Dear Neighbors,
I hope you had a safe and happy holiday season with friends and family. With the omicron variant rapidly spreading, COVID-19 remains a deep concern in our state. Our health care system is facing tremendous pressure, with ICUs approaching capacity and patients facing long waits for emergency care. Health care workers are overworked and exhausted, both physically and emotionally. Please get your COVID-19 vaccine – and if you’re eligible – a booster shot, wear a mask around others, and get tested if you’re experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
On January 6, we marked the one-year anniversary of the insurrection at our United States Capitol. We remember those who were killed and wounded as we reflect on the attack on our democracy and orderly transfer of power. I reaffirm my commitment to the freedom to vote and the work of realizing the promise of a truly representative democracy for us all. Standing up for our democracy should not be about party or politics. I join my colleagues, in a commitment to work together, to speak out against every attempt to undermine our democracy and sabotage the will of the people.
As we are gearing up for the start of session on January 31, I have been spending less time subbing in our schools and more time in legislative meetings. This morning, I joined legislators, administrators, and school board members who are part of the Association of Metropolitan Schools Districts (AMSD). We discussed how we can support our public education system in the upcoming legislative session. It has been a historic and difficult last two years. It is my hope that we can use part of our surplus money to make sure our scholars have what they need for a brighter future.
Community Conversations
You’re invited to join me for my first Community Conversation of 2022 next Tuesday, January 11 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. on Zoom. Please RSVP with my Legislative Assistant, Eric Petersen, at eric.petersen@house.mn or call 651-296-9889 to receive the information on how to join. The next event is on Wednesday, January 26, also from 6:30 – 8 p.m. I hope you’ll join me and our neighbors online to share your input on which investments you think are most critical to make during the upcoming legislative session, which starts January 31, and your other priorities so we can build a state that works better for everyone.
Additionally, mark your calendars for my Community Conversations on Wednesday, February 9, Tuesday, February 22, and Wednesday, March 9.
Highway 7 Survey
St. Louis Park and Hopkins residents: please weigh in and help the Minnesota Department of Transportation complete a thorough assessment of the safety concerns along the Highway 7 corridor from St. Louis Park west to Hollywood Township in Carver County. As part of this process, MnDOT is seeking feedback directly from community members about their experiences on the roadway, areas of concern, and ideas for improvements. Learn more about the study and take the survey on MnDOT’s website here. Thank you for your help!
Heating Assistance Available
This week, we’ve experienced the coldest temperatures so far this season, with dangerously low overnight temperatures and windchills. No Minnesotan deserves to be left out in the cold. Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule (CWR), in effect until April 30, protects people from electricity and natural gas shutoffs during the coldest period of the year. If you’re behind on energy bills, the CWR allows you to enter a payment plan with your natural gas or electric provider. Visit the Public Utilities Commission website for more information.
Additionally, Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program helps families pay for current and past-due bills for electricity, gas, oil, biofuel and propane, emergency fuel delivery, and repair/replacement of homeowners’ broken heating systems. Over $130 million in federal funding for this program is available with over 600,000 households eligible. More information is available from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Minnesota Values Project Survey
As we look ahead to the 2022 legislative session, my colleagues and I are looking to hear from Minnesotans across the state. We hope to learn about what’s going well for you and your family, as well as your challenges and roadblocks. Please share your thoughts by taking the 2021 Minnesota Values Project Survey. It’s a short, four-question survey, that will help guide our work at the Capitol to both address our short-term needs and build a long-term pathway for prosperity.
Precinct Caucuses
Please join your neighbors in Hopkins and St. Louis Park for Precinct Caucus night on Tuesday, February 1st. To find more information about where you caucus and details of the process this year, please visit the Secretary of State’s website.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime with questions, input, or to let me know how I can be of assistance. As remote operations continue, email is the quickest way to get in touch.
Thank you for the honor of representing you at the Capitol.
Warmly,
Cheryl Youakim
State Representative