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Dear Neighbors,
At a time when progressive cities across the country will be under attack, I’m proud to be named as Chair of the House Minneapolis Delegation. Our delegation is committed to ensuring our most vulnerable populations are protected in this next era, and that our city’s unique needs as the economic driver for our state, still in recovery from the challenging last few years, are recognized. Minnesota thrives when Minneapolis thrives, and I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the state to do what’s best for our communities.
Recently, House leadership announced the membership of the 2025-2026 biennium committees, and I’m excited to share my appointment to the Education Finance, Transportation, and Children and Families Committees. I am committed to using all tools to protect our progressive wins, our communities, and ensure our city and state thrive.
Lake Street Lift Grant Initiative
Lake Street Lift is an initiative committed to the connection of local businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and creatives living and working on Lake Street, creating partnerships for a vibrant, diverse, and loved Lake Street.
Last year the state appropriated $8 million to Minneapolis to support the economic health and vitality of Lake Street, and the Lake Street Lift grants will be administered through June 30th, 2025, along East Lake Street from Nicollet to 30th Ave S.
This funding will be used to create a more vibrant, safe, and growing Lake Street, celebrating the diverse communities that call this place home.
If you are an artist, community group, or event host seeking sponsorship or project-based support, learn more and connect.
If you run a for-profit or non-profit within the geographic boundary, Lake Street Lift can connect you with Business advising or Real Estate consulting support.
For more information, you can click here.
Metro Transit Fares Lowering
The Metropolitan Council is simplifying and lowering transit fares starting this January 1st. Full-price fares on all Metro Transit buses and trains will be $2 at any time of day. Young people, seniors, and Medicare recipients will be able to ride Metro Transit’s non-express buses and light rail for $1 all day, every day. The cost of all-day and seven-day transit passes will also be reduced.
The changes are expected to make transit easier to use.
You can read more about transit fares on the Metropolitan Council website.
Lake Street Safety Center is Now Open
More service providers are now available for the community at the new Lake Street Safety Center. The center has opened at 2228 E. Lake St. next to the METRO Light Rail Lake Street/Midtown Station. The safety center features both City and community-based resources and social services.
Service providers in the center now include:
- Community navigators. They provide cultural or issue-specific support to victims and survivors of crimes.
- Crime prevention specialists. They can help you with safety concerns and resolve conflicts.
- Lake Street safety coordinator. The Lake Street safety coordinator can help businesses and property owners in the area.
- LEAD Minneapolis. They provide care and support to people needing services in the East Lake Street corridor.
- Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. They offer peer recovery support for the East African Community struggling with substance use disorder. They offer housing services, such as rental help and rapid rehousing.
- City’s 311 department safety center agents. Community members can walk in five days a week and get help with non-emergency issues and information on City services. The safety center agents can also connect you with the right support service, depending on your needs.
For more information on the services and their office hours, visit the City website.
The center is open weekdays: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Office Hours on December 20
To start planning for the next legislative session, and preparing for changes at the Federal level, please join me for Office Hours at Sisters’ Sludge from 11am-1pm on Friday, December 20th. I believe we need each other more than ever, and I look forward to planning, envisioning, and building together.
Radio Interview with Minneapolis Students
I had the privilege recently to sit down with our local Minneapolis Students on KRSM Radio to discuss the recent elections, and what we can do in the upcoming legislative session to advance the cause of education and youth issues. The future is bright, and I’d encourage everyone to check out the Youth Frequency radio show.
You can listen to the conversation here.
Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety Award
Recently I joined the Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety to unveil the 2025 Roadmap to Safety, which rates all 50 states and Washington D.C. on their progress toward enacting proven traffic safety laws and provisions aimed at reducing deaths and injuries.
In 2022 alone, the U.S. experienced 42,514 roadway deaths and 2.38 million injuries. The fatality rate is nearly 18 percent higher than levels prior to the COVID pandemic (2019) levels. Early estimates indicate fatalities remained alarmingly high in 2023. The annual economic cost of crashes exceeds $400 billion.
I was honored to receive their Highway Safety Hero award for my bill implementing speed safety cameras on high-traffic, high-accident streets. Speed safety cameras are an important measure to consider related to traffic safety. Speed safety cameras can be an effective tool to protect vulnerable populations in many areas, including in school zones and work zones. The cameras have been shown to reduce crashes and injuries. There have been numerous recent reports on this issue you can read here from the Star Tribune, Axios, and MPR.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to reach out anytime if you need assistance or have questions at [email protected] or 651-297-7087. You can also follow my Facebook page.
In community,
Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura
Minnesota House of Representatives
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