Ward 5 Weekly Update

St. Paul Ward 5 Update

Safely adjusting the COVID-19 dials

Safely Adjusting the Dials

This dial image from the Minnesota Department of Health presents the idea that moving forward is not an "on and off" switch. 

Factors to loosening restrictions can change but we will continue to prioritize social distancing, well-being of residents and public health concerns. 

The objectives moving forward include keeping Minnesotans living healthy, safe and happy lives. Slow the spread and slowly build immunity, realizing elimination is impossible. We must protect those working on the front lines by increasing access to personal protective equipment. 

Most importantly, safely and slowly resume in-person contacts and other activities that are critical to us re-opening our economy. 


Help saint paul continue to serve community during covid-19

We need your help to encourage Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) to stay strong and not give up the fight to fund cities and counties under 500,000 people.  Contact the White House and Majority Leader McConnel to include cities and counties in this round of negotiations.  We cannot wait for the next stimulus package.   

Background:  

In the April 2020, CARES Act the federal government appropriated funding to states and counties/cities with populations of 500,000 or more people.  In MN, only two counties (Hennepin and Ramsey) qualified for this funding. There were no cities who met the 500,000 threshold.   

Now, there is a supplemental CARES Act proposal and Speaker of the House Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer have proposed to appropriate $29.5 for cities and $29.5 for counties with populations under 500,000. The City of Saint Paul could potentially get an estimated $70 million from this appropriation. 

The City of Saint Paul has been in communication with our federal delegation but your added voice and perspective is needed! 

Our Ask: 

Contact Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer to fight for cities and counties now and include us in this round of appropriations.  We support their $29.5/$29.5 billion proposal for cities and counties.  

Contact The White House and Majority Leader McConnell to support cities and counties.  We need federal support to help our businesses and families who are all struggling.  We provide critical public safety and health care services to keep our communities safe and healthy. 

This is urgent.  Please take action today.  Cities and Counties need your support. Click the photos below to contact Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer. 

Nancy PelosiCharles Schumer

ward 5 ARTIST SAYMOUKDA DUANGPHOUXAY VONGSAY RECEIVEs PRESTIGIOUS MELLON GRANT

Theater Mu and Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay plan to develop new theater makers by creating a pipeline program for Southeast Asian playwrights and Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) directors, dramaturgs, and designers. Vongsay will teach playwriting and storytelling workshops to Southeast Asians whose voices are often pushed to the margins, even within APIA communities. 

“I think that there are so few of us out there and we need to be the ones writing our communities' stories for the American stage. It's one of the best ways for us to fight erasure and cultural ventriloquism. In order to be part of public discourse, we also need to be the ones introducing the questions and framing the conversations around what is required for us to be empowered.”

— Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay

Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay

Minnesota dnr shares guidelines for outdoor acvities

Can I still go outside?

Executive Order 20-33 allows people to be outdoors, engaging in activities such as walking, running, and fishing and hunting. Minnesotans can continue to enjoy parks and other public recreation lands. We urge outdoor enthusiasts to:

What is open?

  • Minnesota’s waters. You can fish if you have a license. Normal seasons and regulations apply.
  • Hunting seasons. There are no changes to upcoming hunting seasons. Normal regulations apply.
  • State parks. Bathrooms, vault toilets and shower buildings currently open will remain open. Other facilities are closed (see below).
  • Public land. Wildlife management areas, state forests, and Scientific and Natural Areas are open for recreation. Campgrounds are closed.
  • Public water accesses. Most state-managed public accesses are open, though the availability of amenities, such as docks, are contingent upon seasonal maintenance.

What is closed?

The following DNR-managed facilities:

  • Campgrounds, group camps, remote and dispersed camping on all DNR-managed lands.
  • Camper cabins
  • Yurts
  • Overnight lodging facilities
  • Group centers, trail centers and other ancillary buildings
  • Visitor centers
  • State park contact stations
  • Grand Portage State Park

Cancellation and modification fees are waived during this time.

Facilities and lands not administered by the DNR may have restrictions. Please check with local authorities.

DNR Outdoor Guidelines

municipal golf courses reopen

Do not come to the golf course if you are sick or are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.  Do not visit the golf course if you are at a higher risk of illness.   

Tee times must be made online before your visit; no walk-up play is allowed. Visit www.stpaul.golf to book a tee time. All golf fees must be paid with one transaction per group. All courses are walking only. No golf cart rentals will be available.

The cups on all putting greens have been modified to allow for ball retrieval without the need to touch any surfaces.

All water stations, tee markers, ball washers, above ground yardage stakes and benches have been removed.

To book a tee time, click the photo below.

Tee Time

Governor Walz, Mayo, U of MN Announce Testing Break though

"Governor Tim Walz has announced a partnership with the Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota that will soon expand testing capacity to 20,000 molecular and 15,000 serology tests per day.

Walz said the plan being put in place will allow for more testing than any other state in the country, and potentially any country in the world. While molecular tests are used to diagnose whether a person has COVID-19 currently, serology tests determine whether a person has had the virus in the past and has built up antibodies."

To read the full story, click the photo below. 

COVID-19 Testing

lane closures for mississippi blvd and indian mounds regional park

Mayor Carter announced the closure of the southbound lane of Mississippi River Boulevard to allow for more social distancing for pedestrians and bicyclists. Beginning tomorrow, April 23, Mississippi River Boulevard and East River Road will only allow northbound vehicle traffic from Ford Parkway to Franklin Avenue.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board recently implemented a lane restriction of West River Parkway from 46th Avenue South to 11th Avenue South on the western side of the Mississippi River.

Learn more at at stpaul.gov/parks-covid19.

East River Blvd

A hopeful thought

Wash your hands, stay at home, find ways to connect with one another and bake these amazing chocolate chip cookie pots. We are in this together. 

Hang in there everyone. 

Click the photo below for the recipe.

Nigella CookiesAmy signature

Resources and news

Governor Walz announces distanced learning for the remainder of the school year: Watch the news briefing here

On Thursday April 16th the MN Senate voted 65-2,  the MN House also passed the bill on Friday the 17th, on a 129 to 1 vote for curbside beer and wine: Beer and Wine Takeout Sales

Food resources for children: Hunger Impact Partners

Saint Paul Multi-Language Line for COVID-19 Info: 651-266-6000 or

LanguageResources@ci.stpaul.mn.us

Saint Paul Public Library COVID-19 Updates: https://sppl.org/staying-in/

Ramsey County Mental Health Services: RamCo Mental Health Resources

Apply for Unemployment online: Apply online here


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