As instability rocks the federal government, Minneapolis is getting stronger by the day with a decrease in crime, nation-leading housing work, and strong government services

Mayor Frey highlights importance of steady, collaborative leadership and getting the basics right

Today, Mayor Jacob Frey delivered his annual State of the City address at the Abyssinia Event Center on West Lake St.—an immigrant-owned business in an area heavily impacted by the 2020 civil unrest and the pandemic. Joined by state and local elected officials, members of the Minneapolis City Council, City staff, and community leaders, Mayor Frey outlined a clear message: Even as national leadership falters, Minneapolis is on the right track.

Mayor Frey’s address centered on the power of local government to meet the moment with competence, compassion, and commitment—especially in contrast to the chaos and uncertainty stemming from the Trump administration. As the federal government threatens community safety, education, affordable housing, climate action, and civil rights, Mayor Frey reiterated the City of Minneapolis’ commitment to each of these areas.

“The state of our city is strong and growing stronger by the day. Look no further than last weekend. Our city is alive. Whether it was a festival, a gala, a block party or a birthday, people were out celebrating their neighborhood and believing in our city.

“We’re rebuilding neighborhoods—not just with concrete and lumber—but with trust and partnership. And we’re governing in a way that’s honest and results-driven—even as dysfunction in other levels of government has become the norm.

“So, let’s not mirror the madness. Let’s not respond to outrage with more outrage. Let’s counter Donald Trump—not with our own brand of chaos, but with our own brand of collaboration.

“Let’s show that unity is possible and remind the country what government can look like when it works — when we show up, lifted by idealism while grounded in reality.

“We won’t agree on everything—but we can agree on a whole lot more. And we can agree to recognize each other’s good work, even when we don’t see eye-to-eye.”

The 2025 State of the City address covered several key areas, including:

Community safety and reform

Thanks to an expanding public-safety ecosystem, significant reforms in the Minneapolis Police Department, an increase in police officers, and a data-driven approach to tackling violent crime, Minneapolis is safer than it has been in years.

The MPD is working tirelessly to rebuild, implement reforms, and engage with community. In the last year, we’ve seen:

• A significant decrease in violent crime, including carjackings, assaults, and shootings.
• A 135% increase in applications to become an MPD officer.
• 76 new sworn officers and 22 lateral officers joining the department—a net increase in officers to end 2024.
• The adoption of a federal consent decree and significant strides made in implementing the state settlement agreement.

But we know that safety goes far beyond policing, and we’re moving the needle in other areas as well, including:

• A 10% increase in 911 call answer times since last year and an almost fully staffed 911 center.
• Significant progress in clearing the backlog of police conduct review cases.

“When people feel safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their neighborhoods—that’s when cities succeed,” said Mayor Frey. “There’s nothing more fundamental than your right to be safe and feel safe.”

Affordable housing and homelessness

In Minneapolis, we know that housing is a human right, and we refuse to back down from our values. Since 2018, we’ve produced 8.5 times the amount of affordable housing versus previous years—and that work continues. This includes:

• 4,700 new affordable housing units since 2018, more than four times the annual average from the seven years prior.
• The expansion of the Stable Homes Stable Schools program to every public elementary school in Minneapolis, serving more than 6,200 students and their families.
• A $5 million annual investment in the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, five times the previous investment.
• Over 1,000 new multifamily homes in more neighborhoods thanks to the Minneapolis 2040 Plan.

Mayor Frey is also working hard to address homelessness. The City has significantly reduced the number of homeless encampments in Minneapolis since last year. Our Homelessness Response Team is connecting more unsheltered residents with permanent housing and the resources needed to succeed. And our work is paying off: While cities across the country are seeing an increase in homelessness, unsheltered homelessness in the area is down 33% since 2020.

As we provide more unsheltered residents with safe and dignified housing, emergency calls related to encampments have dropped 80%.

“All of this adds up to a safer, stronger Minneapolis—because we know that safe, stable housing is the foundation for everything else: better health, stronger neighborhoods, and real opportunity,” said Mayor Frey.

Economic inclusion and neighborhoods

Through programs like the Lake Street Lift initiative, the Downtown Action Plan, and the Vibrant Storefronts Initiative, we’re investing in our neighborhoods and our entrepreneurs—and we’ve seen significant economic growth throughout the city:

• For the 14^th year in a row, construction values topped $1 billion in 2024.
• More than 25 entrepreneurs have been supported with almost $13 million through the City’s Ownership and Opportunity Fund, helping them to own their businesses.
• The residential population of downtown surpassed 60,000 people for the first time ever.
• 70% of downtown workers are now in the office at least one day a week.
• The New Nicollet Project will reconnect the city where the former Kmart impeded traffic, and the Upper Harbor Terminal will connect North Minneapolis to the riverfront.
• We’re preparing to open a Democracy Center at the former Third Precinct building.

Our investments in our economy and our neighborhoods have led to a more vibrant and safer city: Downtown Minneapolis has recovered from the pandemic faster than any other urban center in the country, in 2024 the Northside had the fewest number of gunshot wound victims in a decade, and in 2025, Minneapolis will continue to host major, large-scale events.

“This is how democratic cities succeed: by investing in safety and services, uplifting neighborhoods, and creating opportunity where it’s long been denied,” said Mayor Frey.

Climate action and public health

The City of Minneapolis is committed to being a global leader in addressing climate change while keeping residents healthy. Over the past year, the City has deepened its commitment to both community health and climate resilience. This includes:

• Quadrupling participation in the Green Cost Share program, supporting more than 1,000 pollution-reduction projects.
• Breaking ground on the nation’s first city-owned biochar facility.
• A $10 million investment to electrify our municipal fleet.
• 717 streetlights converted to LED.
• The City’s first Mobile Medical Unit.
• Our investments in climate and public health have prevented over 12,000 tons of pollution in the past year, and we’re on track to reach carbon neutrality by 2035.

“At the City of Minneapolis, we did more to combat climate change in 2024 than the last 10 years combined,” said Mayor Frey.

“This is what it looks like when a city takes care of both its people and its planet. And this is what it means to deliver results that matter.”

Good governance

While Minneapolis continues to be a national leader in affordable housing, economic recovery, and climate action, we remain keenly focused on the everyday core services upon which our residents rely.

In 2025, we’re doubling down on the basics—investing in infrastructure, cleaning our streets, responding to emergencies, and strengthening City services from the ground up. Picking up trash, plowing snow, filling potholes, and providing clean drinking water remain the heart of our City services.

In 2024 alone, we saw:

• More than 2,000 potholes filled.
• 44,500 permits issued.
• Over 261-thousand 311 calls responded to.
• More than $43,000 in back wages recovered for underpaid workers.
• Care for more than 3,400 animals.

Because of our dedication to core services, Minneapolis is now one of only about 20 cities in the country to receive a AAA credit rating from all three major agencies. Our 911 system is now faster and more responsive than ever, thanks to smarter triage and targeted training. And the City is hiring faster too—processing and filling jobs nearly two months ahead of the national average.

“At the heart of good governance is a simple truth: people need to see, feel, and trust the work we do,” said Mayor Frey. “Not in theory. In practice.”

The mayor’s full State of the City remarks as prepared may be found on the City website.