Courageous leadership has the power to restore trust and renew hope Leadership is a sacred trust. Those who hold public office shape not only policy, but the safety, unity, and future of the communities they serve. At this moment in our state’s life, that responsibility weighs especially heavy. We are living in a time that calls for clarity and courage. Neutrality is no longer sufficient when communities face division, uncertainty and fear. Minnesotans need leaders who are willing to choose what is right and to defend it with integrity. Leadership rooted in wisdom, compassion and moral clarity can bring stability and healing. It does not avoid difficult conversations or retreat into silence when injustice or harm threatens the common good. Instead, it listens carefully, seeks truth, and acts with conscience. I hope and pray that our elected leaders will govern with humility, transparency and genuine concern for every neighbor they represent. May their decisions protect the vulnerable, strengthen families and foster unity across differences. Courageous leadership grounded in love and principle has the power to restore trust and renew hope. Thank you to those who serve, and to those willing to lead with both conviction and grace in this demanding season. Timothy Brewington II, Woodbury   Consider the cost of discontinued audits as well as the cost of fraud A well written Letter to the Editor last week reminds us all that everything government officials do or don’t do has both benefits and costs. The letter was directed at the cost/benefits of fraud prevention in the administration of funds for hungry children, autism, housing, etc. One arguably inflated cost of the alleged fraud has been $9 billion over 10 years. In an article in Sunday’s paper (“Push to audit private equity and venture capital falters”) the Treasury estimated cost to taxpayers of discontinued IRS audits in lost revenue is estimated at $100 billion over 10 years. Neither letter nor article gives all the numbers needed to do a thorough cost/benefit analysis but it is clear that there is not a proportional response to the two issues of fraud and tax evasion. Kenneth Gilmore, Oakdale   Implausible claims The irony of the situation is that the very politicians who created this Minnesota mess want us to believe their implausible claims that if other officials would just leave the state, our great Minnesota leaders will fix everything. James T. Eichten, Mahtomedi   Discouraging our workforce Several years ago, my luncheon group invited the Minnesota state demographer to speak to our group. She pointed out that the future need for workers in the state won’t be met by current birth rates of state residents. She went on to say that Minnesota consistently loses young people (especially 18-24-year-olds) to other states due to factors like college, job opportunities, and cost of living, creating a “brain drain” that slows workforce growth. Fortunately, international migration helps offset overall population decline in the state. Given all these factors, the only way Minnesota will be able to maintain an adequate workforce in coming years is with immigrants. A study by the National Institute of Justice, examining data from the Texas Department of Public Safety, estimated the rate at which undocumented immigrants are arrested for committing crimes. The study found that undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born U.S. citizens for violent and drug crimes and a quarter the rate of native-born citizens for property crimes. Donald Trump’s irrational hostility toward immigrants does nothing to encourage immigrants to come to Minnesota. Trump’s ICE program does exactly the opposite. How is this making America great again? Is it worth nearly a million dollars a day to station 2,000 ICE agents in Minnesota and create a climate of fear that discourages immigrants from coming here? ICE is not doing anything to make life better in Minnesota or anywhere else in America. M.L. Kluznik, Mendota Heights   ICE and ice in St. Paul St. Paul has safety issues and both are related to ICE. Both the DHS ICE raids and their intimidation of our residents and the icy sidewalks and transit stations need immediate attention. As an elderly member of the community I walked north on Fairview the other day from Grand Avenue to Marshall Avenue, and most sidewalks were not clear of ice. I wish our new mayor would attend to enforcing the city codes relating to this. The elderly and persons with disabilities of any age have a right to traverse in peace without fear, as do all the residents of St. Paul needing to live without the fear of ICE in our neighborhoods. We are blessed to have immigrants and refugees and their descendants living in St. Paul, and we are blessed when property owners shovel their sidewalks. Businesses on University Avenue should also be cited for treacherous sidewalks. Mary Jean Mulherin, St. Paul   Walz and Vance should watch the videos together Over the last few years, there have been many letters regarding the divide in our country. Many of the writers have proposed that if the sides were to sit down with each other and listen to what the other person has to say, many of these differences could be resolved. Why don’t we have Vice President J.D. Vance sit down with Gov. Tim Walz and watch the several videos of the ICE agent killing Renee Cook? The vice president could explain to Gov. Walz, and thereby us, how he