Good morning, readers.
Durham mayor Leonardo Williams delivered his first State of the City address last night.
In his speech, which lasted just over an hour, Williams touted Durham’s response to rapid growth. We don’t just live in a midsize city, he said; we live in a “midsize, major status city,” and one that’s “still locally owned.” He also announced plans for several new initiatives, including a Task Force on Black Men and Boys and a new youth mentoring partnership.
The event was more of an occasion than State of the City addresses in recent history. A “social hour” at the Durham Convention Center preceded the event. And instead of giving his speech at City Hall, Williams booked the Carolina Theatre and brought in ABC11 anchor Joel Brown as an emcee.
“Mayor Williams and his team wanted this evening to feel a little different from the State of the City speeches of the past,” Brown told the crowd. “He wanted you all to have more of an experience.”
“I know there was some buzzing online: ‘why does it have to be in the Carolina Theater?’” Williams said, after the NCCU Sound Machine marching band played him onstage. “We are in a city-owned facility tonight, folks. We are in a city-owned facility celebrating city events and we are going to have a doggone good time tonight.”
“The state of our city is strong,” Williams said. “But we’re more than that. We’re dope.”
You can watch Williams’s full address here.
Have a good Wednesday.
—Lena
Durham
Letter: Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam, who challenged Valerie Foushee for the 4th Congressional District seat in 2022, says Congresswoman Foushee’s recent visit to Israel is a “betrayal” of her constituents.
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North Carolina
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Today’s weather
Rainy with a high of 75 degrees.
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