Mayor Freeman Delivers His First State of the City Address: “Elevate Mesa”

May 6, 2025 at 3:55 pm

In his first State of the City address, Mayor Mark Freeman outlined a bold vision to Elevate Mesa by building on the City's deep-rooted history and accelerating its rise as one of Americas most dynamic and desirable cities.

The Mayor introduced Elevate Mesa as a commitment to enhancing the City through strategic investments, strong neighborhoods, economic opportunity, and public safety.

We need to grow in a way that makes life better for everyone - protecting what makes our city special while creating new opportunities, said Mayor Mark Freeman. That means investing in our future in ways that strengthen neighborhoods, support local businesses, and keep Mesa thriving for generations to come.

Highlights from the address include:

- Public Safety:Mesas total person and property crime rate has dropped nearly 40% over the past decade, making it one of the safest large cities in the U.S. Through the Public Safety Bond, Mesa is investing over $62 million to modernize its police headquarters and expand facilities.

-Water Security:Mesa continues to lead in water stewardship. Infrastructure projects like the Central Mesa Reuse Pipeline add 12,000 acre-feet of water annually to the Citys supply, reinforcing Mesas 100-year assured water supply designation.

- Affordability and Services:Mesa remains a full-service city without a primary property tax or food tax. The City delivers high-quality services while maintaining lower costs than many neighboring communities, leveraging its utilities to reinvest in infrastructure.

- Education and Workforce:Mayor Freeman highlighted Mesas strong education network, including Mesa Community Colleges 60th anniversary, and emphasized the citys youthful, educated workforce.

- Economic Growth:In FY2024, Mesa added 2,625 new jobs and $5 billion in capital investment. In 2025, the City is already on track to surpass those figureswith 2,383 new jobs, $2.39 billion in investment, and an average wage of $66,000. Growth in sectors like manufacturing, aviation and retail is fueling Mesas economy.

- Downtown and Neighborhood Revitalization:Programs like the Downtown Faade Improvement Program and new venues like the Neon Garden are bringing renewed life into Mesas core, while the Asian District and Southeast Mesa are seeing transformative growth in housing, culture and commerce.

We must ensure that as we expand, we stay true to what makes Mesa specialpreserving our identity, our culture, and our way of life while embracing innovation and progress, said Mayor Mark Freeman.

To watch the full State of the City address or learn more about Mayor Freemans top priorities, visit: https://youtu.be/1A9dXXkzvgw.