VIDEO Auburn Mayor Backus highlights safety, growth, and community in 2025 State of the City address

Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus delivered her annual State of the City address, emphasizing the city’s progress in public safety, infrastructure, and community development. Acknowledging residents' concerns about crime, she reported a nearly 10% decrease in overall crime calls in 2024, attributing this to the hiring of 80 new officers since 2019 and the installation of 20 license plate recognition cameras. These technological advancements have already assisted in solving cases, enhancing community safety. In infrastructure, Backus celebrated the completion of the A Street Loop and announced an $80 million federally funded expansion of the RapidRide I Line for enhanced transit options. The mayor also addressed homelessness, sharing that 205 individuals were housed in 2024, and highlighted the acquisition of the Auburn Resource Center to expand services for unhoused residents.

Looking forward, she expressed excitement for the upcoming state-of-the-art Auburn Avenue Theater and other community projects. Throughout her speech, Backus emphasized collaboration and gratitude as foundational elements for Auburn's future. Reinforcing her commitment to safety and economic vitality, she concluded by affirming the collective effort to make Auburn a city residents are proud to call home.