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State Representative Jerry Newton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-5369
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITIES AND STATE
In the days and weeks following Hurricane Katrina, Americans learned the hard way that a breakdown in intergovernmental communication had severely limited our ability as a country to respond quickly and effectively in a time of crisis. When sound communication was needed most, community, state, and federal leaders were unable to provide an adequate response to the situation, resulting in delayed efforts to evacuate people and save lives.
In the last few years policymakers have made significant strides toward improving intergovernmental communication and have responded more effectively to meet crises and achieve common goals. Those efforts have served Minnesota well in several catastrophic floods, the I35W Bridge collapse, devastating tornados and other events where coordinated emergency response efforts were needed quickly to save lives and rebuild communities.
Now Minnesota faces a different crisis - the longest and deepest economic recession since World War II coupled with an unprecedented budget shortfall threatening the ability of state and local governments to provide essential core services for Minnesotans. The need for intergovernmental cooperation is just as critical in an economic crisis as it is in other emergencies.
The decisions made in the state legislature in the coming weeks will impact local governments across the spectrum, from school boards to county commissions to city councils. As a former councilman myself, I understand firsthand the effect changes in state policy have on local units of government. From local government aid to adequate funding for schools and transportation, state efforts, or lack thereof, directly impact the extent to which local governments will be able to provide adequate public services for all Minnesotans.
That’s why state lawmakers need to hear your voices. More than long laundry lists of wants and nice to haves, we need to know your priorities and pinpoint where we can work together cooperatively to maintain and improve services to our communities. Despite our very limited budgets, when we communicate openly and continuously, we can more effectively meet the needs of our citizens and achieve common goals.
We all have a major stake in the outcome of this legislative session. Mayors, council members, and city managers must now work very closely with their legislators to respond to this crisis and to lay the groundwork to achieve our mutual goals and build an even better Minnesota.
News Items
- LOCAL LAWMAKERS HELP DELIVER NEEDED RELIEF TO FLOOD, TORNADO VICTIMS - (Posted: 2010-10-19 00:00:00)
- REP. NEWTON STANDS UP FOR SCHOOLS - (Posted: 2010-05-12 00:00:00)
- A SAFE PLACE FOR ALL KIDS TO PLAY - (Posted: 2010-04-21 00:00:00)
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