Mayor John Cooper delivered the 58th State of Metro Address Thursday morning, announcing his plans to increase teacher pay, to continue pursuing the city’s transportation overhaul and triple Nashville’s affordable housing funding.

Cooper framed his speech, given at the Music City Center, in the context of refocusing on growth and progress after having been forced to focus on the health crisis of the previous year. This anchored the address in the pending accomplishments of the future rather than on the present state of Metro. In so doing, he positioned Metro Nashville with COVID-19 behind and pre-COVID plans ahead with a focus on the ways in which Metro can be expected to invest in teachers, transportation and housing.

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