Green Bay Reporter

As is yearly tradition in the City of Green Bay, the State of the City Address was given by Mayor Eric Genrich this week. 

Though the State of the City Address is custom in the city, this was Genrich's first time delivering the address as mayor. 

Delivering a powerful address in which he touched on many topics, Genrich said “Unity is stronger than division, love is more powerful than hate, Green Bay is capable of and destined for greatness.”

The address was made at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens, one of the most popular attractions in the city. It was a fitting backdrop for the speech. The mayor chose "Jobs, Justice and Joy" as the theme for the evening. 

One of the main pillars of the speech was the emphasis on diversity and inclusion, which is a common theme for cities and states around the country following a year of turmoil and worsened race relations. The mayor also spoke on environmental justice, recognizing the Indigenous population and the importance of art and music. 

The speech also contained contributions from other city officials, who largely had praise for the job that the mayor has done. Though the city has been through a very dramatic two years with a number of difficult situations to navigate, the tone of the evening was largely positive. 

Both city officials as well as residents have expressed optimism for the coming years.