Dear Neighbors,

With only three weeks left, we are fast approaching the final stretch of session. Last week I shared public safety reform proposals stemming from the House POCI Caucus. Unfortunately, as we head into these crucial final weeks of the legislative session there has been no movement in spite of the informational hearings that were promised by Senate majority leader, Senator Gazelka.

This week members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) caucus supported by the Senate DFL caucus sent a letter to Governor Walz, House Speaker Hortman, and Senate Leader Gazelka highlighting the necessity to end racial disparities that continue to persist throughout the state of Minnesota. We call for immediate negotiations on these reforms rather than have them used as leverage during budget negotiations. The letter can be read here.

Conference Committee Activity 2021

With committee hearings completed, we are to the conference committee phase of the legislative session. To explain, conference committees are made up of members from each body and party appointed to reconcile the differences between the two versions of an omnibus bill that has been passed by both bodies. Each conference committee has five members from both the House and the Senate, assigned by the majority leadership.To keep up-to-date on the hearings and topics, click here for the landing page but click on the button, “Show All Conference Committee Details”, for details on hearings and more.

Recent Court Decision on PolyMet

This week came the long-awaited decision from the Minnesota Supreme Court, overturning PolyMet’s permit to mine in Northeastern Minnesota. I was proud to join a press event hosted by Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, Water Legacy, along with the Center for Biological Diversity to highlight this vital decision.

This is a major victory for the Fond du Lac Chippewa and environmental advocacy groups who have championed for an honest, transparent review of permits that was not in the best interest of the state and our environment. The mine has been facing grave concerns by opponents over its potential to pollute nearby waters – such as the St. Louis River, Lake Superior, and the Boundary Waters – with heavy metals and other contaminants.

The decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the DNR will require new case hearings before an impartial judge over the mine’s waste management plan prior to granting any new permits for the mine, which the agency failed to do. Additionally, the court found that the DNR erred by issuing the permit to mine without setting a date by which the mine site and wastewater would need to be cleaned up and reverted to its natural state. This process could take at least 200 years according to modeling provided by PolyMet.

It will be some time before the fate of the proposed mine is settled, but the decision this week is a positive development in a long-running battle over the future of copper-nickel mining in the state.

US Census and Minnesota Redistricting 

Every ten years the legislature is charged with the incredible responsibility of redistricting; the process of drawing Congressional district lines, based on the newest census data and the input of the communities we serve to provide equal representation under the law. This week the rollout of US census numbers began to be released revealing that Minnesota grew just enough to hold on to all eight of its congressional seats… by only 89 persons!

As a state, Minnesota led the nation in self-response to the census with 75.1% of households returning their census form without the need for additional follow up from a census taker. Through the collective effort by governments, non-profit groups, and advocates, residents that are typically undercounted, such as college students, the homeless, rural areas, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of Color) were motivated to fill out their census forms - and it paid off.

This session I have the pleasure to sit on the Redistricting Committee and am committed to doing my part to ensure that redistricting maps are fair, transparent, and representative of the state. Unfortunately, this session, the committee has met hardly a handful of times and my Senate DFL committee members have not been sitting idly by. Rather, we have formed our principles (requirements), built a communication plan, and are prepared for future hearings. We, as a full legislature, must do the work we were elected to do. Here are the links for the Senate DFL and GOP redistricting  principles for broader understanding.

Struggling to pay rent due to COVID-19?

COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance (RentHelpMN.org) is now live for renters who owe back rent and past-due utilities. This document helps those renters looking to see if they qualify or not. Additionally, there is a landlord checklist for any landlords who have renters behind on their rent.

Homeowners currently do not have assistance through this website, but help is on the way! Sign up for updates regarding the availability of mortgage assistance, please click here for more information.

Be sure to call 211 if you have any questions and trained operators are available to answer any of your questions.

COVID-19 Community Mobile Vaccination Bus Project

As mentioned last week, access to a COVID-19 vaccine is a major obstacle to equitable rates of vaccination in Minnesota. With the roll out of the mobile vaccination units we should begin to see the long needed equitable distribution of vaccines for those who have had trouble getting one due to barriers such as transportation, technology, and geographic barriers. For further details on this project please visit here.

Keep In Touch

As your State Senator I aim to always be available to hear any concerns you may have and to help in any issue.

You can always contact me at:

95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg., Room 2323
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4334

All the best,

Senator Mary Kunesh