Held virtually, Mayor Linda Gorton went over the successes amid a global pandemic and where the city goes from here. Millions spent to help small business owners, on rental assistance and food programs to feed the exploding number of families who are food insecure amid Coronavirus shutdowns and job losses. Continued construction on the downtown Civic Center and improvements to infrastructure. Those were a few of the positive takeaways from Mayor Linda Gorton’s address. She said while there is light at the end of the tunnel, COVID-19 is still here and we have to continue to mask up, maintain social distance, wash our hands, be patient and persevere.
Gorton said one way the city will persevere is by getting a vaccine.“Our Vaccine Task Force is working with the state to help streamline distribution of the vaccine. We will do everything we can to get shots into the arms of Lexington citizens as soon as possible, so we are keeping the latest information on our vaccine website at lexingtonky.gov.” Gorton added “now that the vaccines are being given to those over 70, I have gotten my first shot. And I want others to do the same when it’s their turn. The vaccine distribution process isn’t perfect, but it’s improving
The Mayor said to expect a tight budget but that the city is fiscally healthy. She reported progress with the Racial Justice and Equality Commission but added that we still have a long way to go. She has created a task force that will be led by former Council Member Lisa Higgins-Hord with the goal of implementing all 54 recommendations made by the Commission.