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Dear Neighbors,
In the shadow of the Chauvin trial and the ongoing trauma of George Floyd’s death, Minnesota is mourning the death of another Black man killed by law enforcement. I am holding Daunte Wright and his mother, his young son, and his family in my heart. He should be alive today.
As his family, friends, and the community grieve and process the compounded trauma, we have a responsibility to take action at every level of government to take concrete action to protect Black Minnesotans and ensure all Minnesotans are safe in our communities. We must reform public safety and ensure that all Minnesotans are able to make it home at the end of the day.
As our community and our region prepares for an uncertain few weeks, it’s important that we all strive to treat each other and our neighbors with compassion and care. We also must expect law enforcement and local authorities to engage the community and the press with dignity, respect, and care. The rights of communities to assemble, grieve, and protest and the freedom of the press must be protected. I believe the city, county, and state can keep people safe and protect the rights of all our neighbors in a way that reduces trauma, and ends the violence against our communities.
Enacting Police Reform and Accountability
Last year, the Minnesota Legislature passed a series of police accountability measures that were supposed to be the first of many steps to create the systemic changes needed to ensure that every Minnesotan is truly safe and is treated with human dignity. They included a tougher standard for when police can use deadly force, bans on “warrior training” and choke holds, a duty to intercede, and additional training requirements.
There’s much more work to be done. I am standing in solidarity with the United Black Legislative Caucus (UBLC) and the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus as they call for police accountability and reform. I support legislation that would:
- Limit police officers’ authority to stop or detain drivers for certain violations
- Allow local governments to establish civilian oversight councils
- Support community organizations working to prevent crime
- Prohibit altering, destroying, or withholding body camera footage
- Prohibit white supremacists from becoming police officers
- Limit the use of no-knock warrants
- Strengthen the police officer misconduct database and build a more effective early warning system to identify bad officers and keep them off the streets
Ensuring Our Democracy and Government Work for Minnesotans
Our democracy and state government should work for all Minnesotans - no matter where they live, what they look like, or who they vote for. On Friday, the House passed a state government and elections omnibus bill to strengthen Minnesota’s best traditions of voter participation and people-powered democracy. This legislation ensures that the voices of all Minnesotans are heard and at the center of our democracy. It contains several provisions from the Democracy for the People Act (HF 9) that I introduced, including:
- Protecting voters and election officials from harassment and intimidation
- Restoring the right to vote to 55,000 Minnesotans on probation or parole
- Strengthening access to voter registration and the ballot
- Ensuring that all Minnesotans have access to the resources they need to vote in the language that they speak
- Closing dark money loopholes and increasing transparency and disclosure of secret spending
- Making sure that Minnesotans - not large corporations or wealthy individuals - are driving our politics
You can watch my remarks on the bill here.
Expanding Safe and Affordable Housing
Everyone deserves to have a safe and affordable place to call home. On Thursday, I voted to help more than half a million Minnesotans who don’t have access to secure housing. Our Housing budget expands the supply of affordable housing, connects more people with homeownership opportunities, and helps increase homeownership among communities of color. It also protects and empowers renters and addresses eviction practices that disproportionately impact BIPOC households.
Building a Strong Transportation System
Minnesotans deserve a reliable, sustainable transportation system that allows everyone to travel safely. Unfortunately, our current system hasn’t kept up with inflation or Minnesota’s growing needs. The Transportation omnibus bill invests in roads, bridges, mass transit, and bicycle and pedestrian safety - critical infrastructure that will create jobs and make our state a safer and more equitable place to live and travel. We approved this legislation on Saturday.
Investing in the Outdoors, Clean Water, and Arts and Culture
As Minnesotans, we care deeply about our state. That’s why in 2008, voters approved the Legacy Amendment, a constitutional amendment that has generated more than $3.65 billion to make Minnesota an even better place to live and work. On Thursday, we approved the Legacy omnibus bill to protect and enhance the outdoors, clean water, arts and culture, and parks and trails. Investing in these priorities will benefit communities across the state and current and future generations of Minnesotans.
Please feel free to call or email me if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance. You can reach me at 651-296-4200 or rep.emma.greenman@house.mn.
Sincerely,
Emma Greenman
State Representative
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