PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington reflected on the past several months and goals for the future in her 2024 State of the City address.
Increasing public safety and reducing crime were a few highlights during Thursday night's event.
Washington hopes to keep up the momentum as the year progresses.
"I can say with extreme confidence that the state of our city is strong," Washington said.
During the city address, Washington touched on several topics, including the continued focus on reducing violent crime and the recent upgrades to the police department.
"Patrol schedules were restructured from eight to 10-hour shifts," Washington said. "This helps the department patrol the streets while giving officers longer rest periods to maintain overall wellness."
A new agreement with Enterprise Rent-A-Car allows officers in Jefferson County to take home their police vehicles.
"This benefits the entire community by an increase in law enforcement visibility in neighborhoods," Washington said.
Additionally, the department added new portable radios for police officers and firefighters.
“These radios replaced outdated equipment that posed safety concerns for users," Washington said. "The grant department also secured $107,000 through the Arkansas Public Safety Communication grant to purchase police patrol bikes."
New partnerships are also in place to give jobs to those in the justice system or coming out of incarceration.
Executive Director of Ambassadors for Christ Youth Ministries Sherrie Sams is from Pine Bluff and said she knows this program is needed in her hometown.
"The City of Pine Bluff is surrounded by at least 10 prisons within a 35-mile radius," Sams said. "There's a big problem with recidivism, which I believe is slightly over 50, 54%. Bringing this programming back to my hometown has been an honor, and we are super excited about it."
Washington also hopes to add some new developments throughout the city, which is welcoming news for local business owners like Keema Rhodes.
"We have watched it come, and we have watched it go, and now we are watching it come again," Rhodes said. "We're pretty excited. The more businesses come, the more people will come, and the more we will gain from new revenue."
Washington also revealed city plans to build more affordable housing and shelter for those experiencing homelessness.