Minneapolis can prove to the nation that it is possible to run an effective government

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The presidential election didn’t go as I had hoped. As Democrats sift through the fallout and search for answers, it’s important that we show that Democratic-run cities like Minneapolis can work for the people we represent.

Some loud voices are already suggesting that we need to move further left to counter the Trump agenda. This approach is not only wrong, it is counterproductive. The opposite of extremism is not the counter-extreme. We don’t need to mirror the far right with an equally radical left agenda. Instead, we need to show that thoughtful, effective governance works and that cities like Minneapolis can get the basics right.

In recent years, many progressive cities have turned away from practical politics, prioritizing ideological purity over what benefits people’s daily lives. Proposals such as defunding the police, legalizing encampments, and enacting rent control have often been driven by political intent rather than practical visions for improving public safety, health, and economic opportunity. We’ve seen that when cities prioritize policies that sound good over policies that do good, they fail to deliver the results their residents need.

In Minneapolis, I watched the city council drift further to the left, often rejecting the advice of experts, ignoring the law, and disregarding facts and data. The results reflect what we are seeing at the federal level: legislation focused more on message than results and a loss of trust in our institutions.

To break this cycle, we cannot afford to let political pressures or interest group demands dictate our decisions. If an idea doesn’t work, we have to have the courage to say so. We cannot be afraid to tell the truth to the people we represent, even and especially when things are politically uncomfortable.

The pressure we face to move forward is different now. We are under pressure to deliver because we cannot rely on the new presidential administration to do it for us. Not every problem can or should be addressed by city government, but we can and must do a better job of providing core services. Minneapolis should be a beacon of practical, effective and equitable governance.