2025 State of the City Speech
August 19, 2025
The Plaza Live
View the video
Orlando 150:
How Our Legacy of Reinvention and Rebirth Is Shaping Our Future
Good morning!
Let’s thank Shawn Welcome for another outstanding poem... as he concludes four years of service as our Poet Laureate!
What an amazing performance by the City Beautiful Voices!
They practice after work to be a part of community events.
Their performance is just another example of how our City team goes above and beyond for our residents.
Whether they’re collecting solid waste... or keeping us safe... they’re such an important part of our community.
So, before we get started, would you please help me recognize the City Beautiful Voices and our entire City team?
Thank you.
It’s a privilege to work alongside you!
---
This year, we’re celebrating Orlando’s 150th birthday!
If there’s one word that embodies our history, it’s reinvention.
Harnessing the power of reinvention... generation after generation... is what makes Orlando different and special.
From cattle and citrus...
To a military training epicenter that would help win World War 2...
To the growth of the aerospace industry... that would help launch America to the moon...
To leveraging that military legacy... as a leader in modeling, simulation and defense...
To becoming the world’s premier leisure destination...
To growing into a hub for bioscience and medical technology...
To becoming America’s new melting pot...
To our reputation for unmatched quality of life...
To building an opportunity ecosystem... and America’s number one community for job creation...
It is harnessing the power of reinvention... decade after decade... that’s made Orlando the place where everyone’s choosing to visit... choosing to invest... and, choosing to live!
---
We don’t have to look far to see the power of reinvention.
The Plaza Live... and the Milk District... are great examples.
In the late 18-hundreds, this was the heart of Florida’s citrus industry.
In the 1920’s a guy named Thomas Gilbert Lee... you may know him as TG Lee... turned one milk cow into a dairy empire.
As Orlando grew... cows roaming the city became, let’s just say, impractical.
So, our City passed an ordinance banning cows from our streets.
True story.
In the 50’s... this area was reinvented once more when the Colonial Shopping Plaza was celebrated as the “shopping center of tomorrow” and the largest retail development in Florida.
It was also the site of the city’s first movie theater.
Over the next several decades this building became a live music and arts venue where some of the biggest entertainers performed.
Recently, the Plaza reinvented itself once again with a 10-million-dollar remodel that was recognized with the state’s prestigious Landmark Preservation Award!
---
The Plaza’s recent evolution happened alongside the reimagination of the surrounding neighborhood... now known as the Milk District... into one of Orlando’s hottest spots for arts, dining and entertainment.
This is just one example of how our community has leveraged reinvention and rebirth as our engine of progress.
There are so many more.
As you might guess, we’ll explore some of these powerful stories this morning.
We’ll also have fun with some Orlando history trivia.
As we examine how our legacy of reinvention has shaped our present and is powering our future... we must recognize that the city we love today was not created by accident.
It’s the result of thoughtful planning... leadership that’s prioritized listening to what our residents want... and then leveraging partnership and collaboration to turn those shared aspirations into reality.
It’s the result of three important actions we have prioritized year after year... decade after decade:
- Doing the basics of local government and fiscal responsibility at the highest level
- Consistent, and strategic investment in our future
- Embracing bold innovation and big ideas
---
1 - THE BASICS
Let’s start with the basics.
In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to experience every level of government up-close.
What makes local government so unique and important... is that we don’t have to interpret what we think our residents want.
Our bosses... are with us every day.
They’re our neighbors, friends and coworkers.
They’re the residents who say hello at the grocery store.
If you think I’m kidding... there is no better forum for feedback than the check-out line at Publix!
We have the privilege of listening to what residents want and need... and working relentlessly to turn their priorities into reality.
Every city is different... with different priorities.
Year after year... Orlando’s residents have said they want the basics... the core functions of municipal government... done at the highest levels.
And, we deliver.
---
Our residents want, and deserve, a safe city.
That’s why keeping Orlando safe is our most important job.
That’s why we invest more money in police and fire protection than we collect in property taxes.
For example, last year our city generated 360 million dollars in property taxes.
