“She pledged to be authentic, not performative, focusing on concrete things like ensuring police presence at synagogues during time of increased antisemitism.”
St. Louis Park Mayor Nadia Mohamed, 28, Mayor of St. Louis Park, and American’s first elected Somali American mayor, was interviewed by Reid Forgrave in the Strib this week. It was a wide-ranging interview, but one theme speaks to our situation in Minneapolis. Here are some excerpts:
“Instead of wading into the heated waters of international politics, here time has been spent on the daily duties of being mayor: debating water quality improvement projects or traffic control changes, adopting a cannabis zoning ordinance and an inclusionary housing policy, riding along with police on National Night Out and appearing at a Fire Department open house, recording a video for a second-grade class on what it’s like to be one of the youngest mayors in the state.”
“Mohamed’s political philosophy centers on bridge-building: valuing relationships over political grandstanding, knowing what her role as mayor is – and isn’t.”
“Mayor Mohamed is in the business of fostering friendship and support in the community, not trading in antagonism.”
“She pledged to be authentic, not performative, focusing on concrete things like ensuring police presence at synagogues during time of increased antisemitism.”
A quote from the mayor herself: “I realized what people need from you are the real things. What they want is their snow to be plowed on time, their roads to be safe, their water to be drinkable, and their houses to be affordable. You gotta get those main things.”
Another quote from a rabbi: “She rightly recognizes it’s one thing to be there in a supportive, caring sense for the Jewish community or any community that’s hurting, but international politics don’t really have a place when it comes to St. Louis Park issues.”
I grew up in St. Louis Park, and am glad to see a young leader as Mayor Mohamed emerge at an age when she may have decades of future community service ahead of her. Alas, she’d never succeed on today’s Minneapolis City Council.
Excellent piece, and oh, so true. Sadly, the majority of Mpls. citizens likely agree with her. In 2025, let’s make every effort to ensure the majority rules our city well into the distant future.