is not seeing what he is seeing in the recordings. At least, it will be entertaining listening to V.P. Vance’s excuses as to why he can’t do so. Tom Leary, Mendota Heights Not such a mandate One would think from reading the newspapers, listening to the local news channels, hearing from the governor, and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul that the majority agrees with their views on ICE, immigration, fraud and taxes. If all the press conferences and urging of the public to stand with them only draws a few thousand people, doesn’t seem like much of a mandate to me. M. Miller, St. Paul   No to absolute immunity Anyone who cares about democracy, community or just basic human decency should be alarmed by this administration’s knee-jerk response to events in Minneapolis last week. Within hours of Renee Good’s killing, Vice President Vance announced that ICE officers on duty have “absolute immunity” for any actions they take. In short, ICE officers have been given a blank check to do whatever they want to whomever they want and the federal government will protect them. The FBI has even shut the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension out of the review of the ICE officer’s actions, despite the BCA’s  jurisdiction, expertise, and long history of assisting in multi-agency investigations. The  rush to claim absolute immunity for ICE officers and the unwillingness to hold an open transparent investigation shows a police-state mentality. Every community in Minnesota is less safe because of this government’s armed pogrom against immigrants. Patricia DeBoer, St. Paul   Why aren’t conservatives taking a stand? After the killing of Renee Good and the violence caused by the presence of ICE nationwide, the decent action by the federal government would be to pause ICE operations for a comprehensive review. It is a good guess that all eight of the last presidents — Republican and Democrat — would have done so. Instead, Donald Trump and his minions are pushing forward. The administration has caused federal investigators in the Good case to quit their jobs — having previously barred Minnesota police from investigating. The administration’s attempt to subvert investigation of the shooter, Agent Ross, is breathtaking. Moreover, the administration is forcing ever more ICE agents into mostly blue states like Minnesota. Homeland Security has been shown to be intentionally recruiting ICE agents from the right, especially those with military backgrounds. Old timers are reminded of the feared “brownshirts” under Mussolini in Italy before WW 2. Seems like Trump is making ICE’s mission to inflict pain on the vulnerable in order to silence those who would criticize his administration. In the face of the federal assault, why aren’t Republican legislators, especially in Minnesota, speaking out? Why aren’t more non-MAGA conservatives taking a stand? Whether out of fear or political inclination, by not doing so they are collaborating with a dictator right here in this country. May democracy live on. Dan Gartrell, St. Paul   Harassing ICE agents The people who are harassing visiting ICE agents who are trying to do their job by hurling insults, snowballs, rocks and other more harmful projectiles certainly seem to be destroying our image as “Minnesota Nice.” Some of us are beginning to wonder if these folks have jobs, or the more sinister thought, maybe this is their job. If the latter is true, who is bankrolling them? Rhea Sherburne Nyquist, West St. Paul   Bring the warmth, Vulcanus Rex To Vulcanus Rex, God of Fire, and True King of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival: As a denizen of the fair city of Saint Paul, I am appealing to you and your mighty Vulcan Krewe to come to the aid of our city. This winter, the fine hamlet we call home has been made treacherous by the overwhelming presence of ice. Heartless and cold, ice seems to be lurking at every turn, ready to destroy the lives of your subjects. Every day this week, I have witnessed my neighbors’ encounters with ice, both with my own eyes and through the reports of trusted town criers. Those reports include harrowing tales of grievous injury, danger and disregard for humanity.  Many of my friends, stalwart and true people who have called Saint Paul home for decades and who have learned to survive the harsh hand of King Boreas, these friends are now fearful to step outside. To put it in the modern parlance: This is your moment, bro. Now is the time for the Vulcans to, “crackle in defiant disdain” and  “temper the blustering of Boreas with the heat and roar of your forces” as I’ve heard tell in tales of old. We will ride with you, as we, your peaceful citizens, have grown weary and outraged. Together, we can drive out the ice and the lackeys of King Boreas and his queen, and make our streets safe for once more. Bring the warmth, Vulcanus. Your people, all of them, need it. Tyler Olsen-Highness, St. Paul   Sainted I would like to thank and acknowledge two young gentlemen who offered their arms when they saw my friend and me, coming from lunch at Obb’s Bar and Grill,  trying to get to our cars on Friday.  The sun was shining but the parking lot was icy and they immediately offered and made sure we were safe from falling and walked us to our cars…chivalry is not dead!!  Sorry we didn’t get their names but Thank You for your thoughtful and kind deed! 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