Dear Neighbors,
As we approach the 2020 legislative session, which starts February 11, I invite you to join Sen. John Marty, Rep. Alice Hausman, and me for a Town Hall Meeting to discuss issues important to you and other members of the community. We will gather on Saturday morning, February 8, at 10 a.m. at Falcon Heights City Hall.
This has become somewhat of an annual tradition for the three of us, and we look forward to answering questions and listening to feedback from our engaged community members. Please attend if you’re able, and if not, I hope you will reach out to me directly to share your priorities and ideas for the legislative session.
Como Zoo Included in Gov. Walz’s Local Jobs and Projects Act
One of the major items I look forward to helping accomplish this year is a sizable package of investments in public infrastructure. This week, Governor Walz finished announcing his proposed bonding bill, the Local Jobs and Projects Act, which contains $2 billion worth of improvements to important public assets like colleges and universities, correctional facilities, parks and trails, roads and bridges, and wastewater treatment plants.
Locally, I’m proud the governor included $2.5 million toward improvements at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, including the design of a new orangutan habitat and energy efficiency upgrades to replace various systems across the campus, some of which are over 100 years old. Como Zoo is a place all Minnesotans can enjoy, and it’s worthy of our public investments. I’m hopeful lawmakers can come together this year to enact a strong, regionally-balanced package of infrastructure improvements across the whole state.
Sentencing Guidelines Commission Advances Probation Reforms
In case you missed it, last week the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission took a giant step forward for criminal justice reform in our state by enacting some overdue changes to our probation system, including a five-year cap on most terms. Currently among all states, Minnesota has the fifth-highest percentage of residents on probation. Please check out my press release about this development.
Early Voting Available for Presidential Primary
Today, Minnesotans can be among the first in the nation vote for candidates for President of the United States in our new presidential primary. No matter your party affiliation, it's important to cast your vote and help ensure our government is representative of our shared values. Officially, primary election day is March 3. Secretary of State Steve Simon’s website has answers to many frequently asked questions about this new process of selecting our major parties’ nominees.
In Ramsey County, in-person absentee voting is available Monday through Friday at the Ramsey County Elections Office, at the Ramsey County Library – Roseville, and at the New Brighton Community Center. Click here for more info, including hours of operation. To request an absentee ballot by mail, visit the Secretary of State’s website here.
Work for the 2020 Census; Earn $22/Hour
I recently received a status report showing there are still many open positions for people to work for the 2020 United States Census. In Ramsey County the number of received applications are only at 57 percent of the goal.
Counting all Minnesotans is a massive undertaking, and the U.S. Census Bureau is looking to hire 45,000 Minnesotans as part of the effort. Shifts are flexible, with full-time, part-time, weekend, and evening shifts available. They are especially looking for diverse candidates and those fluent in languages spoken in our community including Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Oromo, Amharic, Karen, and Vietnamese. Census takers can earn $22 per hour. For more information and to apply, click here.
Please continue to contact me with your feedback, input, and ideas. It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
John Lesch
State Representative