Dear Neighbors,

The Legislature is now in another special session. We continue to work to protect the health and economic wellbeing of Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic, are seeking solutions to strengthen police accountability in the wake of George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, and other important work. Here’s an update from the Capitol.

Jobs and Local Projects Bill

One of our top priorities in the special session is the Jobs and Local Projects bill, often called the bonding bill. Our House DFL bill contains $1.8 billion in public safety and health renovations, repairs, and replacement of public assets like higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, correctional facilities, roads and bridges, parks and trails, municipal buildings and more. Projects important to Minneapolis include the Upper Harbor music venue, North Commons Park, D Line bus rapid transit, the Management Education Center at MCTC, the city’s Emergency Training Center expansion, the Mississippi River Trail Connection, the Central City Storm Tunnel, Juxtaposition Arts, and Baldwin Square.

The need to invest in our public infrastructure is urgent, as are the jobs that would be created with the projects contained in this bill. I’m particularly proud of the strong equity component of this legislation, which will ensure projects important to communities of color and Indigenous communities receive the funding they deserve. This legislation invests in clean water, affordable housing, safe transportation infrastructure, and preservation of our lands, history, and heritage.

A full list of the projects can be accessed here. To pass this bill, we need a three-fifths supermajority vote, so it’s time for our Republican colleagues to join us in making these investments and helping create much-needed jobs.

Ending Gun Violence

Our neighborhoods in North Minneapolis are facing a real emergency. The sharp rise in shootings is unacceptable and unsustainable. Along with other Minneapolis legislators, I am organizing meetings with community and neighborhood groups to talk about how we move forward. Building off of existing efforts of local leaders, we are in communication with city and state officials to identify what resources are needed and how quickly we can provide assistance.

Every Minnesotan deserves to be safe in their own neighborhood. This crisis cannot be allowed to continue.

Respond to the Census

If you haven’t done so yet, please respond to the 2020 Census. Currently, Minneapolis is doing great, with 69.1 percent of residents responding, but it’s critically important to ensure our entire community is counted fairly.

It only takes a couple of minutes, and Census data determines how billions of dollars in federal funding is allocated toward priorities like health care, education, public safety, and roads & bridges. It also impacts representation at the local, state, and national levels. You can respond to the Census online here, by phone, or by mail. Please spread the word! Share this link with your family, friends, and neighbors. We all have to do our part to make sure everyone in our state gets counted.

Last Update

This will be my final email update until after November’s election. Whether running or not, legislators cannot use state resources to send communications like these during an election period. Still, I encourage you to keep in touch with me to share your feedback or if I can ever be of assistance. Feel free to email me (rep.fue.lee@house.mn) or call me (651-296-4262) any time. You can also subscribe to House Public Information Services’ nonpartisan resources.

It’s an honor to serve as your state representative. Have a great summer.

Sincerely,

Fue Lee
State Representative