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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL)

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Legislative Update- June 19, 2020

Friday, June 19, 2020

Rep. Davnie

 

Dear Neighbors,

Early this morning, after much debate, we passed a strong package of reforms that will support meaningful police accountability, including use of force reform, funding for alternatives to policing, and greater police oversight created by members of the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus. The debate was among the most powerful I have heard in my service here. Of course, those opposed argued that we were moving too fast, that everything is fine in their area, that there should be no accountability. There is always a reason to vote no, but now is the time for a bolder vision.

 

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The Governor and Lt. Governor continue to work with the legislature this special session to enact police reform and accountability and build a stronger and more equitable economy. The Governor and House are also advocating for a strong Local Jobs and Projects bill to create jobs across the state and revitalize infrastructure in communities in every corner of our state. 

This week, I joined the POCI Caucus to unveil the PROMISE (Providing Resources, Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs) Act. The legislation is a comprehensive plan to help businesses rebuild and recover, many of which are owned by Black Minnesotans, immigrants, and people of color. The goal is to preserve the unique character of the impacted commercial and cultural corridors, continue their position as a place for small businesses to emerge and develop, and to keep the community vision central to redevelopment.  Specifically, the plan would:

  • Create a special panel to review cases and provide direct compensation to impacted individuals.
  • My provision ,which creates a partnership with cities and community organizations to create an immediate economic relief programs of $165 million for impacted businesses and organizations.
  • Give local units of government flexibility and tools to prevent gentrification.
  • Direct the Minnesota Department of Commerce to assist business owners, and require insurance companies to notify the department of any rejected claims.
  • Help with the rising cost of leases for eligible residential and commercial properties.
  • Provide property and sales tax cuts for eligible properties as they rebuild
  • Establish a “Metropolitan Area Redevelopment Corporation” to create a long-term plan for equity-driven redevelopment and transformation.
  • Establish a panel to review the decision making during the civil unrest by police, military, city, and state leaders.

I’m pleased that the bill passed the House floor today, but disappointed that it did so on a party line vote.

PROMISE Act

Additional Business Relief Legislation for South Minneapolis

Many local liquor stores were destroyed in both Minneapolis and St. Paul during the civil unrest. I’ve introduced legislation to help our business owners get back on their feet. I’m pushing this special session for my bill to allow the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to authorize liquor stores damaged in the recent unrest to operate temporarily at another location while they rebuild or relocate. You can find a nonpartisan summary of the bill here.

Update on Community Services

Unfortunately, the damage to the Powderhorn Park Post Office was more severe from the civil unrest than initially thought. The USPS is doing everything they can to continue operations, but currently they are not able to make immediate repairs due to supply shortages. USPS anticipate it will be roughly a week before that office is back up and running. They are working on rerouting PO box mail to a different facility, as has happened with the Longfellow and Minnehaha offices.

USPS has caught up on the backlog of mail that was in their possession. While routes were closed, USPS asked Amazon to hold off on transferring packages. Those 6-7,000 packages have been handed off to USPS today for delivery. Once those packages have been delivered, the backlog will be cleared.

A mobile post office has been set up in the vacated KMART parking lot, located at 10 W Lake Street, 55408, this Thursday and Friday, June 18th and 19th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for customers to complete their retail postal needs. Come buy your stamps, South Minneapolis!

Walgreens has established a mobile pharmacy at its 31st and Lake street location. This should help those residents needing prescription services.

MSP Food Drive

Minneapolis Public Schools has free food for youth 18 and under. Weekly food boxes are available at 48 pick-up sites. ALL families welcome. More information can be found here: https://cws.mpls.k12.mn.us/COVID19.

Fall Planning Survey for Back to School

Parents and guardians, the Minnesota Department of Education wants to hear from you on how distance learning went for your household. Hit the survey at the link, it takes ten minutes. https://tinyurl.com/yacasf9c

Keep in Touch

Please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime with questions, ideas, or thoughts at rep.jim.davnie@house.mn. I always appreciate hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Jim Davnie

State Representative  
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