On a chilly Friday afternoon in early January, Toledo, Ohio, made a bit of history. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz stood before a crowd, hand raised, and took the oath of office for a third term—something no other mayor in the city’s long history had ever done. The moment, marked by a sense of both accomplishment and anticipation, was made possible by a recent change in the city’s charter, a shift that reflected both the will of the voters and the city’s evolving needs.
Just over a year earlier, in 2024, Toledo voters had passed Issue 9, a charter revision that allowed mayors to serve up to three terms, rather than the previous two-term limit. According to WTVG, this change was pivotal, clearing the way for Kapszukiewicz to run again in the 2025 election—and win. As of January 2, 2026, he officially began another four-year stint guiding the Glass City, a tenure that now totals eight years and counting.
“We have tools that we didn’t have at this time last year,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz told local press, as reported by WTOL. His words, while simple, hinted at a period of transformation for Toledo. Over the past eight years, the city has seen notable improvements in public safety and economic development, according to the mayor. But Kapszukiewicz is not one to rest on his laurels. The next four years, he says, will be defined by a fresh focus on housing—a challenge that’s been simmering beneath the surface for some time.
“There are surveys that show people want to live in the city, but there are not the needed housing opportunities,” Kapszukiewicz explained. He’s not alone in this observation. Across the Midwest, cities like Toledo have struggled to keep pace with changing housing demands, often hampered by legacy infrastructure and a shortage of modern, affordable units. For many residents, the dream of a new home in their hometown has felt just out of reach.
But change is on the horizon. The mayor announced that a major update on housing is coming in March, signaling a new chapter in the city’s development. The centerpiece of this effort is the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), a new entity launched in 2025 with a unique funding arrangement—a 35-year partnership with the neighboring city of Rossford. The CIC has been granted broad powers to buy, sell, and transform vacant and underutilized land, a move that could reshape entire neighborhoods over the coming years.
“The funding stream associated with the CIC will be able to be used to not only acquire the land, but to clean it up for the housing that we need,” Kapszukiewicz said, as quoted by WTOL. That’s no small feat. For decades, vacant lots and abandoned buildings have dotted Toledo’s landscape, reminders of industrial decline and population shifts. Now, with the CIC’s resources and mandate, there is hope that these sites will soon be bustling with new homes and families.
The mayor’s optimism is grounded in more than just plans on paper. Over the next four years, he promises that Toledoans will see “a lot more housing units available,” a pledge that has caught the attention of community leaders and real estate watchers alike. The city’s partnership with Rossford is particularly notable, as it ensures a steady stream of funding for the CIC well into the middle of the century—a rare long-term commitment in the world of municipal development.
Of course, housing isn’t the only item on Kapszukiewicz’s agenda. Public safety remains a top concern, and the mayor is quick to point out the progress already made. According to crime statistics cited by the mayor, 2025 saw a decrease in all categories of crime except for homicides, which held steady at 38—the same number as in 2024. While any homicide is one too many, the overall trend is encouraging: over the past four years, crime has steadily decreased across the board.
What’s driving these improvements? The mayor credits a combination of growing the police force and investing in youth programming. “The more we provide opportunities for jobs, positive activities, early intervention and investment in young people, we are going to see better results,” Kapszukiewicz said. “That is certainly one of the reasons our crime numbers have gone down over the last four years.”
Yet, the challenge of youth violence remains acute. Many of the homicides in 2025 involved people under the age of 20—a sobering statistic that underscores the need for early intervention and grassroots programs. Kapszukiewicz has pledged to double down on these efforts, working with community groups to reach at-risk youth before violence takes root.
Infrastructure, too, is on the mayor’s radar. Roads and riverfront development have long been priorities for Kapszukiewicz, and he intends to keep pushing for improvements in these areas. The city’s riverfront, in particular, is seen as a potential jewel—a place where economic development, recreation, and community life can intersect. Past efforts have laid the groundwork, but the mayor says there is still much to be done.
Toledo’s recent journey is, in many ways, a microcosm of the broader Midwest. Once defined by manufacturing might, the city has faced its share of economic headwinds, population loss, and urban decay. But as the 2020s unfold, there’s a sense of renewal in the air. Residents, empowered by the charter change that extended mayoral terms, have signaled their desire for stable, sustained leadership—and for bold action on the issues that matter most.
For Kapszukiewicz, the road ahead is both daunting and exciting. The mayor’s third term brings with it not just the weight of history, but a mandate to deliver on promises old and new. Whether it’s reducing crime, building new homes, or revitalizing the riverfront, the stakes are high—and the eyes of Toledo are watching.
As the city waits for March’s big housing announcement, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation. Will this be the moment when Toledo finally turns the corner on its housing challenges? Only time will tell. But for now, the city’s leadership is united in its resolve to keep pushing forward, one project, one neighborhood, and one term at a time.
