Mayor Wade's wife Sarah discuss their favorite old and new Toledo holiday traditions, and what they really want for Christmas this year. Toledo was recently recognized as a Top Winter Wonderland Getaway. Happy Holidays, Toledo!
Kid Mayor Lilly and Kid Councilmember Asher join Mayor Wade to discuss their experience this year learning about the city and preparing their suggestions for how to make Toledo even better. Lilly and Asher highlight their most exciting experiences seeing behind the scenes in Toledo's City operations, and offer some advice for future Kid Mayor and Councilmembers to get the most out of this program.
The City of Toledo’s Disability Manager, Valerie Fatica, joins Mayor Wade to discuss this year’s Snow Angels Program. We believe in making Toledo better together, and this program pairs Toledo seniors and people with disabilities with volunteers who are ready to shovel and plow their driveways and sidewalks. Valerie discusses how this program is growing here in Toledo, and her work with other municipalities curious about implementing their own similar program. If you want to volunteer as a Snow ...
Economic Development Director Brandon Sehlhorst and Toledo Design Collective Studio Director Ryan Bunch join Mayor Wade to discuss an upcoming $53 million investment to improve safety and connectivity on streets in the Junction, Englewood, and Uptown neighborhoods. Supported by a $20 million RAISE grant from the US Department of Transportation, the city will make comprehensive upgrades to streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit systems beginning in 2027. This episode highlights the project h...
Director of Public Service Megan Robson and Urban Beautification's Charlie Moore join Mayor Wade to discuss what it means to have a sense of purpose in our work as city employees. Charlie's work in Urban Beautification means he is in Toledo Neighborhoods every day. He may run the street sweeper, but he is always finding ways to engage meaningfully with neighbors. Director Robson discusses the importance of engaging meaningfully with the city, and how she works to empower her team to do just that...
City Council President Carrie Hartman and Finance Director Melanie Campbell join Mayor Wade to continue the discussion on the City of Toledo's budget and how it works. Budget hearings began yesterday with the Committee of the Whole and will run through the middle of December. This episode asks, "How can we stretch our dollars further?"
Brandon Sehlhorst Director of Economic Development, Simon Nyi Grants Commissioner, and Councilman George Sarantou Finance, Debt, and Budget Oversight Committee Chair join Mayor Wade to discuss the 2025 budget that will be presented to City Council this week. This episode discusses Toledo's financial health, revenue, and the various ways the City brings in money beyond our income tax revenue.
Director of Public Service Megan Robson, Commissioner of Urban Beautification Sara Stacy, and Manager of Forestry Jody Prude join Mayor Wade to discuss all things trees in Toledo. Leaf collection began on Monday and we will continue that work for the next six weeks. Trees are an important part of maintaining our built environment and protecting our watershed.
The City of Toledo recently re-vamped our Employee Values . For the next 8 months, we will highlight one of these values with one of our city's 2,700 employees who I think exemplifies one of these core values. Commissioner of Sewer and Drainage Services Calvin Harris joins Mayor Wade to discuss the second City of Toledo Employee Value, Belonging. We define belonging at work as "feeling valued through positive connections with others." Calvin has worked for the City for 22 years. He remembers sta...
Engage Toledo Supervisor Kaleena Harris and 2024 Ambassador Academy attendee JaMezz McKinney join Mayor Wade to discuss what it is like to attend the Ambassador Academy. Toledo's Ambassador Academy provides residents with the opportunity to interact with our city's departments and get an insider's look. Learn more about it at toledo.oh.gov/ambassador
Council Member Nick Komives, one of the co-sponsors of the 1% for the Environment Fund joins Mayor Wade to talk about this Friday's exciting opportunity for Toledo residents to join a tour of several projects around the city that demonstrate our commitment to building a more sustainable environment. This FREE event is a collaboration between the City of Toledo and Power a Clean Future Ohio ....
Department of Public Utilities Director Doug Stephens and Commissioner of Utilities Administration Cindy Geronimo join Mayor Wade to talk about our new customer service portal for water service. The new customer service portal integrates the technology from our recently installed Smart Meters and offers residents the opportunity to see their water usage and bill from the convenience of an app on their phone. We are always looking for ways to enhance the customer experience. This new software is ...
Director of Parks and Youth Services, Joe Fausnaugh, and Commissioner of Youth Services, David Bush, join Mayor Wade to talk about how city parks improve life outcomes for residents. Our Parks and Youth Services Department has been working hard to develop inviting community spaces in our City parks and youth programs to give our youngest Toledoans something new to do. Last week, we announced a $1.15 million grant from the Department of the Interior's Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program...
The City of Toledo has recently reaffirmed our list of Values that guide us in our role as public service professionals focusing on people-centered relationships. For the next 8 months, we will be rolling out these values with the employees who best exemplify what they're all about. We begin with Todd Saums Commissioner of Water Distribution and Keith McCarver General Foreman join Mayor Wade to discuss what it means to provide exemplary service, even in times of crisis. Thank you Keith for your ...
