TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — City officials in Terre Haute are turning the page to 2025. However, they took a moment to look back on everything that happened in the city this past year.
Mayor Brandon Sakbun says there are several things he is proud of from 2024. One of the highlights was improved public safety. This includes decreased crime numbers and investments in first responders.
“We’ve made a number of investments into our fire stations and really worked to make sure that those firefighters have a decent lifestyle when they’re at the job, because compared to what we walked into and what we saw, the windows needed done, the doors needed done,” Sakbun said. “Those might seem like little things, but this is a home for these firefighters for at least 24 hours in a row, so we’ve made some good investments there.”
Sakbun says that the city put a lot of emphasis on housing in 2024, leading to a record year.
“Some income-based housing, some nonprofit housing, and a lot of market-rate housing,” Sakbun said.” Folks should be seeing neighborhoods popping up all across the city. We’re very deliberate when it comes to demolition. We’re very deliberate when it comes to utilizing vacant lots for new homes. But one thing remains true, from 2024 to 2025, and that’s housing is going to be a priority of the administration.”
Looking ahead to 2025, Sakbun says he is excited to get the word out that city buses are now free to the public with the start of the new year.
“You know really bolstering the communication and the energy around our transportation,” Sakbun said. “Making transit free in the City of Terre Haute was a long undertaking. We’re happy we were able to find a way, utilizing state federal grants and some local contracts here, but now the important thing to do is get people on the bus and we look forward to seeing the buses more and more full each week.”
Sakbun says he is also looking forward to a couple of projects in downtown Terre Haute that are already in motion.