We actually invested 406 million dollars in police and fire.
In fiscal year 2026... property tax collections increased by 21 million.
But, we increased our police and fire investment by 25 million.
This consistent investment to add officers... and ensure they have cutting edge technology and training... is a big reason why we’re seeing one of the largest reductions in crime in our history.
This year alone, homicides are down more than 50 percent... violent crime is down 14 percent... and residential burglaries are down almost 30 percent.
And, 100% of homicides have been solved.
---
Our residents want... super reliable trash, recycling and yard waste collection.
Every week, our solid waste team makes an incredible 189,000 stops... missing a pick-up only .03 percent of the time.
---
Our residents want a walk-able... bike-able city.
That’s why we’ve added 500 miles of sidewalks.
And, why we’ve grown our system of dedicated bike trails from just 8 miles.... to more than 84 miles.
---
Our residents want... great public parks and green spaces.
That’s why we’ve grown the amount of green space in our city by 25 percent in the last 20 years... and now have more than 46-hundred acres.
To give some perspective... 46-hundred acres is roughly one third of Manhattan.
Speaking of parks... who’s up for some trivia?
In 1883, this man known as the “Cattle King of Florida” offered to donate a strip of land he owned around Lake Eola on the condition that the city maintain it as a park.
Was he?
- A - E. H. Gore
- B - Jacob Summerlin
- C - E. W. Speir
- D - William C. Stubblefield
It’s “B” – Jacob Summerlin.
When you spend time in our parks you know his legacy is alive and well.
---
Our residents want city services that are easy to use and access.
That’s why we built a digital city hall where close to 400 city services are available 24/7.
Last year, we handled 75-thousand digital requests... everything from reporting potholes... to applying for permits... to registering kids for summer camp.
---
Our residents want transparency and accountability.
That’s why we’ve kept our millage rate unchanged for more than a decade.
That’s why we deliver a balanced budget every year.
That’s why our city is consistently recognized as one of the most fiscally responsible and well-managed local governments in America.
---
Our strong financial management allows us to fund projects that will shape our city for the next 150 years.
They include:
- A new training facility for our firefighters
- Two new fire stations in the rapidly growing southeast part of our city
- Renovations to the baseball fields in Azalea park
- Major improvements to Trotters Park
- Improvements to make Corrine Drive safer for pedestrians and cyclists
- Replacing aging Stormwater infrastructure to prevent flooding... in neighborhoods like Haralson Estates... Colonialtown... and Richmond Heights
- And, renovating one of our city’s most beloved outdoor amenities... Harry P. Leu Gardens
Some of these projects are exciting... like a new 14-acre park in Lake Nona with basketball and pickleball courts, a playground, splash pads, and walking trails.
But, much of what we’re doing... like lift station improvements, baffle boxes or wastewater system maintenance... won’t grab headlines.
But, they will... when they break.
We know this work can sometimes inconvenience residents, but this is critical infrastructure that we all depend on.
It’s important to note... even as demand for these core services has exploded because of our population growth... our strong financial management has allowed us to do this work without raising taxes.
That is something that should grab headlines!
---
When we talk about the basics, we naturally focus on projects and programs.
But, that doesn’t capture the full story of how doing so... helps create a stronger city.
If we want to see what the result of investing in the basics really looks like... meet Leslie Diaz.
Leslie grew up off Curry Ford Road, where she became a standout lacrosse player, earning a college scholarship.
But, in 2023, a family emergency forced her to give up her athletic dreams, graduate early and come home to help her parents.
Without the rigor of college sports, she struggled to find her passion and purpose.
That’s when she began working with our Englewood Kidz Zone.
While there, she learned about the Orlando Fire Department’s cadet program... an effort to attract more women to the profession... and remove barriers for Orlando residents from all backgrounds to pursue careers in firefighting.
A chance meeting with program leaders... sparked her interest.
Fast forward to today... and Leslie has found what she calls her dream job at the intersection of teamwork, physical activity and helping others.
She was chosen as her class leader... and will graduate next year as an Orlando firefighter.
