Wednesdays with Wade

Safety Director George Kral, Fire Lt. Cummerow and Lt. Trevino, and Fireworks in the 419 Coordinator Austin Mack join Mayor Wade to discuss all things fireworks. From firework safety at home to the big show downtown we are looking at the spectacular and coordinated effort to bring the community together to celebrate one of America's favorite holidays. Join us downtown at Promenade Park, Glass City Metropark, or right on the Maumee River to catch the show on Friday, July 4.Special thanks to our sponsor, Owens Corning, for helping to bring another great 4th of July fireworks display to Toledo in 2025.

Pat Nowak, Director of Italian Bowl Events and Adam Salem join Mayor Wade to discuss the history of Italian American Football and its connections to Toledo. From two weeks of A Taste of Italy in Toledo to the Mayor's Cup, Pat and her team are working hard to bring as much fun to Toledo for this event and welcome visitors and spectators to this international event, right here in Toledo.A Taste of Italy is June 15-28Italian Bowl XLIV is June 28th at the Glass Bowl Stadium.

Joe Cappel, Vice President of Business Development for the Port Authority and Ashley Streichert Lovejoy, Communications Director for the National Museum of the Great Lakes join Mayor Wade to discuss the recent docking of the Great Lakes cruise ship, Victory I right here in Toledo. They look toward the possibility of more frequent cruise ship stops and what that means for Toledo as a Great Lakes city.

President of City Council Carrie Hartman joins Mayor Wade to discuss how her curiosity and desire to solve problems led her to her role as a Toledo City Council member. President Hartman believes in the opportunity that Toledo has for everyone ,and hopes to use her role in public service to inspire more people to call Toledo home.

Director of Housing and Community Development Rosalyn Clemens joins Mayor Wade to discuss the three Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Areas in Toledo and how this HUD designation invites more flexibility in how the City is able to invest in these areas to boost economic development, housing, education, and safety.

Director of Parks and Youth Services Joe Fausnaugh, Commissioner of Youth Services David Bush, and Outreach and Special Events Manager Jacqueline Johnson join Mayor Wade to discuss all the exciting programs available for Toledo kids and teens this summer in Toledo's City Parks.Join us Saturday, May 17 at Ottawa Park for the Summer Showcase! Parents and kids will have the opportunity to connect with the City's summer program partners, learn about the available programs, and make their summer plans.Tune in to learn more about all the opportunities available for residents to get more out of their city parks.

David Echols and LuCynthia Jones from the City of Toledo's Housing and Community Development Department join Mayor Wade to discuss housing and what the city is doing to promote homeownership in Toledo. Join us for the Homeownership Fair at Scott High School on June 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register here.Want to volunteer at the homeownership fair? We would love to have you. Register here.

Linsey Ward and Gena Collier, our Training and Development team, join Mayor Wade to discuss Toledo's employee core value, growth and development. This is the final episode in a series diving into the values that drive city employees.We define efficiency as "Creating a growth-oriented atmosphere that empowers employees to develop knowledge and skills to advance in one's career." Linsey and Gena discuss starting a leadership training from the ground up—creating new opportunities for city employees to build the skills needed to grow into their careers in public service.Listen to hear more about how this team's passion for self-improvement impacts employee well-being and builds a workforce that can better serve Toledo residents.

Commissioner of Urban Beautification Sara Stacy and Forestry Manager Jody Prude join Mayor Wade to discuss how vital trees are to Toledo. From planting efforts where they don't exist to replacing trees at the end of their life, we're committed to improving our tree canopy to improve air and water quality, keep our streets cooler in the summer heat, and beautify our neighborhoods.Want to be part of the RE-TREE Toledo movement? Join our kickoff meeting on April 28 at the Main Library.

Toledo's new Kid Mayor, Dash Harden, and Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz join Eric Chase to discuss the role of Kid Mayor and Kid Council. Dash shares why he wanted to be in the role and how he's going to ensure no more potholes in his city! This episode comes from the Eric Chase podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Commissioner of Urban Beautification Sara Stacy and Sustainability Manager Dana Reising join Mayor Wade to discuss three opportunities Toledo residents have this season to dispose of bulky, yard, and hazardous waste—for free!Clean Toledo Recycling Events — run April 26 through October 4Block-by-Block Neighborhood Cleanups — run April 19 through October 11Free Landfill Disposal Days — run May 31 through November 29

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Jamie Tackacs joins Mayor Wade to discuss another of the City of Toledo's employee value – Transparency.Jamie is Toledo's CIP and Debt Manager. When we discuss Tax Payer dollars, Jamie's role is imperative in building and maintaining that trust with the public. Jamie discusses the public process that informs how we integrate resident needs into our budget and reporting. You can see that work on our Financial Transparency web page.

