On Tues., Jan. 18, Mayor Linda Gorton gave her annual “State of the City-County Address” virtually; the topic — “Moving Lexington Forward.”
Today we’re breaking down her key talking points from Tuesday’s speech — giving you the rundown, without getting lost in the weeds.
The pandemic
The mayor acknowledged the hardships of the pandemic while highlighting key community success in fighting Covid-19.
- National recognition for the LEX DO THIS campaign
- The city’s partnership with Commerce Lexington to establish small business stimulus grants
- Partnerships between Lexington, UK, and the Health Department
Public safety
After discussing the pandemic Mayor Gorton began discussing public safety — calling it the most fundamental building block for any city.
- Violent crime is down 16% from the last five years
- The addition of six neighborhood resource officers in various communities
- Implementing mental health professionals + social workers to support police response
- Establishing ONE Lexington to prevent youth violence
Economics
Mayor Gorton was pleased to discuss the strength and resilience of Lexington’s economy.
- Unemployment has fully recovered from 2020 — our current unemployment rate is 2.4%
- She highlighted the successes of Amazon, Rubicon + Baptist Health in Hamburg
- Completion of a masterplan for the 200-acre Coldstream site for business development
Parks & Recreation
Mayor Gorton promised to keep downtown lively and fun while working to improve the quality of life for all Lexingtonians.
- The renovations of the new Central Bank Center
- Continued progress on Town Branch Park + Town Branch Commons Trail
- Renovations to Charles Young Park
- The new Manchester Hotel
Racial justice and equality
The mayor spoke proudly about the city’s effort to combat systemic racism.
- The establishment of civilian-led Disciplinary Review Board
- Appointing Tiffany Bowman as the Equity and Implementation Officer
- Created a Department of Housing
Environment
The mayor closed her speech by discussing the environment and the importance of protecting the beauty of the Bluegrass.
