Welcome to the start of the 2021 Legislative Session!

It is the profound honor of my life to represent Minneapolis’s Eastside in the Minnesota House of Representatives.  The challenges facing our community are significant as we combat the COVID-19 pandemic, relentlessly pursue racial justice, fully fund public education, protect our climate and environment, and build a community where no one is left behind. 

This week we honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and committed to transformative racial justice. Over the interim, the House Committee on Racial Justice examined how racism pervades Minnesota’s laws and institutions. This committee wrote a report of their findings to guide DFL House members and me as we write bills. You can read this report here. 

Priorities for the 2021 Session  

This week, my House DFL colleagues and I announced our priorities to help Minnesotans recover from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed our first bills at those who have been hit hardest by this crisis-- families, workers, and those experiencing houselessness.

COVID-19 Vaccine Update: January 22, 2021

Minnesotans eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to sign up for appointments at one of the state’s nine community vaccination pilot clinics through a new website and call center launched today by the State of Minnesota. The clinics will initially serve adults age 65 and older, as well as pre-kindergarten through grade 12 educators, staff, and child care workers.

The state continues to vaccinate the health care workers and assisted-living residents and staff in phase 1a and is on track to have provided at least one shot to all 500,000 Minnesotans in that group before the end of the month.

Minnesotans Age 65 and Older

Minnesotans age 65 and older can make appointments by visiting mn.gov/vaccine or by calling 612-426-7230 or toll-free, 1-833-431-2053. Minnesotans should attempt to make an appointment online before dialing the call center. Minnesotans who cannot immediately make an appointment may be able to sign up for a waitlist.

Available appointments will refresh every Tuesday at noon. Minnesotans will have the opportunity to schedule appointments for both their first and second doses of vaccines.

Educators, School Staff, and Child Care Workers

Educators and child care providers, with few exceptions, will work directly with their employer to receive instructions on how to secure a vaccination appointment and should not try to schedule an appointment unless their employer has contacted them with information about their appointment.

Due to the very limited supply of vaccines, appointments are not open to all workers in these sectors in the pilot program. The limited vaccine doses have been allocated to regions associated with schools and based on a percentage of the workforce in child care and education. School districts, charter schools, tribal schools, and nonpublic school associations will select who participates in the pilot.

Child care programs will be randomly selected and notified to secure an appointment through the state-sponsored pilot sites.

Loosened COVID Restrictions Now In Place

Thanks to our combined efforts to adhere to public health guidelines, COVID cases are on a downward trajectory in Minnesota. In response, Governor Walz has loosened restrictions on bars, restaurants, gyms, and other venues and gatherings - which are now in place.

The changes include the following:

• Indoor dining at bars and restaurants can open at 50 percent capacity, with a maximum of 150 people. Parties of no more than six people must remain six feet from other parties; bar seating is open to parties of two (this is not the case in Minneapolis); reservations are required; and establishments must close dine-in service by 10 p.m.
• Gym capacity remains capped at 25 percent but maximum capacity increases to 150 and classes can increase to 25 people, assuming distancing can be observed. Machines and people must maintain 9 feet of distance. Face coverings are required.
• Outdoor events and entertainment continue at 25 percent capacity, but maximum capacity increases to 250 people. Social distancing is required.
• Indoor events and entertainment – like bowling alleys, movie theaters, and museums – may open at 25 percent, with no more than 150 people in each area of the venue. Face coverings are required, and they may not offer food service after 10 p.m.
• Youth and adult organized sports have resumed practice as of January 4 and games resume January 14 with spectators, following the appropriate capacity limits for indoor or outdoor venues. Inter-region tournaments and out of state play are discouraged.
• Places of worship remain open at 50% capacity but without an overall maximum capacity.

While this helps our local businesses, it remains imperative that we continue to social distance, wash our hands, wear a mask, and get tested.

Town Hall: Tuesday, January 26th, 2021

If you missed last Saturday's town hall with Sen. Kari Dziedzic, Rep. Mohamud Noor, and me, you can find a recorded video from our live event here.

The next town hall on the calendar will be on Tuesday, January 26th. Live recordings can be found on Rep. Noor's Facebook page.

It is my job to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with anything you may need. 

Sincerely,

Sydney Jordan

State Representative