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Dear Neighbors,
This week has been an extremely hard and painful week. As we grieve and heal as a community from another shooting of a Black man in Minnesota, I urge you to utilize resources available to you for mental health and healing. Our community has experienced an overwhelming amount of pain this year alone, and the ongoing Trial of Derek Chauvin has induced anxiety, fear and stress in many of our lives. The City of Minneapolis has compiled this list to find free and local support for you and your loved ones. Please be sure to take advantage of this resource and reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have as we work to respond and prevent tragedies like this through public safety policy rolling out this week.
Ramadan Mubarak to all my Muslim brothers and sisters. This is our second Ramadan lived through not only a pandemic, but also through grief and trauma in our community. This month, I hope you find ways practice reflections and inner peace, take care of your neighbors, and continue to stand up for your values.
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The United Black Legislative Caucus released an important statement on Monday in the wake of Daunte Wright’s killing in Brooklyn Center. You can give it a read here.
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2021 Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform Budget Bill
Last week, House DFL lawmakers discussed their 2021 Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform budget bill. The legislation invests in law enforcement, improves police accountability, and listens to the victims of sex crimes. House DFL legislators are proposing to improve accountability for law enforcement, including:
- allowing local governments to establish civilian oversight councils
- banning the alteration, erasure, or destruction of body-worn camera recordings and withholding footage
- prohibiting peace officers from affiliating with white supermacist groups
- providing funding for community organizations working to prevent crime
Minnesota is in urgent need of an effective and comprehensive public safety initiative that looks out for community members of all backgrounds. Holding law enforcement accountable and investing in the correction of oppressive systems is a public health issue. We need to make sure we deliver on the promises we made to keep Minnesotans safe and respond with urgency.
You can read more about the details of the bill here.
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Childcare Budget
Last week, two Minnesota House committees, Early Childhood Finance and Policy and Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy, finalized budget bills to increase investments in the youngest Minnesotans and their caregivers by nearly $600 million in state and federal funds.
As the Workforce and Business Development Finance and Policy Committee chair, I am eager to advance this budget bill through and kick start our work to bring Minnesotans a sense of security.
Increasing access to child care is crucial to sustaining and strengthening our state’s economic stabilization, economic security, and economic recovery. Our Workforce and Business Development budget increases investment in child care business development in underserved areas, complementing the Early Childhood budget, which invests in early childhood initiatives that will help improve our current and future workforce development in Minnesota.
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Putting Minnesotans First: House DFL Budget Bills
This month, the House DFL revealed our omnibus budget bills which will be a guide for many of our conversations during the rest of the session as we work to create a budget to address disparities, recover economically and look out for Minnesotans that need a little extra care. Our commitment to Minnesota children, families, and main street businesses remain a priority and through this budget we hope to ensure everyone can successfully run through the approaching finish line after the long year we have all had.
These bills reflect hours of hearings, expert input, bipartisan dialogue for a better future in Minnesota. More information on the budget details can be found here, and you can watch our press conference here.
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Legislative Action to Protect Survivors
Sexual assault survivors have historically been silenced and stripped from getting justice or even the opportunity to pursue justice. Recenly, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that people voluntarily consuming alcohol are not protected under the definition of “mentally incapacitated” and will be denied justice under the law. Intoxicated survivors are incapable of giving consent and the Court’s ruling is further enabling predatory behavior that endangers not just women, but any person of any age by sending a message that this sort of thing is tolerated in Minnesota. We must do better and keep our neighbors safe.
Legislative action needs to be speedy and swift in response to this issue. I am committed to support legislation that would tackle this loophole and correct the state’s criminal sexual conduct (CSC) statutes. Minnesotans deserve urgent action.
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Last Call: 2021 Legislative Survey for District 60B
I want to remind you to submit your input to the 2021 Legislative Survey for district 60B. We are faced with tough decisions everyday here at the Capitol, and it's important that we can amplify your voices and represent the needs of our districts with your feedback.
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Thank you for the honor of representing our district 60B residents and families in the Minnesota House! Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have about the state of our legislature.
Sincerely,
Mohamud Noor
State Representative
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