Mayor Kate Gallego today delivered her annual State of the City address, sharing that amid the “chaos and confusion coming from our government in Washington,” Phoenix and its City Council are “leading with competence and collaboration.”
Gallego said the approach is working.
“We’ve created more jobs, and good jobs—the kind that change lives,” she said. “Wages are up, nearly 50 percent in five years. We’re building the water and transportation infrastructure we need to thrive.”
Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines is set to begin nonstop flight from Phoenix to Taipei early next year, pending final gate approval, she said. Gallego has worked to secure nonstop air service to Asia since she was elected mayor.
Gallego hailed the progress of Phoenix’s bioscience industry, noting that in the last five years “Phoenix’s bioscience sector has seen nearly $7 billion in capital investments, more than 8 million square feet in primary facilities, and upwards of 14,000 new jobs.”
City voters approved a General Obligation Bond in 2023 that will help pay for ASU Health—which includes a new medical school—to be built on downtown’s Phoenix Biomedical Core.
“Phoenix families should not have to leave the city to get excellent medical care,” she said. “And, in my opinion, the best brains in medicine should be able to stay here—and thrive here.”
