Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we prepare for the holidays, I hope you are all safe and healthy. The year is almost over and it has been a long one for us all. With that in mind there is hope that in the coming year, we will transition over time to a normal we all miss.
A vaccine is on the way. It will not be out as fast as any of us would like, but it is coming. Below you’ll find more information on Minnesota’s plan to ensure we get the most vulnerable and frontline workers and then the rest of the state.
We move forward into a new year with new hopes and opportunities. Stay safe everyone, and Happy Holidays.
Special Session
This week, Governor Walz announced that he will convene a special session of the Minnesota Legislature beginning on Monday, December 14, 2020 in order to extend the peacetime emergency. I am hopeful that an agreement to aid small business and Minnesotans will be reach and can be taken up during special session.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
This week, the Governor gave a COVID-19 vaccine briefing to Minnesotans as we start to see the light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. He outlines the three principles that will guide our distribution of the vaccine.
- Immunize for impact, maximizing immediate health benefit, reducing death and serious illness, and minimizing the harm created by COVID-19
- Equitable distribution and access, making sure no procedural or structural issues impact access to the vaccine among any particular group or population. And we want Minnesotans in every corner and every community to know they can trust the process, the safety, and the effectiveness of the vaccine.
- Transparency and sharing information as quickly as possible with Minnesotans.
Minnesotans can be confident that the infrastructure in Minnesota is in place to deliver a COVID vaccine quickly, equitably, and safely to Minnesotans in every corner the state. Minnesota is taking a regional approach to distributing the vaccine, and we have identified 25 total “hub” sites that are set up to directly receive vaccine deliveries through the national vaccine distribution chain. Those hubs have been tested and they are ready to receive the vaccine.
There are a number of factors outside of state government control when it comes to getting the vaccine to Minnesotans, including the federal government’s national guidelines on distribution and the supply of the vaccine.
In Minnesota, we are ready for the vaccine at the moment it becomes available. Until then, we all need to make sure we continue to take steps to protect ourselves and each other.
More information on Minnesota’s vaccination distribution plan is available here.
Economic Assistance for Minnesotans
Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) recently released a new budget forecast. These economic projections show Minnesota is well positioned to deliver immediate aid to workers and small businesses. The House, Senate and Governor are working on creating a package to assist business. I hope we can find consensus before the next special session, which will take place on December 14, this Monday.
If you’d like more information about the budget forecast or the COVID-19 economic assistance package, the House Ways and Means Committee is holding public hearings devoted to these topics. You can watch the hearing from Tuesday, which centered on the November budget forecast, here. The hearing on COVID-19 economic assistance legislation is scheduled for this Thursday, December 10 at 1:30 p.m. Live video will be available here.
Thank You!
It is my greatest honor to represent you the citizens of Brooklyn Park, Champlin and Coon Rapids here at our great state capitol. So reach out and tell me what matters to you so I can continue working on your behalf. You can reach me by email at sen.john.hoffman@senate.mn, phone by 651-296-4154 . I am at 95 University Avenue Suite 2235 in the Minnesota Senate Building
Sincerely,
Senator John Hoffman
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to call my office at 651-296-4154 or by e-mail at jhoffman@senate.mn
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Senator Abeler and Senator Hoffman Annual Toy Drive
Join us for our 10th annual TINY TOTS TOY DRIVE
Help to make the season bright for children in the hospital during the holiday season! Toys collected stay right here in our
senate districts and are delivered by our amazing Coon Rapids Fire Department directly to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids just in time for Christmas. Toys are also given throughout the year to children visiting the E.R. or Birthing Center. Toys will be stored for two days prior to being distributed for safety due to covid-19. Join our partners and take advantage of contact free drop off. All toys must be collected by Dec.18th in order to get them in the hands of children by Christmas. Gift cards are welcome as well. Thank you for always being so generous every year. This year has been difficult. Let’s work together to make the season bright for kids in the hospital right here at home!
Thank you!
Senator John Hoffman
Senator Jim Abeler.
Primrose of Champlin Park,
Coon Rapids Fire Dept. and Buona Sera!
(Children ages range from baby to 18yrs)
Drop Off Places:
Primrose of Champlin Park- (toy box right in their entry way)
10051 Xenia Ave N, Brooklyn Park
Abeler Chiropractic- 600 East Main Street Anoka
Coon Rapids Fire Department:
Station 1 – 1460 Egret Blvd.
Station 2 – 1199 – 121st Ave.
Station 3 – 2831 – 113th Ave.
Buona Sera-11949 West River Rd. Champlin
(order dinner and drop off a toy anytime after 5pm)
Hoffman home – PM me and I’ll make sure I have a tub outside
for you to drop off toys.
Click here to see a message from my wife on the Toy Drive!
Support Small Businesses
Minnesota’s small businesses need community support as they do their part to curb the spread of COVID-19. I encourage you to consider doing your holiday shopping locally, buying gift cards, and getting takeout from nearby restaurants if you can.
Special CWD Hunts
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced two special deer hunts. By participating in these hunts, Minnesotans can help limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological disease that impacts deer. Special deer hunts remove infected deer and lower deer densities in areas where CWD is prevalent, reducing the potential for contact with infected areas.
The special hunts are scheduled for December 26-27 and January 2-3. You can find more information here.