Colorado Springs mayor delivers his 7th State of the City address Friday
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, remarks on infrastructure and economic improvements, and facing current challenges were among the main topics of an annual speech by Mayor John Suthers.
The comments were part of the mayor's State of the City address, which began at noon Friday at The Broadmoor.
Last year's address was held at a smaller venue that required mask-wearing and social distancing; on Friday, only a few of the 900 people in attendance wore masks.
Suthers asked the crowd to stand and applaud health care workers for their dedication during the pandemic.
"Because when it comes to the current state of Colorado Springs, the reality is that even a worldwide pandemic could not halt this city's historic momentum and ascendance as a great American city," he said.
While pointing to successes such as a strong economy, growth and downtown revitalization, the mayor also discussed continuing challenges such as homelessness and providing more available and affordable housing.
"The city has achieved its goal of being able to offer shelter to anyone who wants it, and is expanding the opportunity to progress from shelter to permanent, supportive housing," he said of homelessness. "We're better than most large cities in that regard."
As for housing, Suthers said that more resources will be used to help meet demand.
"And to take advantage of the recent infusion of funds from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan, to set our community up for success in meeting our housing goals in coming years," he said.
It was during one of his previous addresses that Suthers was credited with starting the effort toward widening Interstate 25 between Monument and Castle Rock; that project, known as the "Gap Project," is scheduled for completion next year.
Finally, the mayor presented the Spirit of the Springs Springs Lifetime Achievement Award to Mary Lou Makepeace, 81, the city's first female mayor who was elected to two terms from 1998-2006 after 12 years on the City Council.
She discussed why other city women haven't followed in her footsteps.
"When you think about it, do you want to be the only woman in a group of nine men, or the only person of color in a group of all white people? It's tough," she said. "There are capable and qualified women out there. We just need them to get involved."
Makepeace also shared what she hopes to see in the city's future.
"We need to pay attention to what ordinary people need in the community," she said. "Initiatives about schools. Do we have all the resources that schools need? No, we don't. That's a whole other issue to talk about."
The former mayor later became executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado, and served in other community leadership positions.
Suthers declined to take questions from the media after his speech.
Some members of the audience left with a surprise at the end of event -- free Southwest Airlines tickets attached under their chairs.
Watch Suthers' State of the City Address below:
