Dear Neighbors,
This past weekend marked the Grand Opening Celebration of the Minnesota State Capitol. This event was on the heels of the completion of a four-year, top-to-bottom restoration of “the People’s House” made necessary by decades of deferred maintenance and neglect. This led to leaking pipes, peeling paint, obsolete heating and cooling systems, inadequate restrooms, accessibility concerns, and sections of the marble exterior literally falling off the building.
The result of the restoration is extraordinary, and deserving of the three days of festivities which just concluded. There was yoga on the Capitol lawn each day, plenty of live music, free tours, a craft beer tasting and a fireworks spectacular Saturday night. Those who partook in tours got a glimpse of how bright the building is with the restored, vibrant art throughout the building.
In the lead up to the Grand Opening, an essay contest was held, giving Minnesota students in three different grade categories the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 college savings plan. The winners were invited to read their essays during Friday morning’s ribbon cutting ceremony and I’m thrilled that one of these winners was a Duluthian. Hope Anderson, a 3rd grader who attends Homecroft Elementary School, wowed the audience on the Capitol steps with her winning essay, which had a strong message of optimism, while observing the restored building’s beauty. Hope, who also got to assist Gov. Dayton with the cutting of the ribbon, shared her ambitions to potentially become governor herself one day.
As we celebrate our State Capitol, it’s important for us to note that while a great deal of important decisions are made in St. Paul, the groundwork for these is usually found throughout the state. Last month, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) – the panel tasked with recommending investments from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund, generated by Minnesota State Lottery proceeds – visited Duluth. I joined the commission for their swing through the region which included stops at the Minnesota Point Pine Forest, where the commission got to learn about the rare pine forest and get a look at the Lake Superior beach dunes, and UMD’s Blue Heron Research Vessel, where the commission learned about the ship as well as Lake Superior water quality issues.
The visits the LCCMR made aren’t just important because they happen to be in Duluth, but rather because our community connects Minnesota with the rest of the Great Lakes region. On a related note, in September, the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) will hold its annual meeting in Duluth. The GLC is charged with collaborating to foster a unified voice promoting economic prosperity, environmental protection, and sustainable use of our water resources.
As the State Capitol is now reopened to the public and in a stunning condition not seen since its 1905 opening, I hope you can make plans to visit. After all, it truly is “the People’s House.” Whether to take a tour, witness a legislative session, or advocate for a cause important to you, I hope you can be engaged in our state government. To that end, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with your priorities and concerns.
Sincerely,
Liz Olson
State Representative – District 7B