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State Representative Sheldon Johnson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4201
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
WE CAN DO BETTER
Just this week, the City of St. Paul, with the assistance of the Trust for Public Land, added to the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, preserving land for an interpretive center. This new sanctuary gateway will allow us to pass on to future generations the stories of the nature and people who have shaped our lands and given us the quality of life we now enjoy.
Seeing the sanctuary emerge as a gem has been inspiring; thanks to countless hours of sweat and effort by youth, volunteers, and community leaders, it is now a natural park with a freshwater spring, stately bluffs, blossoming prairies, and flourishing wetlands, where once there was a scrabbly former railyard. Hats off to Lower Phalen Creek Project, Community Design Center, the City of St. Paul and the Trust for Public Land for shaping this gem.
And recently St. Paul joined Minneapolis in receiving national recognition for its park system. We Twin Citians can be proud that our leaders years ago had the foresight to set aside lakeshore, riverfront, natural areas, and places for kids and families to be active together - ball fields, biking and hiking trails, and recreation centers.
But these successes challenge us to achieve more, not rest on these laurels. It is not time to call it a game and kick back. These are reminders of how important clean water and natural areas are to Minnesotans. It is our turn to do more to protect our quality of life for future generations.
How are our waters doing? Four in ten lakes and streams fail water quality tests. And we have tested fewer than one out of every five lakes and streams. Almost half of our acres of wetland, which naturally purify our water, are gone. Nothing is more important than clean water to drink, especially here in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes," the birthplace of the Mississippi River, providing drinking water for millions of people in Minnesota and downstream. We can do better.
How are our natural areas doing? With over a million people coming to Minnesota in the next 25 years, we will lose about 1 million acres of natural areas and farmland. Protecting nature nearby for future generations will get harder and more expensive if we do not act now. In the metro area, cities and counties are preparing plans, looking ahead 25 years and deciding how to grow. They are realizing that the scant funding now available to protect clean water and priority natural areas will fall far short of their needs.
Funding for clean water, natural areas and conservation is close to its lowest level in three decades. In fact, Governor Pawlenty vetoed the funding awarded by the Legislature for the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, and it took extraordinary efforts by all involved to protect this land. Other communities and natural areas at risk are not so fortunate, and will not get protected. We can do better.
How are our kids doing? News this week that child obesity is on the rise and kids - especially teens - are exercising less than ever drives home the importance of active living, and protecting natural areas and parks near home for every family. Data shows that being near a park means kids exercise more. Even the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have work to do to ensure park access to every resident, and most of our smaller cities and towns are not keeping up. We can do better.
These changes do and will have a huge impact on our drinking water, wildlife, economy, quality of life and public health. The choices we make today for clean water, wildlife and natural areas will affect our kids and future generations. We can do better.
What to do?
This November 4, all Minnesotans will have the chance to vote Yes on the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to protect and restore our clean waters and natural areas, and leave a legacy for future generations. And just a reminder: If you vote in the election, and skip this question, the state votes “No” for you. Be an informed voter, and vote on the ballot question.
We have a choice - for clean water and natural areas in our future. With a little vision and action, Minnesota can restore and protect our world-renowned “land of sky blue waters,” and prepare to welcome the million plus new Minnesotans.
What to do?
We can vote “yes” this November 4 on the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to protect our lakes, rivers and natural areas for future generations.
We can ask others to support the amendment. The City of St. Paul recently endorsed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
And maybe our kids and grandkids will look back and say, “Thanks for your foresight, for what you did for our clean water and quality of life.”
Vote Yes on November 4. It’s time for us to do better to protect the Minnesota we love.
News Items
- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-04-26 00:00:00)
- 2012 SESSION UPDATE - (Posted: 2012-04-19 00:00:00)
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