By Jason Sibert
The US has been through a lot since 2016 – we’ve twice elected Donald Trump, who ran for President on the Republican ticket three times. Immigration, trans rights, and Islamic-inspired terrorism are becoming key social issues to replace other social issues of past years (abortion, gay rights, censorship of media) and wildfires are raging in California, at least partially because of global warming.
Ready for the good news? Sewer socialism is making a comeback! I’ve written a series of stories on this school of politics. What is sewer socialism? Let me quote a prior story, “From the Sewers to the Councils,” in case you’re unfamiliar with sewer socialism: “Advocates of sewer socialism municipalized natural monopolies like sewers, trash collection, and electrical grids, and they worked to deliver quality public services to the residents of the cities they served – public safety, fire, education, (public) hospitals, and infrastructure. In addition, they also sought to be good stewards of the people’s money and fought corruption, as sewer socialist politicians knew working class and poor people couldn’t afford to have their money wasted. Sewer socialists also, although not always, supported organized labor.”
Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, California, both usually called liberal cities, were damaged by riots and crime after the brutal and unnecessary murder of George Floyd. San Francisco even cut its police budget after this awful scene. However, both recently elected what could be termed sewer socialists – or call them pragmatic progressives if you want to – to the office of mayor, and I think this is the beginning of something new. Portland’s Mayor Keith Wilson is currently taking steps to end homelessness. In a presentation this week, Wilson presented several goals, one of which was to “enforce community norms on camping, unregistered vehicles, and dangerous RVs.” His plan includes enlarging Portland’s network of homeless shelters, adding 1,500 nighttime shelter beds by Dec.1, and an end to camp sweeps that only push people from one place to another. This has been a recurring issue over the past years, with city crews clearing large encampments and RVs, only to have them pop back up in the same spot or simply move down a few blocks away.
The most recent election represented a milestone in Portland’s government transition. In 2022, voters approved changes to the city’s election system and form of government, launching a two-year sprint to prepare four new council districts, launching a robust ranked-choice voter education campaign, setting the salaries for the incoming elected officials, and renovating council chambers and council offices to accommodate the expanded city council.
According to a report, Mayor Wilson certainly wants the municipal government to serve the people – calling for 700 managers and supervisors with the City of Portland to return full-time to their worksites after years of being hybrid or remote. The change, planned for April 2025, would mean that nearly 80 percent of all working hours for city workers will be performed in person. Mayor Wilson said: “Working face-to-face cultivates the collaboration, camaraderie, and innovation our city deserves.” Wilson also promised to end open drug use and restore public safety. Public safety and homelessness are connected, as he said increased homelessness costs the city. In decreasing homelessness, the city can increase the number of police officers on the streets and improve city roads.
New San Fransico Mayor Daniel Lurie has a similar plan for his city. Again, we’re looking at a sewer socialist, even though Lurie has been described as a moderate Democrat “I’m getting calls from all over the world saying, ‘Oh, thank god, there’s optimism,’” Lurie said in a report. “Hope is alive and well in San Francisco for the first time in a number of years.” A report noted that in an interview with Jewish Insider, “Lurie pitched himself as a politician who will bring the city together as he champions local issues such as fentanyl addiction, homelessness and cost of living, and not an ideologue seeking to pander to the city’s progressive reputation.” The new mayor said his administration will focus on results, with his top priorities being tackling homelessness and the fentanyl crisis, improving city services, and revitalizing a struggling post-pandemic downtown. Lurie said San Francisco will create a 24/7 drop-off-center for police to take individuals struggling with addiction or mental health disorders.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has been criticized for the city’s response to the Los Angeles wildfires. Rick Caruso, an LA mayoral candidate in 2002, has been very critical of Bass. One factor Caruso pinpointed was getting the commonly falling and failing power lines in LA County underground. He also advocated the Los Angeles Fire Department being “fully funded,” on the progressive television show Real Time with Bill Maher. We might have another sewer socialist mayor in 2027, as LA has another mayoral election next year.
Let’s hope these visionary mayors and would-be mayors will follow the honorable tradition of sewer socialism. If they do, the cities’ struggles will be mitigated or solved.
Jason Sibert is the lead writer for the Peace Economy Project in St. Louis and a member of SDUSA’s National Executive Committee