What If Omaha

As a young person, I read about so many amazing things happening in other cities. Magazine articles, newspaper stories, blog posts brought me a flood of awareness about advances in business, civics, and human rights. As each surge of excitement carried me, I always circled back to the same question: why can’t that happen here?

As I’ve become more aware of the gap between what we know and what we do, it’s caused me to develop more skepticism about Omaha. Does anyone care to make things better? I needed relief from that nagging criticism, so I started posing a different question: What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

Since June 2019, I have been Facebook posting a series of questions called What If Omaha. This Medium article is the collection of those posts, my hopes and dreams for the city I call home. I will update it in conjunction with my future posting.

What if Omaha started a Sanitation Department?
What if Omaha had a definition of affordable housing?
What if Omaha designed streets to be safe for children?
What if Omaha built a city square?
What if Omaha paid for higher education?
What if Omaha hired a “block mother” to watch every neighborhood?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha invested in your future?
What if Omaha wanted to hear you?
What if Omaha had more public space?
What if Omaha designed for human dignity?
What if Omaha looked beyond its borders?
What if Omaha cared about a single jailed child as much as a single billionaire?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha wanted black unemployment to be the same rate as white unemployment?
What if Omaha replaced half the cops with social workers?
What if Omaha put $170M into the bus system instead of a streetcar?
What if Omaha had a $15 minimum wage?
What if Omaha stopped building suburbs?
What if Omaha made Election Day a civic holiday?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha built a public square?
What if Omaha defined “affordable housing?”
What if Omaha refused to give TIF to millionaires?
What if Omaha put an “anti-homelessness tax” on hotel rooms?
What if Omaha diverted 50% is its waste stream from the landfill?
What if Omaha established a participatory budgeting program for students?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha had a Citizens Council on Housing?
What if Omaha supported rap crews like the symphony?
What if Omaha paid teachers $100,000 a year?
What if Omaha housed the homeless?
What if Omaha used crushed glass to repair streets?
What if Omaha had an artist in residence?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha established a reparations program?
What if Omaha held all public meetings at night?
What if Omaha had a sister city in Iran?
What if Omaha had a City social media account?
What if Omaha published all public data?
What if Omaha built social housing so no child was homeless?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha had an anti-poverty citizens task force?
What if Omaha hosted public concerts in every neighborhood?
What if Omaha provided a free city ID card for all services?
What if Omaha wanted you to be informed?
What if Omaha issued a wealth tax?
What if Omaha dreamed of strong citizens?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha had a mayor who built skate parks on purpose?
What if Omaha elected a Youth City Council?
What if Omaha made public housing free?
What if Omaha bought the bus system and made public transportation free?
What if Omaha hired a police auditor?
What if Omaha banned youth incarceration?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha replaced police with social workers?
What if Omaha had a people’s panel on justice?
What if Omaha protected renters as much as landlords?
What if Omaha paid a basic income to prevent poverty?
What if Omaha funded food programs instead of real estate speculation?
What if Omaha taught anti-racist curriculum in our schools?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha expected the police to follow the law?
What if Omaha expected the mayor to protect human rights?
What if Omaha expected people to resist injustice?
What if Omaha expected the government to act ethically?
What if Omaha expected Jake Gardner to be held without bond?
What if Omaha expected a better outcome?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha was run by strong public servants instead of Heritage Services?
What if Omaha wanted to end racism and poverty?
What if Omaha opened 24-hour public spaces?
What if Omaha gave tax breaks to single parents instead of real estate speculators?
What if Omaha made City Council members hold public meetings with residents?
What if Omaha invited people to help create budget priorities?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha sent you email updates?
What if Omaha had a resident oversight board in every department?
What if Omaha wanted to be the best place to live for single mothers?
What if Omaha funded poverty elimination programs like we fund the police?
What if Omaha elected an anti-racist person as mayor?
What if Omaha taxed the suburbs on how much they cost to maintain?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?

What if Omaha held public meetings about police oversight?
What if Omaha started a racial reconciliation council?
What if Omaha invited you to get involved on the topics you care about?
What if Omaha created a Department of Innovation and Improvement?
What if Omaha cared about your health?
What if Omaha defended your human rights?
What if Omaha always asked, is this the best we can do?