Ginther will tout public safety and housing in State of the City
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Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther will mainly spend Tuesday's State of the City address touting his administration's 2025 accomplishments rather than announcing new plans, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: At last year's speech, Ginther unveiled his request for a $500 million bond package that was eventually approved by voters in November.
- But this year, as Ginther begins his reelection campaign, he's more focused on achievements than plans.
Driving the news: Ginther will speak at 6pm Tuesday from the Harmony Project headquarters in Northland.
- Axios was given an advance copy of Ginther's speech, and sat down with the mayor to discuss priorities ahead of Tuesday's address.
What's inside: The speech's main focuses are public safety and housing.
- Ginther touts 2025's homicide rate as the lowest since 2007, calls declining violent crime rates "remarkable," and notes expansion of a Linden pilot program that increased the solve rates of non-lethal shootings.
- He outlines uses for $500 million in housing bonds, noting accomplishments like 9,100 new home permits authorized in 2025 (a 50% increase from 2024 and the largest number in 25 years) and 15,800 under construction last year.
What they're saying: Ginther tells Axios he thinks his annual address is typically focused more on relaying updates than announcing new initiatives, but is happy to lay out progress on "the things we said we were going to do."
- "When you're talking about safety, housing and transit, none of those things are done in 12 months."
Plus: Ginther also doubles down on his quest to become America's "women's sports capital," citing various programs and reports of a potential National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) expansion franchise.
- The city could use public funds to chase that franchise, he tells Axios, but only if it yields "significant public benefit."
Zoom out: Tuesday also marks Gov. Mike DeWine's final State of the State address at noon.
- That speech was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was moved up to accommodate President Trump's Cincinnati visit.