Weekend Update

Saturday, October 19, 2019
​https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/news/15533/26067

Neighbors, 
Good morning from St. Paul, our city that is finally getting the national recognition it deserves.
Quick correction before I get to the rest of the update, last week's email referenced the town Northern Metals is moving to. It is going to Becker, not Baxter, Minnesota. 
Indigenous Peoples' DayThank you to the American Indian Magnet School for hosting Monday's Indigenous Peoples' Day parade to celebrate and honor the Native communities as the first inhabitants of the Americas and to urge Minnesotans to re-think history. 


On Monday, my colleagues and I sent a letter to the Historical Society in support of changing the name of Fort Snelling to include the place name - Bdote. It is important that as a state, we acknowledge and embrace the historic significance at the site we call Fort Snelling, located on sacred lands of those who lived there long before settlers arrived and before this land was renamed Minnesota by its colonizers. By including “Bdote” in the name of the site, the state’s historical society rightfully recognizes the significance of the multiple histories at that place that is inclusive of more Minnesotans.
Climate Caucus MeetingAs a proud member of the new Climate Action Caucus, I want to invite you to a public meeting focused on climate and transportation. This will be an opportunity to hear from transportation experts on climate and start a much-needed discussion on future policy. 


I also want to extend an invitation to join me for the BlueGreen Alliance's Solidarity for Climate Action event on October 22. 
Ever-Green EnergyThis week, I toured 67B's Ever-Green Energy with some of the Climate Action Caucus members to learn about how they turn wood waste into energy. They use Emerald Ash Borer (an invasive species) related wood waste from the metro area to use as fuel to generate steam for heating, cooling, and energy. Sitting on the Pig's Eye dump site, the plant is a promising example of environmental stewardship (and I was assured they are within environmental regulations concerning the Pig's Eye site). 





HBCU Event This week, I had the chance to join Eastsider JoAnn Clark, Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, and SPPS Superintendent Joe Gothard to send off 200 students and parents for the 15th annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Tour. As a former student of the Saint Paul Public Schools, I know we don't always have all the resources we need or want, but we were always encouraged by the passion of our staff and teachers, who organized another awesome annual event to support our next generation of leaders. 


I hope you have a great rest of your weekend. Vikes or Lions tomorrow? Send me your predictions!
Sincerely,
Rep. Jay Xiong