Matthes focuses on social equity in State of the City address

The Columbia city manager said the state of the city is good. In a speech delivered Wednesday morning at city hall, Mike Matthes hit on several points including poverty and crime.

Matthes said Columbia has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country but poverty numbers keep increasing.

Matthes talked about Columbia’s social equity program. He said the city will assess residents ability to thrive in Columbia.

He said there are disparities among neighborhoods which includes public investments. He said data also shows a racial disparity.

“Seventy-four percent of residents overall are satisfied that they can thrive in Columbia. Now, the interesting thing 78 percent of white residents feel like they can thrive, but only 54 percent of black residents feel like they can thrive,” Matthes said.

Matthes said the city’s goal is to increase the percentage of residents who feel they can thrive in Columbia.