After setting a homicide record in 2017, Topeka saw crime decrease last year, Mayor Michelle De La Isla said Thursday.

She cited figures showing Topeka has made positive strides in areas that included public safety and street conditions while speaking at the annual State of the Community luncheon at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center.

De La Isla then teamed up with S.J. Hazim, a member of the Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships council, to perform an original rap song highlighting the community's achievements.

That piece — modeled on the song "My Shot," by the cast of the Broadway musical "Hamilton" — featured a refrain containing the phrase: "We are Topeka proud! Say it loud!"

Organizers said 500 people attended Thursday's event, which included talks by De La Isla and Shawnee County Commission chairman Bob Archer.

De La Isla, who took office in January 2018 as mayor, made reference to how Topeka saw a record 29 homicides in 2017.

She said the city's crime rate has dropped since she began working with Police Chief Bill Cochran to actively engage members of the community.

Violent crime in Topeka last year was down 4.37 percent from the previous year, while property crime was down 3.27 percent and overall crime was down 3.39 percent, Cochran said Thursday. The city's homicide total fell last year to 17, he said.

De La Isla also expressed pride Tuesday that demographic data collected by Topeka police — for transparency reasons and to meet standards set by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies — shows drivers aren’t being stopped based on their race or because of bias.

Police on March 27 made public those numbers, which showed that 84 percent of motorists issued citations in 2018 were white while 12 percent were black and 4 percent were of other races. In comparison, Topeka’s population is about 80 percent white, 10 percent black and 10 percent other.

De La Isla added that street repair efforts by Topeka's city government recently caused the city's pavement condition index score to rise by two points, from 55 to 57, before it fell back to 56 this past winter.

She spoke positively of ongoing efforts to develop southwest Topeka's Wheatfield Village and downtown Topeka's Evergy Plaza, and of the city's relationship with the governor's office since Laura Kelly, a Topekan, took office in January.

De La Isla was preceded at the lectern by Archer, who kept his comments to a minimum while showing one short video each highlighting progress Shawnee County's government has made at the Kansas Expocentre, in public works and in public health, as well as parks and recreation.

The latter video included quotes from parks and recreation community outreach manager Darrell Stewart, who voiced excitement about his perception that enthusiasm about the community is growing.

"I can see a light in people's eyes these days," he said.