ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Joe Cobb came to the Star City 24 years ago to live closer to his children. He retired as a pastor about 8 years ago and knew he still wanted to do more, so in 2017 he ran for council.
“The best gift I can give to a place that welcomed me as a stranger that I now call home is to give back, and public service is one of the most genuine, lovely ways to give back to a community,” said Joe Cobb, Mayor of the City of Roanoke.
Cobb served as Vice Mayor until he was elected into the mayor’s seat by a razor-thin margin. Cobb tells WFXR that the first thing he wants to do is to help create a team within the new city council and work closely with the city’s new city manager.
“You have seven people. Very different personalities, very different temperaments, in a way, different perspectives and skills that we bring to the council. So shaping that team and bringing that team together to focus on our one goal, which is to make Roanoke the best that we can be,” said Cobb.
In his first 100 days, Cobb says he wants to focus on some of the city’s biggest challenges, gun violence, homelessness, and housing costs. He says gun violence was down 60% last year and the city is on track to do that again. When it comes to housing, Cobb says the city needs more variety of housing like lower-income housing, single-family homes, condos, and much more.
“Until we increase or as we increase that inventory, then we’ll see an increase in our range of affordable housing,” said Cobb.
He hopes that adding more variety, plus the new partnerships with the downtown ambassador program and the homeless assistance team that create more programs can help people experiencing homelessness.
“People who are experiencing vulnerability, whatever that looks like for them, are being immediately connected with resources that lead to housing opportunities,” said Cobb, “Last year we housed over 300 people. We’re on track to do that again this year.”
Cobb says the city is on track for some economic boosting future projects.
“The growth of Melrose Plaza to investments in our parks and recreation, to seeing some new affordable housing opportunities come online, as well as efforts at Riverdale and new businesses that are calling Roanoke home,” said Cobb, “So we want to do everything we can to sustain that momentum.”
Cobb says he was beyond excited to win the mayor’s seat, he says he hopes to leave behind a legacy of care and compassion.
“We have an opportunity to show Virginia, to show the nation what a city who cares about its growth can model for others, and Roanoke is doing that. We’re going to continue to do that because I ultimately believe that together we make Roanoke Shine. That star we see on the mountain is within each of us, and that brightens the pathway forward,” said Cobb.