Dear Neighbors,
I hope all of you had a joyous Easter weekend to those who observe, despite the frustrating deluge of snow. Here are some developments you may be interested in.
Metro Mobility Rides for Healthcare Workers
Metro mobility is now offering free, door to door rides for healthcare workers to go from home to work and back. Metro mobility is also delivering meals to riders who typically use metro mobility, and for people that have been identified by local food shelves as needing nutritional support. For healthcare workers, which includes anyone who works in a healthcare facility, who would like to request a ride, consult the directions here.
Federal Funding for Unemployment
MN is one of the first states to access the federal funding for the additional $600/week in unemployment benefit payments, and many people have already received their first additional $600 payment. MN DEED is now working on obtaining the instructions and processes from the US department of Labor to implement unemployment benefit access for contract and self-employed workers in Minnesota. The last estimate I heard is that this should be available sometime during the third or fourth week of April. Feel free to contact me with any questions or difficulties you are encountering regarding this process, or regarding any other difficulties you may be experiencing right now.
Updates from Governor Walz
The Governor announced that there is a hiring freeze, including prohibitions on circumventing this freeze by hiring contract workers, for all executive branch agencies. Additionally, the Governor and all of Minnesota's state agency commissioners will be taking a 10% pay cut through the end of the year.
The Governor and his commissioners are examining every sector of business in our state, and evaluating how and when each sector of business can be able to resume operations safely. The only effective tools we have to avoid more prolonged economic hardships, loss of life on a large scale, and the catastrophic overcapacity of our hospitals is to continue to stay home unless necessary, and to abide by the social distancing guidelines when we do leave our homes. To quote Governor Walz, “We all want to reopen the economy tomorrow, but people will die if we do that.”
I know this is a challenging time for everyone in our community, and I am here to assist you in any way I am able. As always, I am keeping everyone in our community in my thoughts and prayers.
Keep In Touch
This is a difficult time for our country and our state. Please know that I am here to serve you every step of the way.
Please contact me anytime with questions, input, or ideas. You can reach me at my facebook page, by phone at 651-296-4212, or by email (preferred and quickest response) at rep.hunter.cantrell@house.mn. Don’t hesitate to reach out if I can provide any assistance!
Sincerely,
Hunter Cantrell
Your Neighbor and State Representative