Much like a Waymo navigating the streets of Minneapolis, one thing I’ve learned in my first year on the council is the importance of staying in our lane. The council’s role is crucial, but we aren’t the school board, the park board, the mayor, the state legislature, or the federal government. That doesn’t diminish our work. It just reminds me to keep my focus where it belongs: on Ward 7. When residents have problems, I want to help solve them. When they have questions, I want to help find answers. And when there are concerns about what’s happening in our city, I want to be there to listen and see what we can do.
I was reminded of this yesterday when I hosted a Community Conversation on robotaxis on a picture-perfect afternoon in Loring Park, complete with a static demo of a Waymo.
The irony is that the council took up requiring a human safety monitor in every robotaxi operating in Minneapolis before we had our own Legislative Research and Oversight department’s report on autonomous vehicles. I voted against this, and I’m glad that in the end it failed, because for me process matters just as much as results. The public and policymakers need information before we make important decisions.
That’s one reason why I was glad to be able to share that report with attendees yesterday, and you can read it here. It’s a neutral, fact-based look at the issues surrounding this emerging technology, exactly the kind of information the council should have had in hand before making policy.
It was also valuable to see the technology up close and ask questions of an industry representative. That, too, would have helped the council in its deliberations. Imagine debating a new food truck ordinance without talking to anyone who owns, operates, or works on one. Industry isn’t the only voice that matters, but when we write regulations, their perspective belongs alongside every other stakeholder’s.
Ultimately, this is an area where the state legislature needs to act next session. These vehicles will cross city lines, and they need clear, consistent, enforceable rules so we can be confident they operate safely and can become one more transportation option for people in Minneapolis.
So it’s time for the state to get in gear and find its lane, so the city can move forward in ours.
And whatever lane we’re in, we’ll always yield to pedestrians, cyclists, and even the occasional cat.
Via constituent newsletter
