Greetings Eastsiders, I hope this email finds you well and staying warm! Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule (CWR), which the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission administers, protects residential utility customers from having electric or natural gas service shut off between October 1 and April 30. In 2023, Minnesota Democrats passed a law requiring landlords to maintain a minimum temperature of 68°F in apartments if renters can’t control their own heat during this time period. The law took effect in 2024 to protect tenants during harsh winters. For more information, contact your utility company, or the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission at consumer.puc@state.mn.us or 651-296-0406.  This week, Ramsey County came together to protect some of our most vulnerable neighbors during the extreme cold. They’ll continue to offer warm spaces for our neighbors experiencing homelessness throughout the winter, beginning in mid-December. You can find hours of operation and more resources from Ramsey County here. Kellogg-3rd Street Bridge Closure this Weekend Work will start on the Kellogg-3rd Street bridge deconstruction tonight at 10 p.m. and end on Monday, December 9 at 5 a.m. Work will be continuous throughout the weekend and overnights. You can find the anticipated timeline of the project, along with details, here. While this will inevitably cause temporary disruptions for Eastsiders, I am optimistic about what these new improvements to the Kellogg-3rd Street bridge will mean for our community. Quicker commutes into Downtown, safer roads and pedestrian infrastructure, and more. It was an honor to deliver this funding for the Eastside.  A Tied State House- What’s Next?This year’s election resulted in a 67-67 tie in the State House, which hasn’t happened in Minnesota since 1979. DFL Leader Melissa Hortman and Republican Leader Lisa Demuth have been meeting to negotiate how the House will be run in the 2025 session, and have agreed to an overall committee structure. The membership of committees will be equally divided and represented by DFL and Republican co-chairs. I’m pleased to share that I'll be co-chairing the Veterans and Military Affairs Division of the State Government Finance and Policy Committee. I’ve served in this arena before, and I’m looking forward to leading in this policy area for our state and community. Keep in TouchRegardless of what a tie means for our state’s progress moving forward, I’ll continue to prioritize our Eastside district of 67B. I’m always willing to work with anyone who is willing to collaborate, compromise, and make thoughtful investments into the people of Minnesota. Contact me anytime with input, questions, or ideas; I always value hearing from you. My phone number is 651-296-4201 and my email is rep.jay.xiong@house.mn.gov. Thank you for the honor of representing the Eastside in our capital city. Happy Holidays! In solidarity, Jay Xiong
State Representative |