Although Leslie isn’t with us this morning because she’s in an EMT class... we are grateful she’s chosen to serve and protect us!
2 – INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE
When we do the basics right... it allows our residents to look beyond day-to-day needs and focus on shaping the future we want for our city.
That’s why the second action we have prioritized year after year... is continually planning for... and investing in our future.
This is especially important in a city that’s grown so fast throughout its 150-year history.
---
Got another trivia question for you.
At the time of its incorporation in 1875... the town of Orlando’s population was only 85.
Today, our population exceeds 335 thousand.
Does anyone know which decade saw our greatest population increase?
It was the 1920’s... a period known as the “Great Florida Land Boom.”
---
We stand on the shoulders of incredible leaders and visionaries... who showed us why investing in our future is so important.
In the early 1980’s, Mayor Bill Frederick saw a town that was about to explode in popularity and population.
He worked with our community to make an historic investment in modernizing our transit infrastructure and to essentially “re-plumb” Downtown.
This would set the stage for Downtown Orlando to become the economic and cultural hub of Central Florida that we know today.
Mayor Frederick is also the answer to the question... what local leader helped blow up the former Orlando City Hall as part of the movie, Lethal Weapon 3!
For the record, I have not been offered any film roles.
---
Similar to Mayor Frederick’s time, our current population boom has come with both challenges and opportunities, particularly when it comes to housing.
The influx of residents choosing to call Orlando home fuels our economy, enriches our culture, and drives innovation.
But, it’s also increased housing demand faster than supply can keep up, increasing costs dramatically... and forcing people to make tough choices.
Our residents are asking us to help solve this complex challenge.
At its core, housing is about choice.
Everyone deserves the ability to choose housing that fits their lives... a studio near work... a townhouse for a growing family... or a single-family home in a walkable neighborhood.
But choice only exists when there’s enough housing to meet demand.
Right now, that’s not the case.
With 1,500 people moving to our community each week... at this moment... we’d need almost 10-thousand additional units just to meet current demand.
In less than ten years, we’ll need another 50-thousand units.
That’s why we’re reinventing our approach to housing, rooted in the belief that every new unit matters... whether it’s a single-family home, a townhome, an apartment or an accessory dwelling unit.
That’s why we’re removing barriers and investing in infrastructure, to make it easier for private sector developers to deliver residential units our community needs.
We have worked quickly to create a pipeline that has delivered:
- 9,200 units under construction
- 18,000 units approved or in permit review
- New zoning in place for close to 47,000 new units
We’re also continuing to unlock new opportunities through modernizing land use and zoning.
For example, our Orlando Unlocked initiative helps increase density in ways that strengthen neighborhoods... enabling granny flats, townhomes and apartments to be built in more locations throughout the city.
---
Another way we’re creating housing solutions... is through the power of infill development.
If you haven’t been to the area where Orange Blossom Trail meets Princeton Street lately, you’re in for a surprise.
Through a partnership with Dr. Phillips Charities, this former industrial area has been transformed into The Packing District... a new live-work-play corridor with an emphasis on urban agriculture that includes:
- The 4 Roots Farm
- A new YMCA
- A Publix and retail district that’s easing the “food desert” dynamic on our city’s west side
- A food hall
- Almost 800 new housing units... with a wide range of options from studio apartments... to townhomes
- The 85-acre Grove Park – that includes green space, the new Orlando tennis center, a wetland area, and a future dog park
---
Here in this neighborhood... The Milk Stacks is another example of this approach to reimagining under-utilized space.
We worked with Atrium Development to create a variation on the traditional apartment that includes "live / work units" that combine residential spaces with commercial areas, including retail storefronts, fostering a blend of living and entrepreneurial opportunities within the same building.
---
The Milk Stacks is important for what it is.
But, it’s also important for where it is.
That’s in one of our 12 Main Street districts.
In 2008, our city reinvented the way we support small businesses.
We began working with our neighborhoods to create and grow their commercial districts into organic, authentic ecosystems that emphasized local, independent businesses.
