Wednesdays with Wade

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 dedication to our residents. We are lucky to have you on our team.

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 are coming into cities like Toledo to live and play.

Brandon Sehlhorst was recently named the Economic Developer of the Year by the Ohio Economic Development Association at their conference which they held in Toledo for 2024. Congratulations Brandon!

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 Wade to discuss how these two departments are working together to help build a fair and equitable economy in Toledo.

If you're interested in joining us at the McMaster Center, please register by September 16!

Learn more about How to Do Business with the City on our website.

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 through September 13, 2024. Get more info at toledo.oh.gov/peace

Join us next week for a virtual Wednesdays with Wade at 5 p.m. September 4, 2024.

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 [email protected]

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.