Dear Neighbors,
I hope this finds you well and enjoying the New Year so far.
The 2020 legislative session is just around the corner; our work in St. Paul
will get underway on February 11. As the chair of the House K-12 Education
Finance Committee, I recently had the opportunity to preview the House DFL’s
priorities for Minnesota students and families with Minnesota Public Radio.
It’s encouraging to know that addressing mental health and the opportunity gap
will be key focuses of the Senate Majority as well, and I look forward to
working together to find real and effective solutions that puts students and
their needs first.
You can read more in the article here.
Minneapolis Public Schools Comprehensive District Design
The Comprehensive District Design (CDD) examines how Minneapolis Public Schools
(MPS) educates students, how they are placed in and transported to our schools,
and what opportunities are available for students across the city. Community
members are encouraged to attend and provide feedback. You can check out the
website for updated informational meetings and additional opportunities to
share your thoughts.
2020 U.S. Census- Be Counted!
The once-a-decade U.S. Census count, which counts every person living in the 50
states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories, and is conducted by
the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency, kicks off on April 1
of this year. Every year, billions of dollars are needed for hospitals, fire
departments, schools, roads, bridges and other public resources, and federal
funds are delivered based on the U.S. Census data collected, which is why
having an accurate count is vital.
Please join me, my legislative colleagues, and Minnesota Attorney General
Ellison on Monday, February 3 at the Phillips Community Center for this
critical conversation. The census is key to our democracy, our community, and
the services we need, want, and deserve from our government. It's our census,
let's use it. Here are the details:
• 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Phillips Community Center, 2323 11th Avenue South,
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Minnesota’s Presidential Primary
Minnesotans will be able to vote in a presidential nomination primary this year
and it’s important to cast your vote to help ensure our government is
representative of our shared values. Primary Day in Minnesota will be on March
3. Early voting started on January 17; if you’d like to cast your ballot before
Primary Day, you can request an absentee ballot here. More information is
available on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.
A number of constituents have raised concerns regarding the need to chose a
partisan party ballot for the Presidential primary and that information being
released to the states four major parties. Minnesotans have never liked
partisan voter registration proposals, as they do in other states. While this
isn’t quite that, it’s close enough to cause discomfort. The DFL-led House
have proposed legislation this year to protect that data privacy. To date the
GOP-led Senate has not joined in that priority. We’ll see what happens to that
this session.
Truss Bridge Reopens
Earlier this month, the historic Truss Bridge at the Minneapolis Veterans Home
campus reopened. The bridge was closed in 2014 after being found structurally
deficient, which closed 50% of the access to the Minneapolis Veterans Home,
inconveniencing residents, families, staff, and the broader community. Beyond
the inconvenience, it threatened access to the Home by first responders in case
of any type of emergency.
Working with Senator Patricia Torres Ray and the Minnesota Department of
Veterans Affairs, I was able to secure funding in the 2017 public works bill.
The bridge was rebuilt respecting its status on the National Register of
Historic Places. Two years later and we have a new bridge to better serve the
whole community. Feel free to swing by and walk, bike, scooter, drive over our
new bridge!
Town Hall February 8
Senator Torres Ray, Representative Wagenius and myself will be holding a
pre-session town hall opportunity next Saturday, February 8, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4120 S 17th Ave, Minneapolis. Please join us and
bring your questions and concerns for this upcoming legislative session.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me with input, questions, or ideas. Don’t hesitate
to let me know how I can be of assistance at 651-296-0173 or by responding to
this email.
Sincerely,
Jim Davnie
State Representative
Cooper resident
I hope this finds you well and enjoying the New Year so far.
The 2020 legislative session is just around the corner; our work in St. Paul
will get underway on February 11. As the chair of the House K-12 Education
Finance Committee, I recently had the opportunity to preview the House DFL’s
priorities for Minnesota students and families with Minnesota Public Radio.
It’s encouraging to know that addressing mental health and the opportunity gap
will be key focuses of the Senate Majority as well, and I look forward to
working together to find real and effective solutions that puts students and
their needs first.
You can read more in the article here.
Minneapolis Public Schools Comprehensive District Design
The Comprehensive District Design (CDD) examines how Minneapolis Public Schools
(MPS) educates students, how they are placed in and transported to our schools,
and what opportunities are available for students across the city. Community
members are encouraged to attend and provide feedback. You can check out the
website for updated informational meetings and additional opportunities to
share your thoughts.
2020 U.S. Census- Be Counted!
The once-a-decade U.S. Census count, which counts every person living in the 50
states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories, and is conducted by
the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency, kicks off on April 1
of this year. Every year, billions of dollars are needed for hospitals, fire
departments, schools, roads, bridges and other public resources, and federal
funds are delivered based on the U.S. Census data collected, which is why
having an accurate count is vital.
Please join me, my legislative colleagues, and Minnesota Attorney General
Ellison on Monday, February 3 at the Phillips Community Center for this
critical conversation. The census is key to our democracy, our community, and
the services we need, want, and deserve from our government. It's our census,
let's use it. Here are the details:
• 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Phillips Community Center, 2323 11th Avenue South,
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Minnesota’s Presidential Primary
Minnesotans will be able to vote in a presidential nomination primary this year
and it’s important to cast your vote to help ensure our government is
representative of our shared values. Primary Day in Minnesota will be on March
3. Early voting started on January 17; if you’d like to cast your ballot before
Primary Day, you can request an absentee ballot here. More information is
available on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.
A number of constituents have raised concerns regarding the need to chose a
partisan party ballot for the Presidential primary and that information being
released to the states four major parties. Minnesotans have never liked
partisan voter registration proposals, as they do in other states. While this
isn’t quite that, it’s close enough to cause discomfort. The DFL-led House
have proposed legislation this year to protect that data privacy. To date the
GOP-led Senate has not joined in that priority. We’ll see what happens to that
this session.
Truss Bridge Reopens
Earlier this month, the historic Truss Bridge at the Minneapolis Veterans Home
campus reopened. The bridge was closed in 2014 after being found structurally
deficient, which closed 50% of the access to the Minneapolis Veterans Home,
inconveniencing residents, families, staff, and the broader community. Beyond
the inconvenience, it threatened access to the Home by first responders in case
of any type of emergency.
Working with Senator Patricia Torres Ray and the Minnesota Department of
Veterans Affairs, I was able to secure funding in the 2017 public works bill.
The bridge was rebuilt respecting its status on the National Register of
Historic Places. Two years later and we have a new bridge to better serve the
whole community. Feel free to swing by and walk, bike, scooter, drive over our
new bridge!
Town Hall February 8
Senator Torres Ray, Representative Wagenius and myself will be holding a
pre-session town hall opportunity next Saturday, February 8, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4120 S 17th Ave, Minneapolis. Please join us and
bring your questions and concerns for this upcoming legislative session.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me with input, questions, or ideas. Don’t hesitate
to let me know how I can be of assistance at 651-296-0173 or by responding to
this email.
Sincerely,
Jim Davnie
State Representative
Cooper resident
