Gilbert's newly inaugurated Mayor, Scott Anderson, is already to swiftly make moves aimed at transforming the city into what's been termed the "City of the Future". The initiative, originally launched in 2019, lays out a comprehensive vision for the city's path forward, hinging on what Anderson calls three core pillars: a strong economy, a prosperous community, and an exceptional built environment. Yesterday, according to a statement on Gilbert’s official website, Mayor Anderson stated, "Our mission is simple: to ensure that Gilbert continues to uphold the high quality of life that everyone here expects and deserves."
These pillars aren't mere buzzwords but are meant to actively guide growth and help the city to better prepare for challenges and opportunities that come with development. The prosperous community pillar emphasizes resident well-being through safety, sustainability, and quality services, while the strong economy pillar sees Gilbert positioning itself to attract high-wage STEM jobs, supported by investments in higher education. Lastly, the exceptional built environment reflects Mayor Anderson's commitment to creating spaces for residents to live, work, and play, particularly as the town approaches its final buildout.
Further outlining the strategy, Anderson mentioned ongoing redevelopment projects like the Northwest Growth Area as critical to the long-term success of the community. These projects aim to serve as models for sustainable urban development and design. "Gilbert is dedicated to enhancing residents' quality of life through safety, sustainability, and quality services," Mayor Anderson emphasized, underlining the importance of community well-being.
The mayor is not only pushing for structural and economic changes but also emphasizes the adoption of a set of guiding principles or "house rules" for the community. These include encouragements to try new things, be kind, learn from mistakes, respect one another, embrace change, be oneself, live in the moment, and dream big. In his words: "Together, we are not just preparing for tomorrow—we are proactively designing it." Mayor Anderson’s focus on reconnecting with the community following his election is also evident in the scheduled State of the Town event on March 26th, 2025, which will take place at Gilbert’s renovated Water Tower Plaza.
Residents and interested individuals can join Mayor Anderson at the event and are encouraged to register online. For those looking to get more involved or stay informed, connecting with Mayor Anderson via Instagram and X at @GilbertAZMayor, or subscribing to Gilbert's weekly newsletter, is also an option. As a final message to his constituents, Anderson shares, "Please join me as I host my first State of the Town event on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Gilbert’s newly renovated Water Tower Plaza in Gilbert’s Heritage District."
