Yemi Mobolade

Blessing Adeyemi Mobolade (born February 12, 1979) is an American businessman and politician. He is the 42nd mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado, being sworn in on June 6, 2023.

Early life and career Yemi Mobolade was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. Mobolade's father worked in finance for ExxonMobil while his mother was a high school teacher. He has an older brother and two younger sisters. His parents converted to Christianity as young adults, and pursued education that would lead them to their current careers. Religion is a big factor in Mobolade and his family's lives. His name, Adeyemi, means "the crown fits me." His parents adopted a co-vocational approach to their lifestyle to indicate that both religion and professional development are important. a private Christian school. In 2001, he graduated from the school, and pursued higher education, earning a master's degree in Management and Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. She now works as a full-time nurse educator. While in Lagos, Mobolade states that he did not have a ton of childhood memories,

Mobolade's transition to mayor then occurred through his affiliation with the church in Colorado Springs. The Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination hired Mobolade to open a new church and work with it.

Mobolade co-founded two restaurants, The Wild Goose and Good Neighbors Meeting House. He also founded a church within the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and was a ministry leader at the First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs between 2015 and 2017. In the nonpartisan blanket primary, held on April 4, Mobolade finished in first place in the 12 candidate field with 29 percent of the vote, advancing to a runoff election against Republican Wayne W. Williams, former secretary of state, who received 20 percent. Mobolade defeated Williams in the runoff election on May 16, 57 percent to 43 percent, become the first elected Black mayor and the first non-Republican mayor of the city (Leon Young, who served as interim mayor in 1997, was the first Black mayor although appointed by the City Council).

Mayoral Runoff

Political positions

Immigration As an immigrant himself, Mobolade notes the complexity and difficulty of the legal processes concerning immigration. He does support the work of community nonprofits thus far to provide temporary housing for immigrants that found their way to Colorado Springs, but emphasizes that their resources are limited. He remains in contact with nonprofit shelters and the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management.

Public safety He seeks to crack down on unsafe drivers by focusing on speeding and alcohol use. During his time in office, a speed radar program was launched and implemented in school zones, construction areas, residential areas, and areas around parks. Mobolade wants to close the gap in the shortage of police officers in Colorado Springs. He hopes to reach the "authorized strength" value of 818 officers.

Infrastructure Upon the start of his term, Ballot Issue 2C was already in effect. Sales tax has been used to renovate many roads in Colorado Springs, including via concrete pouring and paving. Mobolade supports 2C and expressed gratitude for it passing again in November 2024. According to the Mobolade's office, in his first year in office, 101,181 potholes were filled and signage for five school zones was installed. With funding from the 2C initiative, the equivalent of 179 miles of lanes and 47.5 miles of sidewalk were paved in Colorado Springs. The city's 24th fire station also underwent construction at this time. With goals of expanding city borders, Mobolade drafted a plan titled AnnexCOS.

As of 2024, the city is dealing with a housing shortage due to population growth. Mobolade sees it a priority to close the supply-demand gap. He said it is important to keep the city's essential workers, like teachers and nurses, in the city. He created the Housing & Community Vitality department. Additionally, 345 affordable housing units went into construction during his first year as mayor.

Through COSILoveYou, Mobolade built a "City Gospel Movement" in Colorado Springs—a collaboration between local churches and community leaders to transform the city. In 2023, 3,831 volunteers from 72 churches came together for CityServe Day.