CINCINNATI — John Cranley will deliver his final State of the City address as Cincinnati’s mayor Tuesday night at TQL Stadium.
What You Need To Know
- Cincinnati’s 2021 State of the City address is Tuesday at 6 p.m.
- The event at TQL Stadium will be John Cranley’s final State of the City address as Cincinnati’s mayor
- The speech provides an overview of the status of important local topics, including things like the economy, development, crime and, this year, COVID-19
- Cranley, who is running for governor, will likely highlight milestones achieved during his time as mayor
Cranley, 47, is expected to begin his speech at 6 p.m. It will air live on CitiCable (Channel 23 in Cincinnati). It will also stream online at www.cincinnati-oh.gov/media.
The annual address provides the mayor with a platform to discuss the current status of the city of Cincinnati. Topics covered include major city milestones and the condition of the local economy.
Viewers can expect to hear about new projects and initiatives as well. Given the location of this year’s speech, it’s safe to assume Cranley will mention the new stadium in the West End neighborhood.
Typically, the speech will also outline challenges facing the city, as well as the administration’s plans to address them. One such example this year will be COVID-19.
In February, Cranley released a series of “State of the City” videos in which he touched on the pandemic. Other segments focused on issues of crime, poverty, economics, transportation and racial justice.
Cranley, in past years, has also used the speech to shine a spotlight on individuals and events that have had positive effects on the city — nonprofit organizations, humanitarians and city employees, to name a few.
He has named a Cincinnatian of the Year during each address. In 2019, the distinction went to Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen.
In most years, the address would serve as a public announcement of his legislative proposals and policy direction for the upcoming year. But Cranley is term-limited, having served the maximum eight years in office, so he cannot seek re-election.
Cranley launched in August his campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor in Ohio. He’ll face off against Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley for the party bid.
On Tuesday, Cranley is likely to highlight some of the accomplishments he’s achieved since taking office in 2013. Throughout his campaign, he has highlighted Cincinnati’s continued resurgence, often referring to it as “The Cincinnati miracle” or “Cincinnati comeback” story.
“We are the only major city in Ohio to have been declining in population and to make a comeback, reaching over 300,000 residents for the first time in over a decade,” Cranley said during the 2019 State of the City at Memorial Hall.
Other topics mentioned by him on the campaign trail include a plan to create more well-paying jobs, implementing high-speed internet across Ohio and bringing manufacturing back to the state.
He has also been vocal about his plans to legalize marijuana. He has said the revenue made from legalization will go toward education as well as construction to fix roads and bridges.
