GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – ‘Jobs, Justice, and Joy’ were the primary focus of Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich’s State of the City address at the Green Bay Botanical Garden on Tuesday evening.
In his first state of the city address after being elected in April 2019, Genrich highlighted a number of different topics.
“Focusing on some of the work we’ve been able to do with regards to economic development over the last couple years. We’re also touching on work that we’ve done in terms of diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, and then also highlighting some local artists here and talking about the importance of investing in those as priorities as well,” Genrich told WTAQ News.
But especially in the wake of the year that was 2020, where does Genrich feel the state of the city actually sits?
“The word that I would use is resurgent. Obviously, we went through a very difficult time as all communities did during this era of COVID, but things have bounced back really strongly…I feel good about where things stand and I am very optimistic about our future,” Genrich said. “We celebrated the 4th of July, and having thousands and thousands of people down there on the river and in Leicht Park and visiting the downtown businesses, that was a great feeling and I think it’s just an indication of what things are gonna look like in in the months ahead.”
He added that it’s hard to encapsulate exactly how well people responded to the pandemic and dealt with a situation that most people never even contemplated happening.
“Social and familial bonds are everything to us, and the fact that we’ve lived through that has reinforced how vital those bonds are. And then the second thing is that we’re really capable of dramatic immediate change,” Genrich said.
Genrich also spoke about how the city’s finances have improved, expanding city services and new initiative during the address. You can hear the full speech right here:
