PEORIA, Ill. – For Peoria Mayor Rita Ali, the best is yet to come for the city.
The sentiment was the theme of her annual State of the City address Thursday night, held at Haven on the Farm in the northern part of the city.
Much of the speech was focused on the city’s upcoming five year strategic plan. The plan focuses on quality of life, safety, developing downtown, business growth, public infrastructure, and embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“While I do believe that miracles happen, that sometimes we get lucky, that the stars may align for certain things, I am also of the opinion that great things don’t happen without a plan,” Ali said. “In fact, great things have been planned for Peoria’s future moving forward.”
Before Ali detailed the six aspects of the strategic plan, she talked about the status of the city’s finances. Ali touted the passage of a two-year budget passed in October with no property tax increases or additional debt. She says the budget also reflects investments in public infrastructure, a 13% growth of city revenues from 2021 to 2023, and reducing the city’s debt by $860,000.
Ali says the city is in a strong financial position, but will have some upcoming challenges with unfunded pension mandates.
Regarding safety, Ali says progress is being made in reducing violent crimes. She says compared to this time last year shooting incidents are down 14%, shooting victims are down 23%, shooting murders are down 20%, and a 44% decrease in total murders.
But Ali says the “most frustrating” part of her term as mayor has been increases in youth violence and crime.
“We are not throwing in the towel. The city, the schools, and our state and community partners continue to devote more resources and attention to this issue, and we all remain committed to progress,” Ali said.
Ali says the plan to reduce youth crime is by providing more positive experiences for them. One of those experiences is through the Mayor’s Youth Internship Program, which she says has given first job experience to more than 100 14-15 year olds the past three summers. The city has also hired 25 16-19 year olds to work in the Public Works Department to help with infrastructure improvements, clean-up projects, and beautification throughout the city.
In general, Ali says law enforcement is being increased throughout Peoria. She says that includes targeted patrols and a downtown task force that places ten police officers for downtown on Friday and Saturday nights.
The police department will also add drones, update cameras and radios, and employ License Plate Reader technology. Police Chief Eric Echevarria is also implementing programs and developing partnerships in the community.
Ali says one of the more important aspects of downtown development is adding more housing units.
“The time to do this is now and the demand for residential housing downtown and the Warehouse District remains strong,” Ali said.
Ali says more than 500 residential units and 57,500 square feet of additional commercial space are being added through 5 projects with a total investment of $129 million. The projects include Chic Flats and Apartments at 1001 SW Adams, Oculus and 812 Development on Washington Street, the Adams and Oak Federal Warehouse Project, and Center Plaza.
There was also mention by the mayor of the redevelopment of the former McKinley School property in South Peoria into new housing units, expected to be completed in the next couple years. And she mentioned the future redevelopment of the Peoria Labor Temple property by the Salvation Army into its new men’s shelter.
The development of housing also tied into quality of life improvements, of which Ali says involves improving blighted and abandoned properties. She says the city’s Land Bank demolished 164 properties in 2023, and added land from the county, with 16 parcels of land and properties transferred to new owners.
Ali says the city has also helped residents replace 40 roofs, assisted 275 people with utility bills, and 27 with down payments on homes.
The mayor says the city has partnered with Peoria Public Schools for the Peoria Role Model Program, where 100 professionals mentor 100 inner-city students to help give guidance and expose them to many careers and opportunities.
Ali says quality of life improvements also include renovations at the Peoria Civic Center, working to reduce homelessness, and increasing the city’s labor force.
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