new jobs — hear that again, 4,000 — since I took office,” Mayor Scott said.

One of the Mayor's primary goals for the year is to pass his proposed “Rebuild the Rock” one-penny sales tax initiative.

“Our sales tax is appropriate, transparent, and a timely response to a pandemic that knocked us down but didn’t take us out,” he said.

The tax would be dedicated towards infrastructure improvements, an affordable housing fund, a more robust economic development program, public safety efforts, improved early childhood education for infants and toddlers, and more.

Mayor Scott also announced he is asking the Little Rock Board of Directors to pass an ordinance to create a Health and Wellness Commission that will launch this year.

Learn more here.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh

Boston, MA

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh delivered his 2021 State of the City address on Tuesday, January 12, days after he was announced as President Biden’s nominee for Secretary of Labor. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Mayor Walsh will step down as Mayor.

Mayor Walsh reflected on the City of Boston’s enduring resiliency in the face of COVID-19.

“We may be hurting, but the state of our city is resilient; the state of our city is united; the state of our city is hopeful; and the state of our city is deep-down Boston strong,” he said.

The city’s ongoing priorities include getting kids safely back to school, supporting small businesses owners, ensuring all Bostonians have a safe and affordable place to live, and continuing to take measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 and distribute the vaccine.

Mayor Walsh also discussed how the murder of George Floyd “sparked a long-overdue reckoning with racism” and thanked Black Bostonians for making their voices heard. This summer, the City of Boston declared racism a public health crisis; launched a Health Equity plan to end the disparities for good; shifted millions of dollars into youth, trauma, and mental health programs; and enacted historic police reforms, with Black and Brown Bostonians leading the work.

He closed his speech by thanking the City of Boston and its people. “The truth is, I’m not going to Washington alone,” he said. “I’m bringing Boston with me.”

Read Mayor Walsh’s full address here.

Mayor Miro Weinberger

Burlington, VT

Mayor Miro Weinberger delivered his virtual State of the City address on April 5, describing the State of the City as "one of great hope." He outlined the ways in which Burlingtonians have worked together to contain COVID-19, and how, with the end of the pandemic in sight, the City is poised to emerge as a healthier, greener, more equitable and more racially just community.

Mayor Weinberger dedicated the majority of his remarks to the need to eradicate systemic racism from all aspects of life in Burlington and work towards securing racial justice for all Americans who are Black, Indigenous, or a person of color.

“We must acknowledge that racial justice is our most pressing emergency and our hardest challenge,” Mayor Weinberger said. “We simply cannot continue this way. We must make Burlington into a place where the children of color who make up 39 percent of the Burlington School District’s population can feel the same joy, experience the same safety, and access the same opportunities that white children are able to.”

The Mayor will soon issue an Executive Order to formalize the Racial Equity Toolkit that the City's Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) department created in 2020, and require its use every time a new policy or initiative is developed.

2021 State of the City Addresses

2022 State of the City Addresses

Democratic Mayors Association