As we look back at 2020, I’m encouraged by what we’ve accomplished as a community in the face of a global pandemic. As the year began, Rockford was riding great momentum with positive economic and public safety metrics. Our unemployment rate was at the lowest mark in Rockford’s history and we’d seen a 30% decrease in violent crime over the previous three years. Then, COVID-19 upended our lives in ways we couldn’t possibly have imagined.
However, as we look to 2021, it’s important to note Rockford’s accomplishments in spite of all the challenges we’ve faced. While I’m fortunate enough to work alongside 1,000 talented professionals and the dedicated members of City Council at the city of Rockford, I know that our success only happens when we work together as a community: