Dear John,

Happy 2023! After a restful hiatus and lots of snow shoveling, we’re excited to be back. Hope you were able to enjoy the turn of the Gregorian new year as well.

The year kicked off with an exciting start. On the federal level, House Republicans eventually elected a Speaker. And in Minnesota, new and returning legislators were sworn in at the Capitol and the legislative session officially kicked off.

After seven years of organizing, TakeAction members are particularly excited to see paid sick time introduced in the House and Senate on day two (!!) of the legislative session.

The House and Senate Labor Committees will hear the bills on Tuesday. It’s the perfect time to contact your lawmakers and tell them to put people over corporations. Customize your message for the biggest impact. We deserve to take off work to care for ourselves and our loved ones without missing a paycheck.

Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week:

1. Hakeem Jeffries

Politicos are watching the new House Minority Leader handpicked by his successor, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Check out his historic first speech shared with us by a TakeAction member.

2. Federal paid leave: It's not over

Democrats came close to passing legislation last year that would guarantee all workers paid parental, medical, and caregiving leave. Despite Republicans winning control of the House, Democrats are still pushing to make paid family and medical leave a reality. Proposals of all types are keeping the option for paid leave alive, including legislation authored by Minnesota’s very own Senator Tina Smith.

3. Roof Depot

The City of Minneapolis is seeking a $4.5 million bond from the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute nonprofit if the Roof Depot project is delayed. The Institute wants to stop the City from demolishing an old warehouse to use the existing structure for its urban farm, a community business and job training center, and affordable housing. The City wants them to pay if a delay in the demolition happens. The ruling is expected this month.

4. Restore the vote

Minnesota lawmakers are advancing legislation to restore voting rights for people with felony convictions. This would be a gamechanger for tens of thousands of Minnesotans. As re-entry advocate Zeke Caligiuri shares, “This bill is a reinvestment in the humanization of people who we haven’t always looked at as human. As one of those people, I know it is very real and is so very important.”

5. Fossil fuel and prison divestment

Before 2022 wrapped up, the St. Paul School Board unveiled big news: ending a $9 million investment in fossil fuels. The Board also made a commitment that will prevent future investments in private prisons. Their resolution reads, “All actions that address climate change and environmental degradation must prioritize justice and equity.” Read more about this powerful action towards an equitable future.

6. Guess who's making the big bucks?

CEOs at Minnesota’s biggest public companies — including Target, Best Buy and 3M — continue to earn hundreds of times more than their employees, according to pay ratio data filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Read this article in the Minnesota Reformer for more about exorbitant CEO salaries at Minnesota’s biggest corporations.

7. Now hiring: electricians

To get off fossil fuels, America will need more electricians. This Grist article shares how homeowners in California are discovering roadblocks due to electrician shortages.

8. View from the grassroots

“In hyperlocal ways people are modeling extraordinary courage, solidarity, and care. This is how we not only defeat the MAGA right, but also build the world our children deserve,” writes Elianne Farhat, TakeAction Minnesota Executive Director. Read more reflections on grassroots organizing in The Forge.

9. Building resilient organizations

This deeply thoughtful and vital piece by Working Families Party National Director Maurice Mitchell has made the rounds in many of our group chats! It’s a gift to our movements and organizations and really worth a read.

10. Capitolio

TakeAction-endorsed candidate, María Isa, is the first hip-hop artist to be sworn into the Minnesota legislature. And, she just released her fourth album last week as legislative session started! Spoiler alert: the album intro features a conversation with Sen. Bernie Sanders while on the campaign trail. Give it a listen!

And that’s a wrap!

Send us what you’re reading, watching, and listening to.

Until next time,

Katie Blanchard (she/her)
Basebuilding Director

Jessica Zimmerman (she/her)
Development Director