Rochester Mayor Malik Evans delivered the 2024 State of the City address on Wednesday.

"Rochester’s neighborhoods are more diverse than ever before," Evans said. "Our businesses have more opportunities to succeed than ever before. Rochester’s jobs are more varied and expansive than ever before. Our public spaces and public accommodations are more accessible, more barrier-free and more welcoming than ever before."

Evans delivered the speech from the Arbor Midtown entertainment venue in the Lincoln Alliance Building and spoke on the city's economy, public safety, and the goal of creating a safe, equitable and prosperous city.

"We are making improvements, pursuing growth, and building equity," Evans said. "We still have work to do. But as my mother used to say, thank God we aren’t where we were. Look at where we are and you see a Rochester that, for the first time in more than 70 years, is nurturing growth and gaining value. You see a city where people in every neighborhood are building equity and creating generational wealth. A city where parents strive to leave their children a legacy—not just an inheritance—but a legacy."

Evans touted partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that have focused on violent offenders, illegal guns and areas with high-levels of violence. He also spoke on recruitment efforts for fire and emergency communications departments, the re-booting of the Pathways to Public Safety Program for high schoolers and safety upgrades to streets and sidewalks.

"In the two years I’ve been in office, shootings, firearm-related deaths, and total homicides have all declined significantly," the mayor said. "Shootings are down 31%. Firearm-related deaths are down by 29%, and total homicides have fallen by 32%. And those numbers continue to fall."

Evans says the Rochester Police Department confiscated more than 800 illegal guns off the streets last year at a rate of more than two per day.

The mayor also spoke on programs designed to focus on residents achieving economic mobility and generational wealth, including the Rochester Peace Collective, Community Vanguard program, the Office of Financial Empowerment, the KIVA Rochester program, the Business Start and Growth Entrepreneurial Training Program, the Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program, the Buy the Block homeownership program, and the Lead Service Water Line Replacement Project.

Evans said that the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty is to provide secure, affordable housing either through renting or home ownership. The mayor says the city has completed or started projects to build or renovate more than 1,000 market-rate rental units and almost 1,700 affordable units. This $685 million investment includes 72 units for extremely low-income residents and 689 for very low-income residents.

As for capital projects, Evans discussed the ROC the Riverway Waterfront Revitalization program, the Inner Loop North Revitalization, and the Bulls Head Revitalization program.  

"From the beginning of 2022 through the end of this year, we’ll have started or completed more than 40 transformational infrastructure projects for a total investment of almost $300 million, creating more than 3,000 construction jobs," Evans said.

The mayor provided a bright outlook for the city as it stands now, and where it hopes to be in the future.

"We are doing these things, and Rochester is better than it ever was," Evans said. "Rochester is better than it ever was and getting better with each new day. And now I’m asking you to join me again. Join me today to perceive the new things that we are springing forth. Recognize and embrace these new paths we are creating. These new rivers that will continue to inspire hope and deliver opportunity, for everyone. Join me, Rochester, as we move to a prosperity mindset—together. Join us as Rochester grows—together."

Evans ended his address with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.

"[King] stated, 'And so let us go out and work with renewed vigor to make the unfolding work of destiny a reality in our generation. We must not slow up. Let us keep moving.'"

The full State of the City can be viewed below: