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La Crosse Mayor holds roundtables

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Saturday, August 23rd 2025 at 18:12 GMT by WLAX La Crosse
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La Crosse Mayor Kevin McGinty Convenes Community Roundtables to Shape the City’s Future

On Monday, the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, became the epicenter of a series of open‑air, conversational forums that brought together a cross‑section of stakeholders—from downtown business owners and civic leaders to residents and public‑service officials. The gatherings, organized by Mayor Kevin McGinty, were the latest in a series of efforts by the city to harness collective expertise and community sentiment as it charts a path toward economic revitalization, public‑safety improvements, and broader social equity.

The Big Picture: A Mayor’s Call for Collaborative Planning

When McGinty launched the roundtables, he set a clear agenda: “To create a platform for continuous dialogue between the city and the people who live, work, and play in La Crosse.” In a statement released by the City of La Crosse, McGinty said, “We can’t solve our toughest problems in isolation. The city’s strength lies in the diverse voices that shape it.” The mayor noted that the city council had approved a new 10‑year strategic plan—officially titled La Crosse Forward—which outlined goals related to sustainable development, job creation, and community wellbeing. The roundtables were a tangible way to give residents a voice in how that plan would be translated into action.

The mayor’s remarks were followed by a recap of the city’s recent accomplishments: a 12‑percent uptick in downtown foot traffic, the opening of a new community garden on the West Side, and a pilot program that paired first‑time homebuyers with local lenders. These milestones provided a springboard for discussion, as participants reflected on what had worked and what could be improved.

Roundtable #1: Downtown Development and Economic Growth

The first forum took place at City Hall’s Community Meeting Room, a space that has hosted a variety of civic dialogues in the past year. Attendees included:

• City Councilor Maya Riddle, who chairs the Economic Development Committee.
• Lisa Hart, the executive director of the Downtown La Crosse Development Corporation (DLCDC).
• Tom Miller, owner of a boutique café on Main Street.
• Marjorie Nguyen, a community activist focused on equitable access to city resources.

The discussion kicked off with a data‑driven presentation by the DLCDC, showing the recent rise in retail leasing activity and the impact of the “Main Street Revitalization Initiative” on job creation. Mayor McGinty urged attendees to consider the “affordability paradox”—while downtown is bustling, rising rents threaten small businesses and local entrepreneurs.

Key takeaways from this session included:

• Expanding Affordable Office Space: Participants agreed that a mixed‑income model for downtown office buildings could keep the area vibrant while preventing displacement.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: The need for updated street lighting, better bike lanes, and improved pedestrian crossings was underscored by several business owners, who cited safety concerns as a barrier to foot traffic.
• Marketing and Branding: The council agreed to launch a “La Crosse is Here” campaign that highlights local artisans and restaurants in a coordinated digital push.

McGinty concluded that the city will form a sub‑committee tasked with reviewing the DLCDC’s feasibility study and drafting a budget allocation for downtown improvements, slated for discussion at the next city council meeting.

Roundtable #2: Public Safety, Youth Engagement, and Community Trust

The second roundtable, held at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Student Union, took a different yet equally critical focus: building community trust and ensuring safety for all residents. Participants this time included:

• Chief Lisa Baker of the La Crosse Police Department.
• Jordan Lee, the director of the Youth Outreach Program at the La Crosse Youth Center.
• A group of students from the university’s Sociology Department.
• Residents from the East Side, a neighborhood historically under‑represented in city planning.

The meeting opened with Chief Baker’s presentation on crime statistics from the past five years, revealing a modest decrease in property crime but a steady rise in “non‑violent offenses” such as public intoxication and trespassing. She emphasized the city’s commitment to community policing—particularly through the “Know Your Officer” initiative, which organizes monthly town halls with law‑enforcement personnel.

In contrast, the youth outreach director highlighted a surge in after‑school activity participation but noted a gap in funding for mentorship programs. A university sociology professor delivered a brief talk on the importance of “trust metrics” and how the city’s perceived responsiveness to complaints can influence community cooperation.

Notable themes from the conversation included:

• Community Policing Practices: The idea of a “Neighborhood Patrol” program, which would involve local volunteers, was floated as a potential bridge between police and residents.
• Youth Mentorship and Employment: Participants agreed to develop a “Youth Employment Pipeline” that would provide internships in city departments and apprenticeships in local businesses.
• Transparency and Data Sharing: The city council pledged to publish monthly crime and response time dashboards, allowing residents to see real‑time data and trends.

McGinty capped the discussion by urging the city to adopt a “Community Confidence Index”, a metric that would track how residents feel about the city’s governance and services. The mayor suggested the index could be administered biannually through a partnership with the university’s research labs.

Aftermath: Action Items and Forward Steps

Both roundtables generated a robust set of “Action Items” that will feed directly into the La Crosse Forward plan’s next iteration. The mayor’s office has already begun drafting proposals for:

1. Downtown Affordable Office Initiative – a $2‑million grant program to retrofit vacant office spaces into mixed‑income rentals.
2. Neighborhood Patrol Pilot – a 12‑month test run in the East Side and West Side, funded by a combination of city and private sector contributions.
3. Youth Employment Pipeline – a program linking La Crosse’s public‑service agencies with local colleges for internship placement.

These proposals will be reviewed by the Strategic Planning Committee in early October, with the aim of incorporating them into the La Crosse Forward public review period. City officials anticipate a “full public consultation” from October 15th through November 30th, during which residents can submit written feedback, participate in online surveys, or attend additional open‑house sessions.

The Bigger Picture: A Model for Municipal Engagement

While the roundtables were a significant achievement for La Crosse, they also signal a broader shift in municipal governance: the move from top‑down decision‑making to participatory planning. By inviting a spectrum of voices—including those traditionally marginalized in policy discussions—Mayor McGinty is setting a precedent for other small‑to‑mid‑size cities in the region.

The La Crosse Forward plan itself will serve as a living document, updated annually to reflect new data and community priorities. This iterative process, coupled with the high level of transparency the city is committing to, may inspire other municipalities to adopt similar models of civic engagement.

In the words of Mayor McGinty, “Our city is more than brick and mortar; it’s the people who walk its streets, work its businesses, and dream about its future. These roundtables are a first step in making sure every voice is heard.”

With community input now in hand, the city’s next challenge is to translate that dialogue into concrete actions that will drive sustainable growth, deepen public trust, and ultimately make La Crosse a model of inclusive, forward‑thinking urban governance.