Mayor Levar M. Stoney used his final State of the City address to reflect on his administration’s accomplishments over the past seven years, while also signaling Richmond’s bright future.

When he came into office in 2017, Mayor Stoney said Richmond was like an “underdog.”

“We were a city that had been overlooked, discounted; a city whose story had allegedly already been written,” he explained. “Well, we refused to accept that ... so we rolled up our sleeves and got to work.”

And he said that work has transformed the city, with progress on many of the issues plaguing Richmond.

“[Richmond is] a city that people are moving to, instead of leaving. A city currently ranked the #1 place to live in Virginia,” Mayor Stoney said. “A city that I will be proud to not only start my family in, but raise my family in.”

He pointed to economic growth, touting more than 6,500 new jobs and over $3.8 billion in capital investment since 2017, and the lessons learned from projects that did not work out such as Navy Hill and the Richmond Grand Resort and Casino.

“Richmond is now top three in the nation for concentration of Black-owned businesses,” he added.

The mayor outlined more than $91 million invested since 2017 in infrastructure, including paving 1,200 lane miles, and going from having over 70% of Richmond’s roads rated as poor to having that same 70% rated good. He added that the city also has added 54 acres of park land since he became mayor.

Looking at housing, the mayor said, “We’re breaking down the barriers so that city residents can actually afford to live here. We all know, your ZIP code should not define your quality of life.”

Since 2017, the City of Richmond created its Equitable Affordable Housing Plan, built 4,000 new affordable housing units, diverted 1,400 evictions and collectively invested $100 million toward affordable housing with Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), the mayor touted.

In education, Mayor Stoney said funding to RPS has increased by 50 percent since 2017. Teachers’ average pay has increased by $12,000 and three new schools were built in Black and Brown communities.

“But as every parent knows, the day doesn’t end when the school bell rings,” he continued. To this end, Mayor Stoney listed efforts such as the city’s partnership with NextUp RVA and the creation of the Children’s Fund, We Matter RVA, the Pathways Program and Virginia’s first ever guaranteed income pilot program.

“We wanted our students to be able to dream again,” the mayor said. “I can’t wait to watch what the next generation of Richmonders will bring to our city.”

Mayor Stoney also spoke about the city’s investments in public safety, including the first ever comprehensive Gun Violence Prevention and Intervention Framework, Richmond’s first Real Time Crime Center and a formal Office of Emergency Management.

“These investments are paying off,” he said, noting that violent crime had fallen 22% since 2017 before adding a plea for Richmonders to lock up their guns.

“It is way too easy for our kids to get their hands on a firearm in this city,” the mayor said, adding that common sense gun safety reforms were needed at the state level.”

He added with pride his involvement in the City of Richmond removing Confederate monuments and raising of the progress flag at City Hall for the first time in 2020.

“Richmond has grown culturally over the past seven years — and I believe our future is brighter because of it,” the mayor said. “This is what progress looks like and it’s critical we keep it up.

“Through grit, hard work and intentionality, we came together to change Richmond’s story — to change Richmond’s future — to give Richmonders the opportunity to dream again.”