CLEVELAND — After 16 years, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson will deliver his final State of the City address. 

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Frank Jackson’s tenure as mayor ends at the end of the year

  • Jackson will deliver his final State of the City address Thursday

  • Members of the public are invited to Jackson’s speech

  • Justin Bibb or Kevin Kelley will become the next mayor of Cleveland in January

His address will be delivered from Cleveland Public Auditorium on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Those interested in attending can reserve tickets online. The Mayor’s Office says that masks will be required during Jackson’s address. 

“For the past 16 years, I have worked as mayor to stabilize the city, position it for the future and ensure that all can participate in a better quality of life,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “This is my last State of the City address and I look forward to speaking directly with residents not only about the past year, but also my vision for the future of this city.”

Jackson announced in May that he would not seek re-election for mayor. His departure will mean that either Justin Bibb or Kevin Kelley will become Cleveland’s next mayor in January. 

During Jackson’s first State of the City address, he said he would focus on the following areas:

  • Sound fiscal management
  • Fostering an environment that promotes job retention, job creation and investment
  • Developing a regional economy and cooperation
  • Providing educational excellence for children
  • Safety

During Jackson’s tenure, Cleveland has continued encountering a decreasing population as the city has one of the highest poverty rates in the U.S., according to census data. Jackson was also at the helm as the Department of Justice imposed a consent decree on the city’s police due to “practices that violated the U.S. Constitution and federal law.”

However, Cleveland had seen improved tourism figures and was becoming more of a draw for conventions prior to the pandemic. 

Jackson is the city’s longest-serving mayor after winning re-election in 2009, 2013 and 2017 by relatively comfortable margins. 

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