Finally, thankfully, it's in the rearview mirror -- 2008, the year of $4 gas, a Wall Street bust, a near collapse of the auto industry and retail losses so cavernous not even Christmas could pull some stores from the brink of bankruptcy.
But a new president was elected in 2008, too, and while it may take months and maybe even years for things to turn around, there are glimmers of hope. There certainly are things Duluth and the region could celebrate in 2009.
The Duluth City Council could learn to be less financially dependent on St. Paul. Then, state budget woes wouldn't spark crises up north like they do now. The city could also be more transparent about how taxes, fees and other money collected from its residents are spent. And the city and its employees' unions could work more cooperatively together. Solutions can't be found while squabbling, picketing and finagling.
The Lake Superior Zoological Society could operate -- without losing money -- the city's landmark, 85-year-old zoo, something the cash-strapped city is no longer willing to attempt. The society deserves a shot.
The University of Minnesota Duluth could take over the long-
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suffering Great Lakes Aquarium, relieving Duluth of its financial burden. Run like UMD's Glensheen Mansion, the aquarium could be kept afloat with new revenue sources.
Superior and Douglas County could build on a foundation years in the making. The region is good for business development, according to two studies. It's known as a responsible steward of Lake Superior. It has a new management plan, carefully put together over many years, that encourages development, even in swampy areas. Its historic former Social Security building downtown is being refurbished. And an expansion at the University of Wisconsin-Superior is on its way, including a new student union.
An entire community could benefit from those positives. And a nation eager to shed its dependence on foreign oil could benefit from a planned $6 billion refinery expansion at Superior's Murphy Oil, a project that deserves support and assurances of moving ahead and getting done.
St. Louis County could celebrate a new administrator in 2009. The interim administrator is a lingering connection to a county ripe with good-ol'-boy cronyism and worse. The county could move forward -- and the News Tribune could become a more-
aggressive watchdog of county activities.
The Duluth school district and its red plan could move forward, too -- as long as it's with a willingness to listen to community concerns. Its long-range facilities plan is still just that: a plan. As it takes shape, and as parts make less financial sense amid a rapidly changing economic climate, the district and its elected leaders could commit to being more open-minded and flexible. An example of inflexibility is the proposal -- a surprise to many -- for a new sports stadium at the eastern high school at Ordean. Is another stadium really necessary to assure quality education? Is it really affordable?
Duluth and the Northland abound with points of pride. A bustling port. An expansion under construction at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The hotel and restaurant about to go up near Cub Foods. The proposal for a new Walgreens at Arrowhead and Kenwood.
But what about the long-empty Gander Mountain building on Miller Trunk Highway? Or the empty storefront adjacent to Kmart in the mall area?
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With the struggles of 2008 threatening to carry over into 2009, Duluth and the region could accept a challenge to think creatively, to find and to carve out a niche, and to make economic development a top priority.
