The headline in the Star Tribune got everyone’s attention: “Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and the City Council have entered couples counseling.”
It’s a great headline, even though the article took it down a notch, explaining that the city had hired a consulting firm “to focus on establishing strategy, norms and collaboration for council members and the mayor’s administration.”
In other words, to help the council and mayor learn how to work out their differences and address the critical issues facing our city.
The firm, Darcy Luoma Coaching and Consulting, will be paid $1,386,000 for a three-year contract.
The firm, Darcy Luoma Coaching and Consulting, will be paid $1,386,000 for a three-year contract.
On the one hand, it’s an outrageous amount of public dollars to spend on helping our elected officials learn civility and good governance. Aren’t these skills they should have learned before they were elected?
On the other hand, corporations and nonprofit organizations frequently hire consultants to help them achieve their goals. Why shouldn’t the city?
And on the third hand: what if it works?
Anyone paying attention to city politics knows that there’s a standoff between the council members on the far left who routinely oppose the mayor and the moderate members who generally align with him.
Democratic Socialists of America, known commonly as DSA, council members and those who align with them supported DSA member Omar Fateh for mayor in the last election, and they make no bones about their dislike of Mayor Frey.
This has resulted in a trickle-down dislike of the moderates who supported him, and in what can euphemistically be called a lack of decorum at City Council meetings, where insults are lobbed like water balloons and hissy fits and tears are not uncommon.
And it’s said to be worse behind the scenes.
Contrary to what many people say about political bad behavior, both sides do not do it. Extremists and ideologues do.
At a time when our city is facing projected financial shortfalls and other serious problems, including housing and public safety, we need a city government that can find common ground and focus on the often mundane issues at hand.
Enter Minneapolis City Clerk Casey Carl, whose job description includes “helping the city council with decision making.” No small task. Last September, Mr. Carl initiated the idea of a contract with Ms. Luoma’s firm.
The then-council approved it unanimously.
Knowing you need help is the first step in recovery.
The first meetings were scheduled for January, when the new council convened.
Due to the murder of Renee Good by ICE agents on the second day of the meetings, they were postponed until June. And here we are.
Council President Elliott Payne said the council and mayor came away from recent sessions with a “shared commitment” to “basic principles that you wouldn’t think you’d need a workshop to get to.” Props to Mr. Payne for stating the obvious.
Council Members Robin Wonsley and Aisha Chughtai, who identify as DSA members, did not attend the workshop.
Therapy can work.
Jim and I didn’t make it to 60 years of marriage without some couples therapy along the way, and we didn’t raise four children without some “outside consultants” — children who weren’t always eager to participate.
True, it didn’t cost $1.4 million, and we didn’t pay for it with public money, unless you factor in the services provided along the way by the Minneapolis Public Schools.
Also true: you can’t pick your family members, but you can pick your City Council members and hold them to a higher standard than your adolescent kids.
And while $1.4 million is a staggering sum that sticks in the communal craw, it’s roughly 0.07% of the city’s annual budget.
Would I rather see it spent on aid to those most in need, or on the businesses struggling to survive the ICE occupation? Of course.
But if it puts an end to the animosity currently crippling the City Council and bears the hoped-for fruit of civility, cooperation and good governance, it just might be money well spent.
Susan Lenfestey writes for the Hill & Lake Press. She lives in Lowry Hill.
