Dear John,
The week has brought us beautifully sunny and warm weather for the season. While I've been embracing the Vitamin D, I've found myself reflecting a lot on our environment. Today's Digest includes stories from Ceasefire to e-bikes to the displacement of our houseless neighbors. All of these topics intersect with our government's response to our changing climate.
My journey into climate justice advocacy was spurred by a deep belief that many stories remain unheard—stories that highlight how the climate crisis disproportionately affects marginalized communities. Within this week's Digest, I've brought together a collection of these narratives, showing the intersections of these climate-related issues.
Here’s what we’re reading, watching and listening to this week.
1. HERC Incinerator
Hennepin County aims to close a downtown Minneapolis trash incinerator by 2040, requiring significant investments, legislative changes, and cultural shifts, following pressure from environmental advocates and lawmakers who highlight the incinerator's disproportionate impact on near North Side residents.
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2. Camp Nenookaasi
This week, the City of Minneapolis attempted to evict camp Nenookaasi twice over the span of 3 days, spending tons of public money on equipment and police to displace our houseless neighbors. Find more information and ways to support the camp on their Instagram.
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3. Minneapolis and Chicago Ceasefire resolutions
This week, Chicago became the largest city in the United States to call for a Ceasefire, setting an example for other major cities to follow. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis Mayor Frey vetoed the resolution passed by the City Council last week in a 9-3 vote. “He is making politically calculated decisions and playing identity politics against Palestinian lives and Muslim constituents that he is supposed to support and protect as their Mayor in challenging times like this,” wrote CAIR-MN, in response to Frey’s veto. The Council will vote on whether to override the veto next week.
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4. Childcare funding hits Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan have announced a record-breaking $6 million in Child Care Economic Development Grants, the state's largest-ever round, aimed at expanding child care access for working families. [link removed]
5. Childcare Solutions
When these parents and teachers in Ellsworth, Minnesota heard their local daycare was shutting down, they moved fast to fill the gap and open a childcare center inside the school building.
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6. Amazon in Duluth
TakeAction organizer and Duluthian DyAnna Grondahl flagged this big development: Amazon has purchased a parcel of land in Duluth to build a distribution center. Yet another important reason to build renter power in Duluth to take on corporations exploiting the community.
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7. Hennepin County wage theft unit
Hennepin County has inaugurated a new worker protection unit to prosecute employers engaging in unsafe working conditions or withholding pay and benefits. County officials, citing the unit as "long overdue," aim to address wage theft and exploitation, especially among vulnerable workers.
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8. More on E-bikes
The state Legislature passed an Omnibus Transportation Finance and Policy bill last year, introducing an electric-assisted bicycle rebate program as a climate-friendly transportation solution. Starting this year, Minnesota citizens can receive rebate certificates for the purchase of new e-bikes, a public investment allowing Minnesotans to embrace cleaner modes of transport.
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9. Snowplow class of 2024
Minnesotans submitted names for our trusty snow plows, and the chosen ones are pretty iconic.
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10. Art sled rally
The lack of snow didn’t stop Minneapolis residents from getting creative at this year's art sled rally.
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And that’s a wrap!
Send us what you’re reading, watching and listening to.
Until next time,
Ayanna Lee (they/she)
Digital Manager
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TakeAction Minnesota
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