During her second annual state of the city address, delivered during the Shift Happens event at Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center on Jan. 30, an optimistic Mayor Marilyn Strickland said Tacoma is among the best cities in the nation.

Strickland mentioned a number of major projects that were completed in the past 12 months, such as the renovation of Cheney Stadium, Children's Museum of Tacoma moving into its new home, the installation of the ting (pagoda) at Chinese Reconciliation Park and the long-awaited opening of a grocery store downtown. Among the projects that will be completed in 2012 is the Sound Transit commuter rail line between downtown and Lakewood, the mayor noted.

Strickland mentioned new leaders in the field of education, including a new chancellor at the University of Washington-Tacoma and a new interim superintendent at Tacoma Public Schools. The city also just hired T.C. Broadnax to be the next city manager. "We are very pleased to welcome these new leaders to our city."

Strickland has emphasized education during her time in elected office. She noted the recent hiring of Jon Kitna as head football coach at Lincoln High School. Kitna, who just ended a long career in the National Football League, will provide leadership to his players on the field while also instilling strong values in them, she noted. "Education is a civic priority in Tacoma."

The city will use several tactics to deal with the economic downturn, a mixture of budget cuts and increases in revenue, the mayor said. "You cannot cut your way out of a recession."

She noted there were 500 more new businesses that opened in 2011 than in 2010. She praised the efforts of small business owners to create jobs and stimulate the economy. She urged them to take that extra effort to find their niche. "Good enough is not going to cut it."