Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley’s second state of the city address this Wednesday morning focused on the improving economy, and the mayor’s agenda for education and city services. Whaley touted the boom in downtown housing, a drop in crime rates, and shouted out businesses and microbreweries that have opened up.
Dayton’s unemployment rate was at 5.3 percent in December, the first time it’s been below six percent since the late 90s. That number is still a notch higher than the average for the state, which was 4.8 in December, but Whaley says Dayton has its own strong points.
“When the Recession happened we really looked at our core strengths, and as a region, we said, what do we do well? The connection to the Air Force base, the connection to manufacturing, and making sure that we have a strong urban core are really those three things that we do well,” she said.
Her speech addressed education, which was one of her big campaign themes. A committee called City of Learners has produced a report full of ideas for expanded preschool and accountability for underperforming schools—but those plans are yet to be enacted. Finally, she promised a three-year program of improving city services and customer service.
Lewis Wallace is WYSO's managing editor, substitute host and economics reporter. Follow him @lewispants.
