TOLEDO, Ohio - In her second State of the City address, Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks Hudson emphasized the city's goal to become a 21st century city.
"It is a city that is safe. People can live, raise their families and age in place in our neighborhoods that are livable and walkable. It is a city that engages its citizens and taxpayers in meaningful communication so that we can be responsive in a timely fashion. And it is where decisions are made based upon data and information using technology to execute these decisions. We are not there yet, but we are working with this goal in mind," Hicks Hudson said, describing the features of a 21st century city.
The Mayor spoke for nearly 40 minutes, laying out the year's priorities for her administration. She emphasized recent announcements by companies bringing jobs to the Glass City, as well as praised small businesses that have opened over the last year.
Hudson also addressed recent efforts to create a regional water partnership. She said the city will work with suburban communities, but that the city will continue to own the water infrastructure in whatever partnership may be formed.
"We will continue to work with TMACOG (Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments) and others as we go through this process, but let me be clear: I am committed to ensuring to the future Toledoans that we will continue to own our water treatment system and any new arrangements concerning regional water must acknowledge Toledo's past and present contributions to this incredible, incredible, precious asset that we have," Hicks Hudson said.
The Mayor also praised the Toledo Police Department and Chief George Kral for their work in community policing and engagement. She said that her administration has budgeted for new police and fire classes in 2017.