Introduction
In this interview, Becka Thompson and I discuss the upheaval at the Park Board, the realities of campaigning, and the growing strains on Minneapolis’s budget.
One of the biggest surprises this election cycle was the defeat of longtime Park Board Commissioner Steffanie Musich by Kay Carvajal Moran in District 5. Moran, a recent Augsburg University graduate with degrees in sociology and history, works as a case manager assistant for Hennepin County, helping tenants access rental assistance, mediation, and other supports. She is active with the Minnesota Immigrant Movement and centers her platform on expanding youth programming, strengthening economic opportunity, and promoting transit, green space, and pedestrian safety. Despite Musich’s decade of experience and deep institutional knowledge, voters favored Moran’s activist-driven platform and fresh political profile.
Moran received endorsements from several labor unions as well as Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, highlighting the shifting political dynamics that shaped this year’s Park Board outcomes.
The Fraud Train Speeds Ahead
If Thompson and I had recorded our interview just a few hours later, we might have discussed the article Met Council audit finds ‘high risk’ that nonprofit misused federal funds. That story—focused on Move Minneapolis, a transportation-focused subsidiary accused of potential misuse of federal dollars—fits squarely within the concerns we raised about why government spending continues to grow while accountability lags.
Across every level of government—city, county, state, and the Met Council—public agencies now rely on an expansive network of nonprofits and contractors to carry out core responsibilities. Housing support, health care, transportation programs, violence prevention, and more are increasingly outsourced. As we noted in the interview, outsourcing can work only when paired with strong oversight and regular, independent audits. Those protections are often missing. Daily headlines about fraud and misuse of funds reflect a system where elected officials have limited incentives to intervene, particularly when the organizations receiving contracts also form part of their political support structure. Scrutinizing finances risks alienating key constituencies. It’s a convoluted system that rewards fraud and inefficiency.
Each outsourced contract also carries a hidden cost rarely reflected in public reports: the internal staff time required to monitor compliance, track outcomes, and verify billing. Without dedicated oversight, fraud and misuse become more likely—further eroding trust in government and harming the very residents these programs are meant to serve. With the DFL controlling the city, county, and state, the lack of transparent accountability becomes a significant vulnerability. It leaves residents wondering whether those in power can effectively oversee the systems they run or deliver the public services they champion during election season.
There is also an unmistakable link between rising fraud and a shrinking corps of investigative reporters in Minnesota. With fewer journalists scrutinizing public contracts and records, the likelihood of malfeasances being caught declines. In this case, the Move Minneapolis audit emerged only because investigators were already examining allegations that former Minneapolis Regional Chamber CEO Jonathan Weinhagen had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars. The discovery was incidental, not systemic.
Minnesota has an abundance of goodwill—but that goodwill is too often taken advantage of at taxpayer expense. What the state needs far more of is independent auditing, stronger investigative journalism, and a commitment to ethical standards that put residents first.
Conversation Summary
In this wide-ranging conversation, former Park Board commissioner and recent Ward 12 city council candidate Becka Thompson reflects on Minneapolis’s turbulent 2024 election cycle. She describes how the Park Board—long a relatively drama-free body—was reshaped by surprise losses, shifting endorsements, and what she characterizes as a disorderly DFL convention process. Thompson argues that the lack of transparency, inconsistent rules, and mishandled delegate data in both the ward and citywide conventions undermined trust and helped flip control of the Park Board, erasing crucial institutional knowledge.
Looking back on her campaign, Thompson highlights the intense demands placed on candidates—especially those juggling work and family responsibilities—and the steep learning curve of modern Minneapolis politics. She speaks candidly about the “gamesmanship” behind the scenes, the growing influence of organized factions, and how campaign messaging differs from the realities of governing. She also reflects on communication strategies, noting that while social media expanded her visibility, different platforms reached distinct—and sometimes hostile—audiences.
Turning to the city’s future, Thompson expresses deep concern about Minneapolis’s financial trajectory, pointing to rising property taxes, shrinking commercial corridors, and declining tax payment rates as warning signs of instability. She argues that the city has become too reliant on a patchwork of nonprofit contracts and calls for independent audits, stronger oversight, and a return to city-run services. Looking ahead to the new council term, she sees a closely divided body where a few swing members will determine whether Minneapolis moves toward fiscal restraint and transparency or continues on its current course. Despite her disappointment with the election, Thompson closes by affirming her commitment to the city she calls home.
