Erie Mayor Joe Schember's 'State of the City' address: things to know
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Public safety.
Finances.
Community development.
Federal funding.
Diversity.
Erie Mayor Joe Schember touches on those topics and others in his annual State of the City address, which will air on WQLN-TV Thursday at 8 p.m.
The address will also be rebroadcast on Sunday at 2 p.m., according to WQLN's website.
Here are some of the topics the mayor will discuss:
Police recruitment and public safety:
Schember will mention the city's efforts to increase diversity within the ranks of the city's police and fire bureaus. City officials are also launching a plan to upgrade city of Erie firehouses by the end of 2022.
From 2020: Erie police strive to build diverse force
American Rescue Plan funds:
The city received $76 million from the federal pandemic relief plan; Schember will outline city plans for that money. The city plans to use ARP funds for various projects focused on blight, housing rehabilitation, assisting businesses and entrepreneurs, funding environmental cleanups; public safety/police hiring, improving parks/creating new green space, and a host of other initiatives.
ARP money: Housing help, business grants and more: Erie City Council OKs $31M deployment of COVID funds
City policies and procedures/diversity:
The city has hired consultants to examine city policies, programs and procedures, "to identify any inherent racism and to ensure that we are promoting diversity, equity and inclusion as a natural part of how the city functions," according to Schember.
Racial justice scholar: Erie's inclusion push largely about 'common human decency'
Downtown development:
Schember will highlight the work/projects of groups of the Erie Downtown Development Corp. and the Erie Downtown Partnership to improve amenities and bring events and new businesses to downtown Erie.
Improving neighborhoods:
The city's efforts to support neighborhood groups, promote youth development and tackle blight are highlighted.
Kevin Flowers: Local leaders say Erie Refocused has started to 'move the needle' of community progress
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Joe Schember's State of the City: What you'll hear from Erie mayor's address
