February 14, 2020
Last night, I was honored to give the
first State of the City address of my second term. You elected me
to continue to move this city forward with shared prosperity and equity, and
the plan I laid out will do exactly that.
In short, the State of the City is
strong, but in order for Columbus to reach its full potential as America’s
Opportunity City, we must grow dynamically and inclusively.
My priorities are birth-to-five,
diversity and inclusion, neighborhoods, public safety and health, economic
development, affordable housing, innovation and sustainability. But ultimately
they are all about equity.
We live in a country that is more
segregated than ever, and we continue to live more segregated lives. I know there
are divisions right here in Columbus – last night, there was a protest by a few
concerned, passionate residents. In my speech, I addressed some of their
issues. While I respect their right to protest, I hope they will also accept
the invitation my office has extended to meet and discuss how we can work
together.
Real change is not quick or
easy. It can be messy and frustrating. We need everyone to show up, learn
from all voices and be willing to learn and change to close this divide.
I believe our best days are still
ahead of us, and I know we will get there together.