It looks like it’s going to be a snowy Minnesota winter!
As the season makes its way in, now is a good time to brush up on relevant rules and resources regarding winter travel and snow removal. For road conditions, be sure to check MN511 before heading over the river and through the woods.
Here in Rochester, alternate side parking is in place city-wide now to April 1 from 2am to 3pm. If you park on the street regularly, this means that you should park on the side of the street with even house numbers when the calendar date is even, and the side with odd house numbers when the calendar date is odd. If you’re parking overnight, you should adhere to the correct side for the following morning. You can review all of the snow emergency parking rules here.
I’m ecstatic to announce that the wait is over -- Paid Family Leave officially launches on January 1st! Passed under DFL leadership in 2023, workers will be able to access 12 weeks of paid medical leave for a serious health condition of their own, including pregnancy and recovery. The plan also provides up to 12 weeks of paid family leave to care for a new child, a seriously ill loved one, or for certain military or safety-related events, allowing a total of 20 weeks of combined leave per year if using both medical and family leave.
Last session, Republicans fought hard to delay and dismantle this amazing benefit before it even went into effect. DFLers held the line because we know that we all deserve to be able to care for ourselves or our loved ones without the fear of sacrificing a paycheck or facing financial ruin.
The U.S. is the only developed country in the world that doesn’t guarantee some form of paid leave, leaving people to make impossible choices between a paycheck and caring for a new child, an aging parent, or their own serious health condition. Given the amount of economic uncertainty being passed down from the federal government, Paid Leave could not be coming at a better time.
Leave applications for expecting parents are open now! You can learn more, prepare for Paid Family & Medical Leave, and find additional resources at https://pl.mn.gov/.
(If you are a small business owner like me, check this link for specific information on your responsibilities as a business owner: https://pl.mn.gov/employers/roles-and-responsibilities. You can also reach out to the Paid Leave MN service center directly by calling 651-556-7777 or 844-556-0444. Also, please reach out to my office for any specific questions you might have that I can help with).
Mother Nature wasted no time plunging us into negative temperatures. The Rochester Community Warming Center is now open for anyone who needs a warm place to shelter. The facilities offer temporary shelter, laundry facilities, access to showers, healthy snacks, and resource referrals for those who are homeless or need a place to stay. It’s important that we look out for one another, especially this time of year.
No matter what your celebrations look like this time of year, I wish you and your loved ones happiness, good health, and a happy new year.
Warmly,
Andy Smith,
State Representative
|
