Local

Jacobs addresses challenges, successes in State of the County speech

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs spoke on a variety of topics ranging from expanding the SunRail commuter service to helping the homeless and victims of domestic violence as she delivered her annual State of the County address Friday.

Jacobs spoke of the county's successes but admitted there's still at a lot of work to do.

Jacobs said the county faces serious issues with crime, homelessness and domestic violence.  She also said the county is falling short when it comes to attracting businesses to the area, all issues the county is working on improving.

Several hundred people gathered at the Church Street Ballroom to hear Jacobs deliver the address.

She touched on achievements in transportation with SunRail and spoke of community demands for the train service to expand to seven days a week.

"A big part of what we are trying to do here in Orange County is create a sustainable community," she said.

Jacobs talked about new county venues like the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, set to open in November, and the Major League Soccer stadium, on which construction is expected to begin soon.

Jacobs said the new venues should help attract new businesses to the community.

She said the county still faces a serious challenge with domestic violence.

"The issue of domestic violence continues to be a challenge for this community. We struggle with understanding why we have a greater percentage," said Jacobs. "It is so important for us make sure that we are building a community that will last for 20 years, for 50 years, for 100 years, so that our children and our children's children will continue to have a great place to live."

After the speech, Jacobs told Channel 9's Roy Ramos that what is most important to her is building a sustainable community for generations to come.