In today’s world, there are plenty of ways to be entertained and informed about various topics—a constant flow of information. But, when it all boils down to it, what really matters are the things that directly impact us, such as our local government.
Why does that street get fixed but not this one? What really happened at that last City Council meeting? Why is the City spending our tax dollars to build medians? (Spoiler alert: We aren’t.) Informed engagement is crucial to civic involvement because if residents have an accurate understanding of the issues, they can provide feedback in a constructive manner.
Fortunately, the City government and the Communications department provide residents with plenty of tools to understand what is really going on. And, oftentimes, it’s not that complicated. We invite residents to take advantage of the tried and true methods of communication the City has established, and become familiar with the newer and more evolving ones.
Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in a room and hear some authentic, yet highly informative conversations? We recently launched our new podcast, Town Talk, to allow residents to listen in as we chat with City officials and local leaders about topics that affect our residents.
We recognize that many people value the candid insight that comes from unscripted conversations with subject matter experts. Our first couple of episodes have included discussions of our City budget and the importance of growing Victoria, and we even responded to a few comments from our residents.
Residents can listen to Town Talk on Spotify by searching for “Town Talk Victoria,” or watch it on YouTube at Victoria Texas Videos.
Speaking of tried and true methods, another way residents can get their information straight from the source is by participating in-person at Citizens Academy. During this free, five-week educational program, residents will hear from our City leaders about all the things that go into keeping a town running—from public safety to economic development, infrastructure and many other important topics; plus, they’ll be able to tour City facilities and have their most pressing questions answered.
Our 2025 Citizens Academy begins Jan. 30. To apply, fill out the form at www.victoriatx.gov/citizensacademy by Nov. 1. Space is limited.
We work hard each day to make sure residents stay informed about the things their City government is working on: the budget, street projects, community development, downtown revitalization and new facilities (the Public Safety Headquarters, anyone?). For more ways to stay connected, stop by our webpage at www.victoriatx.gov/newsroom, where you can:
- View the latest press releases
- Sign up for our weekly email newsletter, The City View
- Follow us on social media
- Sign up for road closure alerts and water alerts
- View upcoming events
- Watch all of our educational video content
You can also tune in to our municipal TV channel, TV15, on local cable channels 15 and 115 or online at www.victoriatx.gov/tv15.
Regardless of how you prefer to consume information, we hope that you’ll continue coming to the City and other reliable sources to stay informed about the issues that impact you!
Ashley Strevel is the director of Communications & Public Affairs for the City of Victoria.