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Dear John, This week, we saw the results of decades of organizing by dedicated Minnesotans – our neighbors, friends, loved ones, and elected champions. The Minnesota Senate passed historic bills including one that restores the right to vote to 50,000+ Minnesotans with felony convictions and another that allows Minnesotans to apply for driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status. These extraordinary organizing efforts make us reflect on our commitments to the long-haul. What are the seeds you’d like to plant now that will bear fruit for our communities in the next decade or two? What are the bills you need our elected officials to pass in 5, 10, or 20 years from now? Email us the dreams and schemes on your mind. Here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week: 1. The vote: restored! The Minnesota Senate passed a bill restoring the right to vote to 50,000+ Minnesotans who had been restricted from voting because of felony convictions. When Governor Walz signs this bill, it will be the largest voting rights expansion in the state in half a century. 2. Driver's Licenses for All During debate on the Driver’s Licenses for All bill that lasted late into Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, Senator Zaynab Mohamed said, “Just outside this chamber, there are hundreds of immigrants whose lives will be completely transformed by this bill…They'll be able to drive to work. They'll be able to take their kids to school, they'll be able to take their kids to the playground. And they'll be able to live their lives with dignity.” Read about the bill now on its way to the Governor’s desk. 3. Democrats are delivering4. Urban farm not toxic harmThe Minneapolis City Council voted to demolish Roof Depot, an abandoned warehouse that sits on top of highly polluted land in East Phillips near the Little Earth housing complex. Indigenous community members, local residents, and activists are protesting the demolition in favor of building an urban farm rather than another truck depot. Check out this podcast featuring climate organizers on the frontlines of these efforts. 5. John FettermanLast week, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman chose to admit himself to the hospital for treatment for clinical depression. In support of her colleague, Minnesota’s own Senator Tina Smith shared a personal essay about her experience with depression, finding care and healing, and work our U.S. delegation has accomplished to expand mental health resources for the public. 6. Pandemic, Year 3As the public returns to ‘normal,’ immunocompromised Minnesotans see no end in sight to quarantine. 7. Bernie vs. Big PharmaSenator Sanders continues his mission to chip away at corporate plutocracy. This New Yorker piece outlines some of Bernie’s plans to take on Starbucks and Big Pharma. And, read more about why taking on corporate plutocracy matters in this Vox piece about how big biz exploits small biz. 8. We need federal rent controlTakeAction was part of this response to an anti-rent control Op-Ed in the Star Tribune, along with the national Homes Guarantee campaign. “This industry prioritizes profits over people. For them, housing is another moneymaking vehicle for their shareholders, not a human right or public good. That's why they oppose rent control policies. Why would corporate landlords want to give up the power that allowed them to extort massive profits during the pandemic?” 9. 4-day workweekDozens of companies took part in the world’s largest trial of a four-day workweek. Check out the results (and why the majority of supervisors and employees want to keep the arrangement) in this Washington Post article. Also read why working fewer hours is better for our climate. 10. Elmo and LizzoLizzo visits her friends on Sesame Street. And there’s a cookie flute.
And that’s a wrap! Send us what you’re reading, watching, and listening to. Until next time, Katie Blanchard (she/her) Jessica Zimmerman (she/her)
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