17 years later... we now have a dozen Main Streets.
17 years later... our nationally-recognized Main Streets are responsible for:
- More than 2.4 billion dollars in economic impact and neighborhood improvement
- Nearly 3-thousand new businesses
- Close to 15-thousand jobs
- 177,000 volunteer hours
- 30 Michelin Guide recognized restaurants
- And, more than 300 yearly events
Our Main Streets are also a big reason why Orlando tops so many “Best city to start a business” lists... year after year!
Our 12 Main Street Directors are here with us!
Please, give them a hand.
---
These numbers and accolades are great.
But, they don’t capture the full impact of our Main Streets.
If we want to see what investing in our future... and investing in small businesses... really looks like... I’d like to introduce you to Ashley and Izzy.
During the pandemic, Ashley turned the cookies she was baking out of a small kitchen in their apartment into a business... “Phat Ash Bakes.”
Over the last five years, this couple made what at first glance might appear to be a typical bake shop... into a business that’s anything but typical.
They’ve turned cookie making into art.
Whether it’s their one-of-a-kind social media presence... or the “bake night” events where they bring people together to share treats and conversation... Phat Ash Bakes has earned a legion of devoted customers.
Earlier this year, they opened a retail location at the Milk Stacks.
Ashley reinvented her career in our city.
She and Izzy are with us today.
Please stand so everyone can meet you.
I think I speak for every cookie-loving resident when I say... we are grateful you’re following your dreams in the city we share!
3 – BOLD INNOVATION
Investing in our future has fueled so much of the progress we’ve experienced... and the unmatched quality of life we share.
It’s also empowered our residents to dream big.
That’s why the third action we’ve prioritized... is embracing bold innovation and big ideas.
---
As we said earlier, we stand on the shoulders of incredible visionaries.
Another is Mayor Glenda Hood, who served from 92 until 2003.
From World War 2 until the 90’s... the area we know as Baldwin Park was a huge military training facility.
When the Navy closed the base, Mayor Hood faced the challenge of losing its economic impact... and having what was described as a “thousand-acre hole in the heart of the City.”
Believe it or not, Baldwin Park was controversial.
Skeptics criticized the idea of master-planning an entire neighborhood from scratch around the principles of walkability, conservation and a live-work-play dynamic.
Because of Mayor Hood, Baldwin Park is a global model for adaptive re-use and urban redevelopment.
In honor of her contributions to our city, we’re excited to announce that we are renaming the park around Lakr Baldwin in her honor!
---
The success of Baldwin Park... gave us the confidence to continue to champion bold ideas.
That’s exactly what we did in Lake Nona by reinventing cow pastures into one of the world’s great new bioscience and medical industry clusters... surrounded by neighborhoods that prioritize walkability, wellness and quality of life.
It took time and careful planning for everything to fall into place... like securing one of the largest VA hospitals in the country.
But, Lake Nona has surpassed our wildest dreams.
The great news is, with our partners at Tavistock, we’re not even close to tapping its full potential.
The Medical City is growing... with UCF’s new college of nursing... and the Plug-And-Play Innovation Platform at Guidewell that will help attract health-tech start-ups.
Innovative companies that are creating the careers of tomorrow like Blue Origin and NuView are choosing Lake Nona for their operations.
The area will continue to serve as a model for smart growth as we bring SunBridge to life, with:
- 5,700 single family homes
- 1,600 multifamily units
- 500 new hotel rooms
- More than 9 million square feet of industrial, office and retail space
These are huge numbers that help create housing solutions and diversify our economy.
But, the true magic of SunBridge lies in the way it’s designed as Florida’s most sustainable and environmentally integrated community.
---
It wasn’t long after Lake Nona Came into being... that our community embraced another big, bold idea... reinventing Downtown into a true sports, arts and entertainment destination and providing our residents with world class amenities.
It's hard to believe we're celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Kia Center... the 10th anniversary of the Dr. Phillips Center... and are working to upgrade Camping World Stadium so it can continue to host major sporting events and concerts.
In the last year alone, our venues hosted a combined twelve-hundred events, bringing three million people to Downtown!
