Legislative Update - Reforms and Reopenings

Dear Granite City Neighbors, 

I want to start by acknowledging how much Minnesota and our community is hurting right now. The death of George Floyd is still incredibly fresh in our minds, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge us in unprecedented ways.

George Floyd should still be alive today, and while justice for him and his loved ones is of paramount importance, so too are the drastic changes that need to be made to better ensure this doesn’t happen again. I am extremely proud to stand with and lift up the voices of my colleagues in the Minnesota Legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus, who recently announced measures for public safety and criminal justice reform, as well as our intent to make these issues a priority during a special session. These include measures to:

• Reform the investigation and prosecution process of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions
• Increase police accountability and transparency
• Raise standards of conduct and support officer excellence
• Partner officers with the communities they serve
• Repair and build community trust and create community-centered public safety

We cannot let this be a situation where we simply look the other way and move on. It will only be through systemic change that we can build a Minnesota that is more equitable and just for everyone, and I’m committed to that work.

‘Turning the Dials’ on COVID-19

This week saw the lifting of restrictions with restaurants and bars able to open their patios and other forms of outdoor service, and retail stores continuing to operate at 50% capacity. Today, in tandem with guidance from our state’s public health officials, Governor Walz announced that more reopenings are coming for our community’s businesses and public venues. 

This “Phase 3” of reopenings and lifted restrictions will begin on Wednesday, June 10, and includes the following:

• Restaurants can begin offering indoor dining while maintaining social distancing, requiring reservations, and seating no more than 50 percent occupancy.
• Indoor social gatherings can take place with 10 people or less; outdoor social gatherings can take place with 25 people or less.
• Gyms, personal fitness and yoga studios, and martial arts may open at 25 percent capacity.
• Indoor entertainment venues, such as theaters and concert halls, can open at 25 percent capacity.
• Recreational indoor entertainment venues, such as bowling alleys, arcades, and museums may open at 25 percent capacity.
• Personal services, such as salons, tattoo parlors, and barbershops, may increase occupancy rates to 50 percent while requiring reservations.
• Outdoor entertainment venues, such as sporting events, concerts, and theaters may open at 25 percent capacity. 
• Places of worship can increase occupancy rates to 50 percent.

I hope you’ll join me in patronizing our local businesses in a safe and responsible manner. While these measures are certainly welcome, the pandemic continues, and it’s only with continued public health guidelines that we can keep ourselves - and our neighbors - healthy and safe. You can watch Governor Walz’s announcement of these measures here. 

Stay Connected

It’s highly likely that the Minnesota Legislature will return next week for a special session. With the COVID-19 pandemic, sorely-needed economic relief, important local projects, and a national call for public safety and criminal justice reform, there’s no shortage of important issues to take on. I’ll be sure to keep you updated. 

Please feel free to continue to reach out to me with any questions or comments you have on our accomplishments this session, or the work that remains. You can reach me at (651) 296-6612, or email me at rep.dan.wolgamott@house.mn. I’ll also be posting frequent updates on my Facebook page.  We’re going to get through this together, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Rep. Dan Wolgamott