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Neighbors,
Thanks to everyone who tuned to our Facebook Town Hall this week. As usual, we received many informed questions and I hope we were able to give you the answers you need. To watch video of the town hall, click here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1286835201505254&ref=watch_permalink. You can always contact me with questions or if you need more information.
In the final weeks of the Minnesota Legislative session, legislators are prioritizing having the backs of the workers caring for us. Representative Jordan interviewed Faith, an hourly school worker looking after the children of our frontline workers, and asked about her work and what the Minnesota Legislature can do to have her back as she cares for us. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/nxmy_6eM0WQ
Stay at Home Extended, More Restrictions Lifted
On Thursday, Governor Walz extended the Stay at Home order until May 18 and has lifted additional restrictions. Starting May 4, retail businesses and other non-critical businesses may begin offering curbside pick-up. This will put up to 30,000 Minnesotans back to work in a safe, coordinated way. Businesses must:
- Develop and publicly post a plan for how to open safely.
- Use online payment whenever possible.
- Employees and customers should wear masks and protective equipment.
- In curbside pick-up scenarios, social distancing guidelines apply. If possible, customers should not leave their vehicle.
- In delivery scenarios, items should be deposited outside a customer’s residence.
In the time Minnesotans have bought by staying home, Minnesota has:
- Announced a landmark testing strategy that will allow us to complete up to 20,000 tests a day and test every symptomatic Minnesotan.
- Built hospital capacity and finalized a lease on an alternate care site to make sure that all Minnesotans who need care can receive it.
- Worked to acquire more personal protective equipment to protect our frontline workers.
Also, as part of his Executive Order today, Governor Walz strongly encouraged all Minnesotans to wear a manufactured or homemade mask at all times when they go any place where social distancing is difficult.
Read more on all of Governor Walz’s Executive Orders here.
COVID-19 economic security agenda
This week the House and Senate DFL outlined COVID-19 economic security agenda, focusing on the following priorities:
- Keeping Minnesotans safe in their homes with a $100 million investment in housing assistance
- Providing economic security for our education professionals by ensuring full pay for our hourly school employees
- Providing economic security for the personal care assistants who care for vulnerable Minnesotans through a well-deserved and long-overdue wage increase
- Keeping Minnesotans connected by ensuring all Minnesotans have access to the broadband they need to go online
- Helping families make ends meet by using available federal funding to boost payments for low-income working Minnesotans in the Minnesota Family Investment Program
You can read more in this Session Daily story.
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