VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer delivered the 2024 State of the Union address Wednesday before a crowd of several hundred people at the Virginia Beach Aquarium.
The aim is to highlight the city’s achievements in 2023 and look ahead to what lies ahead.
“We’ve been busy. The last 12 months have been a tough journey,” Mayor Dyer said.
Much of what was discussed was based on the quality of life in Virginia Beach.
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Mayor Dyer said violent crime has decreased by 5.4% and property crime has decreased by 7% compared to 2022, ranking Virginia Beach as the third-safest large city in terms of crime losses per capita. said.
He said part of the work being done was thanks to investments in the city’s Real-Time Crime Center and a new police headquarters.
“We’ve made a total investment,” Mayor Dyer said. “But now we have a reputation for being a safe city, so we can get that back.”
City Manager Patrick Duhaney also spoke about job growth in Virginia Beach.
He said new facilities, like the two Amazon is building along Dam Neck Road, will bring 2,000 jobs, with one completed before the holiday season.
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“When I first got elected in 2004, the number one thing I heard was brain drain,” Mayor Dyer said. “We didn’t have jobs for your kids, but guess what I’m telling people now, friends, moving their friends’ kids to northern Virginia. We don’t allow it anymore. We’re here to give you something.”
The return on investment the city received from last year’s festival was also praised.
Mayor Dyer said, “Recent economic impact studies of eight major festivals showed a total benefit to the city of $94 million from a $4.2 million investment by the city.”
Dyer said the city needs to find new sources of revenue as budgets tighten.
Those ideas include Atlantic Park, scheduled for completion in 2025 and with cranes currently towering over 18th Street and 20th Street.
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Another future project is the Virginia Beach Trail, and Duhaney said Wednesday morning that the city was awarded an additional $15 million for the project.
Mayor Dyer said: “This is going to be a significant project that will take time, but once the first part is completed and in the town centre, it will only be the beginning.” “That’s something we have to look forward to.”
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One event that was not discussed during the presentation was Something in the Water.
Mayor Dyer said a date for the festival has not yet been set and the city is waiting to hear from organizers.
He said Something in the Water will be a legacy event for the city of Virginia Beach.
Click here to read the full 2024 State of the City Address.
