Publisher Chris Mahlmann recently sat down with the newly-elected Mayor of Gary, Indiana, Karen Freeman-Wilson, in the Ideas in Motion Media Studio to talk about the latest happenings in Gary, Indiana.
The two talked about changes in store for the City of Gary as the city looks to move into a new era by focusing and building on the positives.
“It’s a new day to focus on the promise of the city instead of our problems,” stated Freeman-Wilson. “So often you hear about people talking about the problems and the challenges that we have in our community. Certainly we are not turning a deaf ear to those challenges, but at the same time what you emphasize is what really will motivate you. So we choose to be motivated by the positive things.”
The two talked about why now is the time for a turnaround for Northwest Indiana’s largest city, citing the rising importance of transportation throughout the country. “Gary has all of the natural assets in place to take advantage of this transportation wave,” explained Freeman-Wilson. “We have an industrial base – the steel mills, the other industries related or some not related to steel. All of that lends itself to Gary’s transportation assets.”
In the interview, Mayor Freeman-Wilson also explained how she stays in touch with Gary's citizens, plans to expand the airport, upcoming events, and the local semi-pro sports teams that are drawing big crowds.
Every Friday that she has available, Mayor Freeman-Wilson is opening her office to input from any community member, 15 minutes at a time. “It’s important that I get out in the community, and it’s also important that I give citizens a voice so they can share their ideas with me,” she explained.
We look forward to seeing what Gary and Mayor Freeman-Wilson have in store for the future. Check out the full interview in the video below!