Dear neighbors, It’s been a busy week! The House Bonding Committee just wrapped up yesterday our Northeastern Minnesota portion of our statewide tour to see firsthand the public infrastructure funding requests of Minnesotans residing in this region.  Great to be on #TeamBonding with the House Capital Investment Committee.  Riding the top of the lift bridge up and down in Duluth with the Minnesota House Capital Investment Tour. What a great experience! The bridge needs infrastructure renovation funding.   Mn House Capital Investment tour of The ??????International?? Wolf ??Center www.wolf.org    University of Minnesota-Duluth has asset preservation funding requests.  And then the fog rolled in... Robert Street Greenway Underpass CompletedIt was wonderful to spend yesterday morning with community members, advocates, and city, state, and county colleagues who helped make the Robert Street Greenway Underpass a reality. The new greenway will help increase accessibility to our business corridor, in addition to providing a greener and cleaner mode of transportation for residents who walk or bike. Grateful to have been a part of this exciting new development for West Saint Paul. You can read more coverage of the underpass from the Pioneer Press, WCCO, and the West Saint Paul Reader.    Instead of cutting a ribbon we cut a large Bike Chain to open the trail. Protecting our PollinatorsThere’s many ways we can make intentional choices about the steps we take to protect pollinators. We know pollinators contribute to our food supply by sustaining our ecosystems, preventing soil erosion, and more. In 2019 we initiated a nation-leading successful Lawns to Legumes Program, which provides grants to homeowners who want to preserve our pollinators by planting pollinator-friendly gardens. Many local city zoning ordinances across the state have blocked these opportunities for Minnesotans, which is why I have introduced a bill to ensure cities have the option to offer pollinator planting opportunities to residents. MinnPost recently covered my legislation in an article; you can check it out here. Minnesota Values Project The pandemic’s impact on our state has exacerbated significant challenges and inequities among our families, schools, businesses, and communities. My colleagues and I are asking Minnesotans to share their stories, their hopes, aspirations, and input to help guide our work at the Capitol and create a better post-pandemic future for everyone. The Minnesota Values Project is the initiative we have started to gain direct feedback from Minnesotans. You’re invited to fill out this short, 4-question Minnesota Values Project Survey. Thank you for sharing your story.  Keep in TouchPlease always feel free to contact me with input, questions, or to let me know how I can help. You can reach me at rep.rick.hansen@house.mn or (651) 296-6828. Have a great weekend. Sincerely, Rick Hansen State Representative |