We can be both progressive and forthright about problems

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I am a progressive. But being a progressive doesn’t mean ignoring real and ongoing problems in Minneapolis or neglecting basic roles of government.

Downtown and Uptown are hurting. Hennepin Avenue in particular has experienced a dire commercial wipeout, the product of COVID, unrest, safety concerns and, yes, ill-timed construction. Streets that were once vibrant now feel deserted. Treasured local businesses have been lost. Despite assurances of renewal around the corner, new economic life has been slow to emerge. We can admit these are unwelcome changes to neighborhoods many of us love.

The Minneapolis public school district is struggling tremendously. Enrollment has declined, creating a large budget deficit. Parents don’t feel schools are adequate for their children, and many choose suburban districts instead. No parent can be blamed for finding the best opportunity for their child. But Minneapolis cannot thrive while its schools are shrinking.

There are public safety issues. That’s not to say that Minneapolis is the war zone caricatured in right-wing media. It can be a wonderful place to live. But it’s also true that carjackings and robberies — sometimes in broad daylight, in busy neighborhoods — are far too frequent. We can’t pretend a spate of gunpoint stickups is acceptable or tolerable.

The city faces an impending property tax crisis. As businesses leave, the value of commercial real estate falls and our tax base shrinks. This leads to higher taxes on the people and businesses that remain. Some of them then also leave, worsening the problem — a potentially disastrous downward spiral. Most Minneapolitans do not think tax is a dirty word and are happy to pay their fair share. But nobody wants their taxes to go up simply because there’s less to go around.

I worry that some progressives have been too reluctant to acknowledge these changes, as if admitting problems are real would require us to surrender our values. I disagree. I think true progressivism requires us to be honest about problems, not ignore them — and then to tackle them pragmatically and effectively, in ways consistent with liberal values.

I am running for Minnesota House District 61A because I know problems in Minneapolis exist, and I want to help solve them.

Sometimes I get asked if issues like schools or the city economy are state legislative concerns. They emphatically are. The roots of these trends are wider than the city of Minneapolis, stretching across the entire region. I’m running for this seat because only the Legislature has tools to address things like local government aid, poverty concentration in schools or regional planning. We need the state’s help to revitalize businesses, stabilize our school district, rebuild the public safety system and prevent a property tax crunch.

Fixing schools starts with listening to parents and supporting teachers, and providing the services and programs they need. Families can’t be forced into the district; they have to be coaxed back.

It’s time to end the factional divide over policing — “fund vs. defund” has been an unproductive debate — and focus on making sure every resident feels protected by sufficiently resourced law enforcement that is responsive, professional and able to show up when needed.

We must also reform the Metropolitan Council. The council is potentially a powerful tool to prevent sprawl while balancing the benefits and burdens of growth. But it desperately needs to be more accountable to the people it serves.

State-provided local government aid used to account for half the Minneapolis budget. This prevented property tax increases even while city services improved, a system called the “Minnesota miracle.” Let’s bring that system back.

Things like economic growth, education, taxes and safety are the “nuts and bolts” of good government. Done right, they form the foundation of enduring prosperity and a just society. Historically, Minnesota thrived because its leaders found pragmatic and egalitarian solutions for these basic concerns. In turn, that created resources that could be shared to help other priorities.

As a progressive, I believe this city and state can be made more prosperous, safer and fairer. We can protect workers and the less fortunate, improve infrastructure and fight climate change. As a state legislator, I want to accomplish this by getting back to basics and making sure our city’s foundation is strong again.

Will Stancil is an attorney working at the University of Minnesota and a candidate for Minnesota House District 61A.