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In state of the city address, Lexington mayor pays tribute to past, paints bright picture of future

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton's state of the city address Tuesday in the Central Bank Center began with a nod towards the city's 250th birthday and ended with a standing ovation.
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Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton's state of the city address Tuesday in the Central Bank Center began with a nod towards the city's 250th birthday and ended with a standing ovation.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton delivered a 28-minute state of the city address Tuesday in the Central Bank Center, noting the city is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding this year. She discussed the police department’s use of new technology like flock license plate readers and increased staffing in its real-time intelligence center.

In part, because of this technology, we have been able to cut the time it takes to recover stolen cars in half, recovering vehicles valued at $4.5 million, increased the clearance rate for homicides.”

Gorton said the new tech and staffing helped return 27 missing persons to their families and got 113 firearms off the streets, and that homicides dropped 10 percent last year. She also spoke of plans for two new business parks, one a joint venture between Fayette, Scott and Madison counties.

“The 300-acre industrial park will be located in Berea. After a 10 percent hosting fee for Berea, each county will receive 33 percent of the tax revenues created by this park.”

Gorton said in 2024, 577 new affordable housing units opened, and this year’s budget doubles the city’s investment – which in the past has leveraged a 9-1 private/public match.

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
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