It’s hard to believe I’ve only had the honor of being Duluth’s 40th Mayor for a little more than two years! Some days it feels much longer, but most days I wonder where two years have already gone.
During these past two years City Hall has returned to a focus on fundamentals. That may not generate headlines every day, but that’s not the point of local government. It’s about doing the basics and doing them well: streets and utilities, housing, public safety, parks and libraries, and creating conditions for people to invest here with confidence.
In two short years we’ve added more than 800 housing units, replaced 2,300 lead service lines, and paved 36 miles of city streets. Those are not abstract numbers. They are long-term investments in neighborhood stability, economic competitiveness and quality of life.
We’ve also worked to improve how City Hall operates. From better communication between departments to faster project timelines, we are working to be more responsive and solutions oriented. I want residents, developers, nonprofit organizations, labor partners and small businesses to feel that the city is a constructive partner, and not an obstacle.
Duluth cannot afford to make it unnecessarily difficult to build housing, invest in neighborhoods, expand businesses or move good projects forward. Stagnant population growth, aging infrastructure and rising costs are not sustainable long term. Strong cities grow their tax base, invest in infrastructure, and create opportunities for people to live and work and play here at every stage of life.
Housing remains central to that effort. We need more housing at all income levels, including downtown, in neighborhoods and along key corridors. We need workforce housing, market-rate housing and even executive options. If we want employers to grow and families to stay, we must significantly increase supply to make options at all income levels more affordable.
We must also remain focused on affordable property taxes. Residents and our businesses expect core services to be delivered effectively and efficiently at a tax rate they can sustain. That responsibility matters, especially during a time when inflation and rising costs are impacting households across the country.
Downtown Duluth remains a major focus. A stronger downtown means more housing, more activity, more small business growth and greater long-term tax base stability for the entire city. There certainly remains work to be done, but we have made progress.
Demolition of the Kozy and Shoppers Ramp is complete, as is the skywalk study. Residents are beginning to move into Lakeview 333, and the city is partnering with community organizations to activate First Street this summer. Downtown social service providers are better coordinating service delivery to provide assistance to those in need while also being responsive to our business community.
In my 2026 State of the City, I invited the community to join me in reading the book Strong Towns by Charles Marohn, Jr. The principles encourage incremental and tangible progress. That’s the approach we’re taking at City Hall. Our five big issues are now strategic goals, with specific action strategies, assigned leaders, measurable metrics and routine progress reports.
Local government is not about ego or political theater. It is about responsibility and stewardship. And it is often unglamorous, focused on making sure the basics function well. But those basics shape daily life and determine whether Duluth is positioned to compete and grow.
Progress may not always make front-page news, but it is real. And progress isn’t immediate. It is incremental. Forward momentum building across Duluth. How do we continue building that momentum?
We stay focused on the fundamentals. We grow our housing stock and commercial tax base. We continue finding ways to get to “yes.”
