If there is one takeaway from Mayor Sam Teresi’s annual State of the City address, it is this – Jamestown isn’t where it needs to be, but it is making progress.

The address delivered to the City Council on Monday trumpeted some of the city’s more notable achievements this year, as all such speeches do. Looking back is a way to place our surroundings into a bigger picture and give accomplishments a sense of meaning. The exercise reaffirms Teresi’s thought that progress is indeed being made.

A realistic leader can’t be all cheerleader, however, and Teresi’s State of the City shows Teresi is indeed pragmatic about the state of the city.

It is heartening to see Teresi mention the need for the city to do its part to solve the city’s drug and arson problem, both of which are a threat to those who want nothing more that to wake up and go to work each day knowing they live in a safe and secure place. Neighborhoods will also see the re-launch of the quadrant residential inspection program while the city increases the number of home renovation projects and uses increased funding from the state Attorney General’s office to demolish more unoccupied buildings in city neighborhoods.

A laundry list of shared services, mergers and consolidations has saved the city millions of dollars over the years, but Teresi is willing to admit the city needs the state’s help to continue cutting costs. The city has applied for help to the state’s Financial Restructuring Board for suggestions and is still working with the county on a plan to consolidate the Jamestown Police Department with the county Sheriff’s Department.

Lastly, downtown has seen massive investment in the past few years but still has many vacant buildings that need new tenants. This year, Teresi wants the city and partners like the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. to work on reinvestment in the federal building on Third Street and Prendergast Avenue, the M&T Bank building on Third and Main streets, the Hotel Jamestown building, the Renaissance Center and the pending redevelopment of the Ramada Hotel on Fourth Street. Efforts will also focus on the Washington-Fluvanna Commercial Corridor.

We all know Jamestown has problems, but Teresi’s vision of what the city can be is inspiring in part because Teresi acknowledges the issues the city faces. We hope Teresi’s State of the City address sparks in people a desire to make his vision a reality.