Greetings Eastsiders, I hope this email finds you well. It’s no April Fool’s joke: another round of snow is forecasted over the next couple of days. The City of Saint Paul’s text and email alert system for snow emergencies has come in handy for me. You can click here to sign up and learn more. If you’ve just celebrated the end of Ramadan, or are getting ready for Passover or Easter, this is a time to acknowledge togetherness, good will toward our neighbors, and a sense of renewal. As I’m out and about in the community, reflecting on the progress we’ve made together to revitalize the East 7th Street corridor, invest in each other, build better infrastructure for our workers and seniors, I can’t help but to be so damn proud. Eastsiders held together during an unprecedented and unconstitutional federal occupation. Untrained, masked individuals representing the federal government executed two of our neighbors — Renée Good and Alex Pretti — in broad daylight. Minnesotans didn’t blink an eye. We didn’t look away. Instead, we are running modern day good samaritan operations to make sure our neighbors can feed their kids and get them to school. Mutual aid funds are helping Eastsiders pay their bills and stay in their homes when they are unable to work. We care about each other and Minnesota has shown the world once again, the power of people, love, and unity.  I was proud to host Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek for dinner at Sabores Fresh Market in our district. Sitting down with the Delgado-Rodriguez brothers and their dedicated staff was a powerful reminder that behind every business are families working tirelessly to serve their neighbors, create jobs, and build a future. Their resilience — and the resilience of so many local business owners — is what will truly power our recovery. Much of our work this session has been and continues to be accessing and addressing the damage of Trump’s reckless “Big Ugly Betrayal” aka: the federal budget bill, HR 1. Minnesota House Republicans have been in lock step with the White House by prioritizing the wealthiest among us; threatening to and attempting to shut down the legislative session over private school vouchers; lowering tab fees on $80,000 vehicles; staying cozy with the billion dollar gun lobby to avoid keeping our kids safe. The list goes on and Minnesotans are tired. They’re asking for a robust recovery strategy. My DFL colleagues and I are working around the clock to meet the needs and the moment we’re in as we adapt to a fascist regime and recover from a botched and racist immigration occupation. We also attempted to pass legislation to release existing funds for emergency rental assistance. These would be paid directly to landlords after the tenant applies through the current rental assistance structure. With evictions at an all time high, it’s clear we need to act. Unfortunately, the legislation failed on a straight party line vote. Making sure people can stay in their homes, especially as they face threats to their own economic security through no fault of their own, shouldn’t be a partisan issue.  Fighting to Keep Minnesotans SafeLast Thursday, DFL colleagues and I brought three common-sense bills forward — two on gun safety and one to keep ICE out of schools without a judicial warrant. Instead of honest debate, the other side simply blocked us. Shutting that down — especially with grieving parents watching and our students experiencing the level of trauma and learning loss that they are — is unacceptable. I'm asking my Republican colleagues: come to the table and work with us. The people of Minnesota deserve better than this.  #EastSidePrideI had an inspiring conversation with our Eastside neighbors from SEIU about what it truly means to care for one another. From protecting families from ICE to keeping our schools and housing safe, I heard courage and resilience from a community that refuses to turn its back on its own. This is what solidarity looks like. I'm proud to stand with SEIU and our Eastside community in building a Minnesota where everyone belongs.  Social workers from the Eastside stopped by the Capitol for Social Worker Day on the Hill. I’m grateful for the work they do every day to support families, strengthen communities, and help people through some of life’s toughest moments.  |