The city needs to have a plan to reduce the car usage in the city. The bus system is as good as it will ever be while still on car-laden city streets. Streetcars once moved the masses of Duluth, we should get them back again.

Farmers markets need to be the norm of produce buying. The co-op should have a market during the off days of other markets. West Duluth badly needs one, and the one in West End is already starting up. Local people need local economies.

Superior street needs to be a pedestrian-only area with an express mode of transport to the edges of our city. 


The st. louis river bay needs to be more than just a dredged out pond. Methodical fish farming and estuaries would help increase the population of all living creatures in our lake and give a local edge to our food.

We need a way for everyone to experience the splendor of our shore without having to drive it with a car. A start would be a weekend express Superior Hiking Trail bus that would take travelers up and down the shore at their leisure. It could travel up and down twice a day to pick up weary travelers and bring them back to the city.

That's why I had to stop and look at my statement. Because I would like to see more does not  mean we're not.

Yes, but haven't found one I like. Tried, still trying.

Maybe that is why the population has dropped so drastically over the years.

What would an ideal progressive city have that would make it such?

Paul Lundgren wrote:

"Duluth has lost about 400 people per year over the past 50 years. I wouldn't call that drastic."

From 1960 to 1990, Duluth lost 21,391 residents. That doesn't look as good as your 50 year average. I'm not nitpicking, just stating facts. I remember that era, high school graduates were leaving in droves. U.S. Steel closed as did other industries that once drove Duluth. But, it happened elsewhere too.

Where in the world are you going to get a job here except for Menards/ Home Depot or a food place?  This is nearly an impossible job market for any age.  TEMPORARY Jobs for master's degrees are being advertised for $20 an hour and that means weekend and flexible work time---impossible for a single mother or dad. .  $20 per hour x 40 hrs a week (if you are fortunate) x 52 weeks per year (if you are VERY lucky) still adds up to only $41,600 a year, max.  And of course a temporary job means you are not going to count on benefits or any of the other perks a person needs like time off for sick kids, etc.   

As much as I love Duluth and both my kids would love to live here, neither one of them would even consider it because they would take a 50% cut in pay and benefits (even if they could get a job, which is pretty slim).  Duluth is NOT a place people consider unless they are from here and they know who they know to get a decent job or they have family who can help out with child care, etc.  

This is why our numbers are declining.