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Dear Neighbors,
Open Streets is in the district this Saturday! You’re invited to stop by and visit me at Open Streets on Hennepin Avenue between 26th and 27th Streets this Saturday from 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. This exciting event transforms one of our major corridors into a vibrant space where neighbors can see the street from a new perspective and engage with neighbors, businesses, and community organizations. Hennepin Open Streets helps to mark a new chapter in Uptown as the street reconstruction finishes up, and I look forward to the new opportunities for genuine community connection. I hope to see you there as we celebrate everything that makes our district such a dynamic place to live, work, and play.
Hennepin Happy Hour
Our next Hennepin Happy Hour will be held on Thursday, September 25th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Spyhouse Coffee (2404 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405). I hope you can join our neighbors and me to catch up and support a locally loved spot on Hennepin during construction.
MNDOT Tour
I recently joined House Transportation Committee members to see firsthand a project the Minnesota Department of Transportation is working on using Ingios geotechnical technology. I also had the chance to drive the vibratory roller, which senses the level of compaction deep in soil. A road’s foundation is critical to the longevity of the road and our public investment. Better measurement and consistency could help ensure better foundations, with an aim to last 100 years.
Addressing Gun Violence
To say these last few months have been harrowing is an understatement. We cannot allow this to remain normal and we do not have to live like this.
I’m not going to mince words here: the gun violence epidemic has created completely unnecessary danger zones in this country; in our schools, our places of worship, our grocery stores, movie theaters, dance clubs, shopping malls, and the public spaces we all deserve the freedom to enjoy without fear.
More than 85% of fatalities from mass shootings are caused by assault rifles. Every state and federal policymaker needs to acknowledge this tragic reality and demonstrate the political will to take the actions necessary to get these types of guns off our streets.
I have received many, many emails, demanding action on gun violence. There is great urgency to not just let the tragedy at Annunciation be one more in the long string. I feel that same urgency. While the Governor solely has the power to call a Special Session, the Legislature has the authority to set the agenda and decide when that work is done. To effectively hold a special session on gun violence, it would take bipartisan buy-in. I won’t sugarcoat it; that will be a major challenge. This could take many months or multiple sessions to achieve the aim. But moving legislation to ban high capacity weapons is an effort worth starting.
This week, the Minnesota Senate held their first Gun Violence Prevention Working Group meeting where they took public testimony from the HCMC surgeons and medical providers who responded to and treated the children who were shot.
No matter what else we talk about, including important investments in security measures and mental health support, when looking back on mass shootings, one constant remains throughout all of them: someone had access to a weapon designed for war.
We are making progress to protect Minnesotans from gun violence, including expanding criminal background checks, red flag laws, and strengthened threat reporting. Additionally, the Legislature delivered several new mental health investments from 2023-2025 for Minnesotans including expanding bed capacity at state-funded facilities, increasing access to school counselors and social workers, improving the prior authorization process so more people can get the mental health care they need when they need it.
I implore you to ask your elected officials and for friends and family to ask theirs as well, regardless of the aisle they sit on: Do you stand with our community members who’ve experienced unthinkable trauma due to gun violence? They are asking for a ban on high capacity weapons. What civilian needs a weapon that can fire 116 rounds within a minute? Thoughts and prayers are meaningful during times of grief and mourning, but aren’t substitutes for real action to keep communities safe.
It’s time to remove these dangerous weapons from our neighborhoods. I will be working with parents, educators, community leaders, and survivors of gun violence to make overdue changes to help keep Minnesotans safe, whether at school, at work, while worshipping, or anywhere else in their daily lives.
MN PROMISE Act Round 2: Support for Eligible Small Businesses
Many small businesses were challenged during the Covid pandemic and in the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, and so the Legislature created a fund to provide financial support. The Legislature has since expanded eligibility to the Minnesota PROMISE Act to include Hennepin Ave businesses struggling during road construction. The second round of the Minnesota PROMISE Act is now accepting applications.
If you know a local business that is struggling, encourage them to explore this funding opportunity. The program has made significant changes to both eligibility requirements and the application process. Before applying, businesses should:
- Check updated eligibility criteria to understand the new requirements
- Complete the self-screening quiz to confirm eligibility before investing time in a full application
- Attend a Prepare for PROMISE Info Session to get detailed guidance on the application process and program expectations
These preparatory steps can save valuable time and ensure applications meet all current requirements. With construction projects continuing to impact our local business district, this funding represents a critical lifeline for affected entrepreneurs and employers.
Learn more and access all resources at www.mnpromiseact.org.
Upcoming Blue Line LRT Temporary Closure
I am reaching out this morning to make you aware of Metro Transit’s Renew the Blue initiative that will require the closure of the Blue Line rail service beginning at 10:00 pm on September 22nd and extending until October 4th. This closure is happening to allow for replacement track work in the entire Blue Line corridor. In addition to track work, several switches in the Cedar-Riverside area will be replaced. These switches allow trains to switch between tracks and are worn from years of constant use. I should also note there will be no service on the Blue or Green Lines between U.S. Bank and Target Field stations during this closure. Replacement bus service will be available for the entire Blue Line.
The following links provide more information on the Renew the Blue initiative, replacement bus service during the closure and more detail on the track and signal work:
Renew the Blue - Metro Transit
Rail Closures - Metro Transit
Track and Signals
Funding available for Minnesota clean energy projects
How could a $5,000-10,000 seed grant support clean energy projects in our community? The Clean Energy Resource Teams want to help!
Every other year, the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) seek community-led project proposals related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and energy storage projects within Minnesota. Seed grants fund the labor it takes to get these projects started and act as an incentive for funders to support the remaining needs of the project. Since 2006, over $1.98M in CERTs Seed Grants has been awarded to over 500 projects. Could your project be next?
CERTs is accepting applications for projects by Oct. 1st that:
- Help people learn about clean energy.
- Build community by engaging a variety of partners.
- Remove barriers, making clean energy more accessible for everyone.
- Are highly visible in the community and can be an example for other communities.
Learn more information here.
Legislature’s High School Page Program Applications Open
The High School Page application for Juniors is now open until December 4th, 2025. If you know of a high school Junior seeking a new experience and interested in public service, please help us recruit! Learn more here.
Keep in Touch
Please continue to contact me anytime with your questions and input at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Katie Jones
State Representative
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