Mayor William S. Cogswell, Jr.
Here in the City of Charleston, our primary focus is always putting our residents first. As your local city government, we must prioritize exceptional customer service. My administration is actively working to foster a more transparent and unified municipality where residents feel empowered. Currently, we are transforming our website to ensure a seamless user experience. Whether you're seeking information on permits and licensing, submitting a request to the Citizen Services Desk, or booking a tee time at the Municipal Golf Course, our goal is to make accessing city services straightforward and efficient. If it matters to you, it matters to us, and we are committed to delivering on that promise.
My priorities:
Smart growth: Charleston is experiencing a period of exponential growth. It is imperative that we coordinate this growth with smart infrastructure and planning that preserves the character and historic landscape that make up the city we love.
Many of the issues our city faces such as traffic and flooding are not just Charleston’s problems but also challenges for our greater region and state. I believe a collaborative; regional approach is necessary to accomplish our goals. We are working closely with other municipalities and our state government to improve infrastructure, affordability, and resilience to ensure a prosperous future in Charleston.
Safe communities: Charleston is a place people love to visit, but we also call it home. We maintain an open line of communication with the Charleston Police Department, local business owners, and city officials to uphold our community's safety standards and enforce local laws. Our collaborative efforts have already yielded successful safety initiatives, such as implementing DUI checkpoints and establishing designated rideshare pick-up/drop-off points on King Street. We are committed to listening to feedback from CPD and residents and will adapt as needed to strengthen our safety measures further.
Sound governance: Our city has relied on outdated systems and structures for far too long. It is time to modernize, enhancing cross-departmental collaboration, increasing efficiency, and creating a system better equipped for customer service.
We have already begun this process with the rollout of our new organizational structure, increased communications through our city newsletters and revamped social media channels, and we are currently editing our website to be more user friendly for our residents.
I've been fortunate to call Charleston home for most of my life, and now, as your Mayor, I am excited to work towards creating positive change. I believe in the power of our community to shape our city's future. I urge each of you to actively participate in our city's growth and improvement. Together, let's build a better Charleston.
Mayor William S. Cogswell, Jr.