Dear Neighbors,
I want to start by giving a shout out to everyone that helped us donate sorely-needed groceries for the communities impacted in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd. As I was coordinating this event with PROP, the City of Eden Prairie, and the Eden Prairie Community Foundation, I couldn’t have imagined this incredible outpouring of support. Proof once again that Minnesotans care about each other.
For those of you interested in other ways to help, the Star Tribune released a list of resources you might find useful. My work in the Minnesota House now turns to the ways we can enact systemic change to address the deep-rooted issues that led not only to the death of George Floyd and other black and brown Minnesotans, but the ongoing unrest in the Twin Cities and areas all over the country. Today, DFL members of the POCI (People of Color and Indigenous) Caucus announced measures for police and criminal justice reform, as well as their intent to make these issues a priority during a likely special session this month. You can watch their press conference, or read an overview of their proposals. These include measures to:
- Reform the investigation and prosecution process of officer-involved deaths and wrongful actions
- Increase police accountability and transparency
- Raise standards of conduct and support officer excellence
- Partner officers with the communities they serve
- Repair and build community trust and create community-centered public safety
I stand firmly with my POCI colleagues and members of our community, and will fight for these long overdue reforms. These issues, along with additional measures to address COVID-19 and its impact on Minnesotans, continue to be a priority for me as we work towards an upcoming special session.
Don’t forget to continue to follow public health practices. Even as restrictions start to loosen, it’s important that we continue to wash our hands and social distance as the COVID-19 cases continue to grow.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments you have. You can email me at rep.carlie.kotyza-witthuhn@house.mn or leave a voicemail at (651) 296-7449. Please be sure to follow along on Facebook, too! I always look forward to hearing from you.
Be well! We’re all in this together.
Sincerely,
Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn