The mayor (or city council president in some places) delivers an annual State of the City address. The presentation outlines accomplishments and vision for the future. It is a popular way to build community support for local projects and issues.

This year, New York City Mayor Eric Adams laid out a “Working People’s Agenda” in his second State of the City speech. The plan focuses on addressing the needs of working residents, including jobs, safety, housing and care.

Across the country, more cities are implementing blight elimination programs to revitalize neighborhoods and improve economic opportunities for residents. Additionally, some mayors are discussing programs designed to help students achieve better high school graduation rates. Meanwhile, recreational marijuana and the opioid crisis continue to be top concerns in many communities. Mayors have taken a variety of approaches to these topics, from changing zoning codes to filing lawsuits against marijuana regulation.

Many cities are also encouraging their residents to reduce car usage and rely on ridesharing services such as scooters and bikes. This trend is supported by the rise of smart transportation technologies that allow cities to manage and track traffic, air quality and other infrastructure data. In addition, more mayors are addressing the role of their community in national problems such as climate change, immigration policy and public safety.