Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. delivered his State of the City address – which included a grand entrance, complete with people dressed as "Transformers."

“I’ve always been a transformational leader,” Smalls said. “I tell it like it is. I think outside the box. I’m bold, creative and aggressive.”

Small delivered his address at the Palladium Ballroom at Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino.

“We’re here to change and control the narrative about what people say about Atlantic City,” Smalls said.

He spoke about the city’s rebirth, which goes beyond gaming.

“Under this administration, we definitely achieved the seemingly impossible,” said Smalls.

The mayor said that he cut debt and taxes during his more than three years in office.

“I have a saying that men, women, political opportunists lie. But the numbers and facts don’t. Let’s talk about Atlantic City’s finances,” he said.

He said that new development will mean more money in the city coffers.

“That’s why we say that Atlantic City will go from one of the highest taxed to the lowest taxed,” Small said. “For the fifth straight year, we will have a tax decrease. Give that a round of applause.”

Lt. Gov. Shelia Oliver was in attendance.

“There is no other Shore community that can emulate and replicate what we have here,” she said, regarding Atlantic City.

The state took over Atlantic City’s finances in 2016. The lieutenant governor said she will make sure Atlantic City gets part of the $100 million boardwalk improvement fund Gov. Phil Murphy announced in his State of the State address.

“To be fair with the distribution of those funds, but I am known to put my finger on the scale,” Oliver said.

The state takeover of Atlantic City will last until at least 2025 under a law signed by Murphy in 2021.