---
Our venues gave us the confidence to dream big when we were figuring out the best use for the old Amway Arena site.
We could have done a lot of ordinary things with 68 acres in the heart of our Downtown.
Instead, we chose to shoot for the moon.
One of the reasons why, is very personal.
You see... I have the privilege of serving as your mayor.
But, I am... and always will be.... a dad first.
When we started working together... it was clear we needed to do more to connect our community, and our young people, with greater opportunity.
This was especially true in Parramore.
We had a big, bold idea.
What if we could reinvent these 68 acres into a true “village?”
Not just collection of academic buildings.
Not just an area where innovation companies are next to one another.
And, not just a large redevelopment project that’s neighbors with an historic African American neighborhood.
But, rather, a true village where these elements are strategically connected... and where each part strengthens the other.
A true village designed not only to drive economic growth—but with deep, intentional connections to the Parramore community around it.
A true village... with the power to change the lives of those who live there... work there... learn there... or spend time there.
Today, this audacious vision is a reality.
Today, our Creative Village is home to:
- More than 1,000 employees at Electronic Arts' Orlando studio
- The UCF and Valencia Downtown campuses and the world’s best graduate video game program
- The ACE school next door... and FAMU Law School around the corner
- A true cradle to career pipeline in the Parramore community.
And today, Creative Village is more than a redevelopment project—it’s a blueprint for Orlando’s future….and a pathway for our children’s future.
If we want to see what the world-changing power of Creative Village really looks like... meet Kei’anna (key-anna) Mims.
Kei’Anna has been involved with the Parramore Kidz Zone since 9th grade.
As many of you know... we created PKZ in 2006 with the goal of reducing juvenile crime, improving school performance, and helping children succeed… through early childhood programs, tutoring, mentoring, college prep, mental health services and family assistance.
In addition to PKZ, Kei’Anna took part in My Sister’s Keeper and our Youth Employment Program.
Kei’Anna is a proud member of the Jones High School Class of 2025.
She received the Rosen Scholarship and the Valencia Access Scholarship.
Starting this week, Kei’Anna will attend Valencia’s Downtown Campus, where she plans to major in construction management.
Each step of the way, her city believed in her... invested in her... and built a pathway that matched her ambition... that allowed her to pursue big, bold dreams without having to leave her neighborhood.
Kei’Anna is with us this morning.
Please, so everyone can meet you.
Your City is so proud of you!
---
Our commitment to embracing big ideas and bold innovation continues to shape our future and create a higher quality of life... which includes ease of mobility.
Our airport is an important part of that legacy... from playing a pivotal role in World War 2.... to becoming the venue that helps transport 60 million visitors to our community every year.
Our airport is also where we’re pioneering the next generation of transportation, and it’s the only place in Florida where planes, trains and automobiles truly converge.
We’re already connecting Orlando and south Florida with Brightline.
But, we must dream bigger and embrace bold transit innovation.
That’s why we’re working to connect SunRail to the airport and expand operations to nights and weekends.
That’s why we’re working with partners like Universal Orlando to connect SunRail with Brightline... and make the Sunshine Corridor a reality.
This will create a true regional rail network that connects our entire area to our airport and hospitality district... and then to Tampa.
But, it doesn’t stop there.
“Advanced air mobility” is the next great leap in transportation.
It’s going to be the next great leap in logistics and delivery...the defense industry... and even public safety.
It will unlock massive economic opportunity... and create a higher standard of living.
We want to be the place where this game-changing technology is pioneered, tested and deployed... and where the companies making it all happen call home.
That’s why we’re preparing Orlando to be one of the first communities in America to welcome flying cars and taxis.
That’s why we’re embracing drone technology... that will soon deliver goods to our homes from the air... and that has the potential to reinvent the way we do everything from responding to emergencies to doing inspections on buildings, roads and bridges.
Much of this may sound like science fiction right now.
And, it probably sounded the same way when the communities that helped pioneer America’s greatest advances started doing so... with the web and the smart phones we rely on.