Director of Building Inspection & Code Compliance Jim Molnar, New Building Official Bob Kurtz, and Permit Technician Jason Hooks join Mayor Wade to discuss Toledo's potential for building and converting currently vacant space into a new opportunity. The Building Inspection division has implemented changes to expedite the permitting process and is working on building our relationship with developers to undo the perception that the process is difficult. We are here to help.

Former Chief of Toledo Police George Kral is coming back! After 32 years as a Toledo Police Officer, Kral is ready to step into this new role as the city's Safety Director. Kral is excited for the opportunity to protect the public in his new role including the overlap between Toledo's safety forces and the built environment.

Watch a very special edition of Wednesdays with Wade! Listen to Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz deliver his annual address live from the Tower on the Maumee.

Director of Economic Development Brandon Sehlhorst joins Mayor Wade to discuss Toledo's employee core value, efficiency.We define efficiency as "Prioritizing quality service while minimizing time, effort, and expense." Brandon's team is small and mighty. Their work has incredible return on investment for the city including creating jobs and securing investments. Brandon discusses Toledo's Vibrancy Initiative, and how the city is investing in local buildings and businesses to support economic growth in Toledo. Applications are open until March 5, 2025.Listen to hear more about how this team's passion for this City are making an impact on Toledo's economic health.

Malcolm Cunningham Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) joins Mayor Wade to discuss the link between gun violence and the built environment in Toledo. Tune in to hear about this fascinating correlation, and how Toledo is working to make an impact on the community by coordinating the work in our Code Compliance Division with our Police Department to help reduce incidents in gun violence in our city.

Gayle Lake, Toledo Public Schools Community Partnerships and Outreach Director and Josh Davis, City of Toledo's Commissioner of School-Based Save Our Community join Mayor Wade to discuss how the City and school system are working together to interrupt violence before it escalates.Violence interruption is not new, but it is new to Toledo. Connecting those who are most at risk–to be either the victim or perpetrator of a violent incident escalating from a conflict–to the appropriate resources is saving lives in Toledo.

Director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Malcolm Cunningham and Mayor Wade discuss a study conducted by the National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform that does a deep dive into the cost of gun violence in Toledo. The study looks at the economic cost of gun violence in our city and how investing in preventative measures could save lives as well as tax dollars. Read The Cost of Gun Violence Study Learn more about the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement

Assistant Fire Chief John Kaminski and Community Service Officer Mohamed-Aly Nasser join Mayor Wade to discuss how respect is integral to their work in public service.

Mayor Wade sits down with Commissioner of Engineering Christy Soncrant, Vision Zero Coordinator Stephanie Bartlett, and Public Information Coordinator Tori Lane to discuss how we are completing more and more road construction projects, how we prioritize safety, and how we are working hard to get information into your inbox. Get updates!

The City of Toledo's Community Development Grants Manager Monica Brown joins Mayor Wade to discuss the next Five-Year Consolidated Plan for Toledo. The Five-Year Consolidated Plan determines how the city allocates federal funding from programs like the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) to meet the needs of our community. Learn more here.

Marc Folk from the Arts Commission, President of City Council Carrie Hartman, and Toledo artist Mark Yappeuying join Mayor Wade to discuss how Toledo has selected its third ever city flag. Through an engaging public process and the work of a Design Review Board, Toledo's 188th birthday celebration is highlighted by this exciting change.

City Prosecutor, Rebecca Facey and Assistant Prosecutor, Michelle Turvey join Mayor Wade to discuss Accountability in the fourth installment of this sub-series on the City of Toledo's Employee Values. They discuss their work with the city and the prosecutor's office culture - both of which compel these women and their team toward consistent accountability of themselves, each other, and the larger Toledo community.

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 Angel this year, sign up here!

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 history and invites residents to take part in a series of public input sessions beginning December 5, 2024, before the design phase begins.  Find the meeting schedule and more information about the project at toledo.oh.gov/RAISE.

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 starting in an entry-level position and working his way up which he credits to the people before him who cultivated a sense of belonging for him. Mayor Wade and Calvin discuss how Calvin continues to foster this value in the city's Division of Sewer and Drainage Services.

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 an exciting step. Learn more on our website at toledo.oh.gov/mytol

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 (ORLP) that will help us revitalize the City's oldest park, Rev. H.V Savage Park.

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 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.