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Jennifer Vogt-Erickson asked the question in her last column, “Why has Albert Lea failed to thrive?” What she implied that the Republicans’ proposed cuts to social welfare programs would exacerbate the downtrend is wrong. If social welfare support helped, inner cities should be thriving. When possible, I believe a city should pull itself up by its own boot straps and not depend on federal government handouts.

Small rural communities across America have been failing to thrive for decades. Young people, the life blood of any community, have been leaving small town America for big city lights for decades.

Albert Lea with multiple lakes, parks and easy access to the interstate highway system has more advantages than most communities. However, Albert Lea has a number of issues that have hampered its ability to thrive.

The number one reason many industries have walked away from Albert Lea dates back to 1960 and the Wilson strike. Anytime a strike becomes so violent that the governor declares martial law and mobilizes the National Guard, that city is going to have a black eye that may never go away. Albert Lea has earned the reputation as a violent union town.

In addition, the city administration, instead of assisting potential businesses to move to or expand in Albert Lea, makes it as difficult and expensive as possible. I experienced just how difficult it can be to start a business in Albert Lea when we built Cafe Don’L in the Northbridge Mall. I have talked to many business owners who have described the permitting ordeal in Albert Lea as the worst they encountered in any city they established a business in. This applies in spades to the individual entrepreneur who does not have the resources to hire the best legal counsel to fight city hall. The loss of our hospital added another negative.

One last question must be answered. Why start a business in Albert Lea when Iowa and South Dakota, which are more business friendly with lower taxes, are next door?
Albert Lea may no longer be a hard core union town, but the black eye lingers. The unfriendly city administration should be correctable, but with a history decades old it has proven difficult. Minnesota’s reputation as a high tax unfriendly business state is well earned.

I have lived in Albert Lea my entire life but have visited 49 states and found very few places I would rather live — although I would leave Minnesota in a heart beat.
In 1960 Albert Lea’s population was 18,500; in 2023 it was 18,200. Albert Lea has not thrived, but it has not failed.

Albert Lea is too far from the metro to be a bedroom community, but many individuals who left in their youth are returning to Albert Lea to retire. We are becoming a retirement community. I also see a new group of young people with fire in their belly who believe in Albert Lea’s future taking charge. Albert Lea is a unique city.

There is hope.

Don Sorensen
Albert Lea