In a mayor speech—similar to the State of the Union address—the leader of a city, town or village highlights his or her priorities and vision for the year. Mayors are usually elected for a six-year term by a local council, which is itself elected through direct universal suffrage in local elections held every six years.
Some mayors are tackling national issues through their local leadership, such as addressing federal tax policy, expressing views on immigration policies or highlighting initiatives that could be successfully scaled up to the national level. Others are focusing on reducing hate and false information in their communities, using their high profile positions to debunk rumors and encourage dialogue about difficult topics.
A growing number of cities are promoting public safety initiatives to educate residents and foster trust, with many increasing community engagement, improving communication and ultimately boosting crime prevention efforts. In 2019, 38 percent of speeches significantly covered public safety education and initiatives, an increase of 100 percent over 2018.
Increasing numbers of cities are encouraging ridesharing services in their communities. These services can help to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and provide economic mobility for residents. In 2019, 57 percent of speeches significantly covered infrastructure, with 17 percent of those mentioning ridesharing services—a 667 percent increase over 2018.
More mayors are implementing programs to rehabilitate or even raze blighted properties and revitalize their neighborhoods. These efforts can increase the availability of affordable housing, boost economic activity and support community stability and security. In 2019 68 percent of speeches featured significant coverage of this subtopic, up from 50 percent in 2018.