If we close our eyes and imagine the future we want for Orlando... we can reinvent our beloved City Beautiful, once again, into a true statewide multimodal transit hub.
We can reinvent ourselves into “Air-Lando” – America’s home for advanced air mobility!
---
The final area where residents have said they want to embrace big ideas... is in sustainability and resiliency.
Nearly 20 years ago, we began a journey to become the most sustainable city in the southeast.
Key to our journey was the commitment to achieve 100 percent clean energy for municipal operations by 2030.
Yes, this is about fighting climate change.
But, it’s also about saving money and increasing operational efficiency.
It’s about protecting our finite resources... like our water and land.
It’s about making our community more resilient to the extreme weather we experience.
And, it’s about the jobs of the future... energy independence... and positioning our city and state at the forefront of the solar economy.
Sustainable investment... is just that, investment.
It’s up-front investment that pays for itself over time... and then generates a return in dollars, jobs and other tangible benefits.
For example...
- Our recycling program takes things that can be re-used out of our waste stream... thereby extending the life of our landfills... so we don’t have to build more landfills to serve our exploding population. I can think of a lot better uses for our precious land, can’t you?
- We invested in energy efficiency upgrades at 60 city buildings. Those upgrades now generate a 2.5-million-dollar savings in energy costs. We used those savings to pay for the upgrades and fund more than half the cost of the new Orlando Police headquarters.
- Adding electric vehicles to our fleet now saves us more than 60 thousand dollars in annual fuel costs.
- Our Orlando Wetlands Park continues to be a global model for sustainability. It’s a 1,600-acre wetland that safely and naturally filters wastewater. It’s a “mini-everglades” that’s become a worldwide destination for nature-based recreation.
There are more examples, big and small.
The bottom line is... they add up to real savings.
And, they make us more resilient to the impacts of hurricanes, summer storms and extreme heat.
Today, we’re excited to announce that our city will meet our goal of 100 percent clean energy for municipal operations... a full three years early in 2027.
In doing so, we will be among the first major cities in America to reach this achievement!
CLOSING & RECOGNITIONS
In closing today...
We’ve obviously focused on the results of 150 years of reinvention and rebirth.
But, we must always remember the City we love is only possible because of our residents.
That’s every one of you.
Our neighborhood groups.
Our faith leaders.
Our civic groups.
Our small business owners.
There are so many partners and friends to recognize, bear with us while we say thank-you to a few.
First, our City Commissioners:
- Jim Gray
- Tony Ortiz
- Robert Stuart – who is not here with us because he and his wife are celebrating their 49th anniversary
- Patty Sheehan
- Shan Rose
- Bakari Burns
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is here.
Our Member of Congress... Representative Maxwell Frost.
---
As we look at this crowd... we have more elected officials from every level of government and from all party affiliations... than we’ ever had before.
What a testament to our focus on collaboration and partnership.
Although we can’t name them all... we appreciate you.
Please, stand and let us recognize you.
---
My wife, Susie is also here.
My sons Trey and Drew and their spouses Hannah and Olivia... and our grandson Forest.
And, my mom Nancy is also here.
Thank you all for your love and support.
---
Our residents are responsible for so many great days in the City Beautiful over the last 150 years.
But, it’s perhaps our worst day that showed the enduring power of our people.
On June 12, 2016... 49 angels were taken from us at the Pulse nightclub.
We’re proud to be moving forward with a memorial that will be complete in 2027.
But, what I remain most proud of is the way our community showed the true measure of its shared character on that dark day.
There’s just something special about our residents... whether you’ve lived here your whole life... or just joined us.
It’s like we all seem to share a common trait in our hearts... and a common bond.
It’s a bond that prioritizes treating each other with respect... with compassion... and with understanding.
It’s a bond that recognizes that welcoming those from different backgrounds only makes our community more vibrant.
It’s a bond that understands that we have so much more in common... than what divides us.
It’s my sincere belief that this bond, more than anything else, will help Orlando own the next 150 years!
Thank you so much.
God bless America.
And, God bless the City of Orlando.
###