Dear neighbors,
I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and seeing familiar faces at many of the great events that have taken place in our community lately. Late summer is a great time to be in Southwest Minneapolis!
I had a blast at National Night Out – one of my favorite nights of the year! It’s such fun to see so many neighbors in the streets connecting with each other. National Night Out is also a great example of the merits of a community-centered approach to public safety – one that focuses on forging strong, inclusive communities to prevent crime.
I attended the groundbreaking for the Orange Line, a 17-mile bus line that will connect downtown with two stops in South Minneapolis, then Richfield, Bloomington, and Burnsville. This will be a convenient rapid transit option. A win for mobility and the climate!
We enjoyed some cones at the annual Fulton Neighborhood Association ice cream social!
2019 Legislative Report
Thanks to support from our fellow community members, Sen. Scott Dibble, Rep. Frank Hornstein, and I were able to make positive changes this year. We wanted to share those accomplishments with you, so the three of us co-wrote a comprehensive summary of the work we did at the Legislature. We chose to include the disappointments as well as the successes, because it’s important to remember the hard work that many people did in these areas. That work wasn’t for nothing; it’s the groundwork for future action. We look forward to working together to tackle these issues next!
Our 2019 legislative report is available here.
The Southwest Journal recently published an article about my work on climate change, one of the areas where we didn’t get much of what we wanted. You can read about my thoughts on this and why I believe that big, bold changes are possible here.
New Laws Take Effect
Several of the laws that passed this session took effect on August 1, including:
- The hands-free law, which is similar to policies that have reduced accidents and deaths in other states. This legislation requires drivers to use voice commands or single-touch activation if they use a cell phone while behind the wheel. More information about what’s allowed under the new law is available here. The guide also has helpful tips for going hands-free.
- A law that protects residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities by prohibiting retaliation against residents who file complaints.
- Legislation expanding the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act. This law, which prohibits smoking in public places, now includes e-cigarettes. The Star Tribune’s piece about it is available here.
- A law that gives Minnesotans the opportunity to denounce racial covenants that remain on their home titles. These clauses were used to bar people of color from buying or residing in certain properties. While they’re no longer enforceable, many titles still contain restrictive covenants. Hennepin County has updated their website with instructions for homeowners who want to check their titles. If you’re interested, you can read more here.
More information about the new laws is available here.
Preventing Gun Violence
Last week I stood on the steps of the Capitol with more than a thousand Minnesotans calling for immediate action to prevent gun violence. At a time when many feel like the tragedies may never end, the Honor Them with Action rally hosted by Moms Demand Action and Protect Minnesota was a powerful reminder that change is in our grasp. We’ve acted in the House, and we know that Governor Walz has our back. The Senate can’t stand in the way forever. It’s long past time to pass common sense legislation to keep guns out of the hands of those who are a danger to themselves or others.
Please continue sharing your questions and input. You can reach me at rep.jamie.long@house.mn or at 651-296-5375.
Sincerely,
Jamie Long
State Representative