Director of Economic Development Brandon Sehlhorst joins Mayor Wade to discuss the major turnaround the City has seen is such a short period of time. The Four Corners downtown (Madison and Huron) are the oldest buildings in the city. We are working to convert these buildings into 360 apartments with a recent big win. Brandon discusses "the new downtown" which sees a conceptual shift in how people are using downtowns across the country. People may not be working downtown like we used to, but we a...
We have some incredible infrastructure projects (with some historic hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal funding) coming up. In an effort to help Toledo businesses make some competitive bids on these projects, we are hosting a Business and Supplier Empowerment Summit at the Toledo-Lucas County Library Main Branch McMaster Center on Thursday September 19 from 1 - 4 p.m. Tiffany Whitman Director of DEI/Chief Equity Officer and April Welch Deputy Director of Economic Development join Mayor Wa...
Dan Morey's job is to make sure that employers are meeting their obligations when it comes to paying the appropriate wages and benefits to their employees. Since he began this work in April 2024, the City has been able to bring in $130k in tax revenue through bringing businesses into compliance. Read more on our website .
Brysen Davis and Rev. Meribah Mansfield join Mayor Wade to discuss the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement's newly released comprehensive safety plan, Peace in Motion: Toledo's Path to Community Safety . The Community Action Table has met monthly for the last year to evaluate current solutions, gaps in care, and to make recommendations that will influence the community's decision making for the next 5+ years. Residents are encouraged to read the plan, and provide their comments ...
Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), Malcolm Cunningham, joins Mayor Wade to talk about the work he's been doing in the community for the last year. The Five-Year Comprehensive Safety Plan, Peace in Motion: Toledo's Path to Community Safety , is ready for public review and comments. You can find it at toledo.oh.gov/peace ....
The City of Toledo's Ambassador Academy gives residents the opportunity to learn about their local government with local leaders. Commissioner of Customer Service Jenny Jacqua joins Mayor Wade this week to talk about the 8 week course for residents interested in learning more and doing more in the City. Applications are open until 11:59 August 18. Learn more on the website at toledo.oh.gov/ambassador
Councilwoman Cerssandra McPherson and President of the Great Lakes Jazz Society, Hugh Ross, join Mayor Wade to talk about the FREE and fabulous Glass City Jazz Fest. There are events all week. You can still catch one before the main event on Saturday at Glass City Metropark. See the schedule on the City's website here . If you're interested in learning more about Toledo's Jazz history, you can listen to Episode 18: Councilwoman McPherson & Toledo's Jazz Scene....
Whitney Rofkar and Mayor Wade talk the history of Jeep and Jeep Fest. The inaugural Jeep Fest in 2016 brought 40,000 people to Toledo to celebrate our beloved boxy, rock crawling, first ever off road vehicle invented right here in Toledo. Get more information about this weekend's events at toledojeepfest.com
Dana Reising and Karen Granata join Mayor Wade to discuss Ozone Action Season. This week we learn a bit about what ozone is, why it matters, and how to minimize our exposure to harmful high levels of ozone. Want weekly ozone predictions? Send a request to env.information@toledo.oh.gov If you're looking for a way to help, consider switching your lawn mower from gas to electric. If you do, the City of Toledo has a rebate program ! Submit your receipt and the City will send you $100....
Parks and Youth Services Outreach and Special Events Manager, Jacqueline Johnson, joins Mayor Wade to discuss this year's Let's Get Moving program. Toledoans can join the group that meets at a local park every other week to walk the trails. Get more information and register at toledo.oh.gov/get-moving .
Deputy Director of Public Utilities, Patekka Bannister and Commissioner of Plant Operations, Andy McClure join Mayor Wade to talk about the recent release of the 2023 Water Quality Report , and how the City is working to keep the water coming in and going out clean and safe for you and Lake Erie.
Happy Fourth of July! City offices are closed for the holiday, but Engage Toledo is always available to take your calls. Commissioner of Customer Service, Jenny Jacqua and Engage Toledo Supervisor, Kalena Harris join Mayor Wade to talk about the history of Engage Toledo, what they do, and how the customer service process works when a resident calls 419-936-2020.
Director/Chief Equity Officer of Toledo's department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Tiffany Whitman, joins Mayor Wade to discuss the rich history of Juneteenth and Toledo's work to make the city a livable, welcoming, and inclusive city.
Mayor Wade sits down with Director of Economic Development, Brandon Sehlhorst and Manager of Development, Cody Brown to talk all things building in the City. From Permit Planner to pre-development meetings, Toledo has resources for residents and business owners, small and large projects. Tune in to learn all about development happening in Toledo.
We are getting closer to the launch of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) Five Year Comprehensive Plan and the second round of the Toledo Neighborhood Capacity Building Institute. Mayor Wade invites Malcolm Cunningham, Director of MONSE and LuCynthia Jones, Neighborhoods Navigator, to discuss how their work helps fill the gaps for Toledo grassroots organizations out there doing work in the community.
Mayor Wade sits with the City of Toledo's Lead Coordinator, Monica Smith and Toledo/Lucas County Health Department's Lead Case Manager, Gloria Smith to discuss the dangers of lead and what you can do about it.
