The deaths of black Americans that proceeded George Floyd’s death all have a troubling common theme: the officers involved faced little to no legal repercussions for their actions. State and local governments are long overdue to publicly acknowledge, apologize and end their complicit role in perpetuating systemic racial injustices.
But a systemic problem demands a systemic solution. If state and local governments are going to reinvent themselves, they have to stop addressing issues in silos and start delivering services that focus on the intersection of issues.
Changing government’s approach in America isn’t going to be easy, but it’s probably never been more necessary. The current budget crisis facing states, cities and counties due to the coronavirus can seem like an impediment, but it also creates the opening to upend the status quo.
Photo: Alexander Schimmeck