Aurora mayor renews call to prioritize people, planet over profit

In his first State of the City speech since becoming mayor of Aurora, John Laesch reiterated his belief that city government should prioritize people and the environment.

“We will grow Aurora together by strengthening our neighborhoods. We will grow Aurora together by supporting small businesses, by investing in public trust, by expanding opportunities, by building a more sustainable future. Because that is how we build a government and economy that works for everyone,” Laesch said Thursday night, in the speech at Aurora University.

The theme of the speech was “People and planet over profit.”

“That is how we build a stronger community, and that is how we build the future of Aurora,” he said.

As an alderman and candidate for mayor, Laesch had criticized city leaders, including former Mayor Richard Irvin, saying the city put the wants of developers and large businesses over the needs and wants of people.

Laesch reviewed highlights from the past year, including the city council’s recent adoption of regulations on data centers; the opening of an additional fire station and a replacement station, under budget; and enhancements to the city’s 311 city-services information center.

He spoke of creating the Office of Sustainability, Economic Development and Business Opportunity.

“My long-term goal is to make Aurora the capital of green building in Illinois,” Laesch said.

To that end, Laesch said he is proposing a city low-interest loan program for energy-efficient construction and improvements at residences and businesses.

Laesch spoke about the city’s financial status. Last year, Laesch proposed a budget that called for addressing a $29 million general fund deficit by getting rid of about 200 workers and eliminating some programs and projects. In past years, the city had used money intended for casualty insurance, benefits and capital improvements to balance that fund.

“Honestly, this was the hardest part of my first year in office,” he said.

He praised the remaining workers. “Many are doing more work with fewer staff and resources,” Laesch acknowledged.

Laesch said he is proposing a loan program for small businesses that must pay for fixing code violations in older buildings and a business concierge service to help businesses navigate the process of obtaining licenses, permits, inspections, zoning, siting and financing.

He also announced that the city will resume publishing the Aurora Borealis newsletter and plans to have a Juneteenth celebration downtown.