The Premise: Over the past 5-10 years, Minnesota has suffered a series of events and controversies that have greatly intensified civic activity and divided our communities & state. Concurrently, our rank has fallen in recent years regarding education (now 21st in the U.S.) and crime (now 16th).
The Question: Given this state of our state, how can we best proceed? As city leaders, how have you experienced this negative trend in your communities, and what actions can you take (are you taking) to address it?
With this, we began our discussion on stage in Wayzata last Thursday night, Oct. 22. It was a the 3rd Annual Culture Convergence event organized by Local Ties Media, a modest-sized but meaningful affair bringing together experts and enthusiasts in various topics surrounding technology and society.
This night saw three discussions on A.I., decentralized systems, and, for my panel kicking off the evening, a look at how Minnesota’s political culture has shifted and how we might turn the page toward a new, better chapter for our state.
Joining me (left-right) were mayors Tom McKee (Corcoran, also now running for State House 37A), Julie Maas-Kusske (Maple Plain), and Todd Albers (Medina) as well as Plymouth city council candidate Sarah Anderson.
The biggest takeaway for me wasn’t a political one, but a human one: With all the tension and community infighting, it’s not easy being a mayor these days. I took a moment in the middle this conversation to thank these four for stepping up. They’re largely volunteers. I also noted the “death spiral” risk in play when it comes to political leadership: The job gets more difficult and thankless, so good people step away, leaving a leadership void that can further a community’s struggle.
So, their communities are fortunate to have these local leaders.
Enjoy their testimonies in the video above, a look behind-the-scenes at city halls large and small affected by the challenges across our state.
Hope you had a wonderful Halloween and have a terrific start to your November.
And thank you, as always, for all your support helping make this work of mine possible.
-Brandon