Proposed Tobacco Ordinance
I want to share my support of the proposed Tobacco Ordinance that is currently before St Paul City Council.
Existing regulations have not been enough to keep tobacco companies from targeting children, people of color, and low-income communities. I think about my experiences growing up, I think of how many of my classmates started smoking as children in middle and high school. The tobacco industry wants us to start young.
As an industry, they have targeted not just children, but communities of color and working class communities. These are OUR communities. The harm is happening to us while the benefits go to the tobacco industry.
We’ve been seeing tobacco shops violate our own existing tobacco ordinances and have had to increase the punishment for violations in order to hold them accountable. This will help, but it is not enough.
I want to continue to do my part to help make it as difficult as possible for youth to start smoking, vaping and chewing. With this ordinance, we put the power balance back into the hands of people who are being harmed by tobacco. Do we want a community that revolves around health and safety and so much more? The answer is yes. Next Wednesday will be the final reading and possible adoption of the ordinance.
Changes proposed to the Saint Paul Tobacco ordinance:
1) Change to two classes of tobacco licenses: Tobacco Shop, locations like convenience stores that sell tobacco along with other products and Tobacco Products Shop, locations that primarily sell tobacco.
2) The distance between locations which sell tobacco would be one-half mile. This provision would not impact renewal of existing licenses.
3) The cap on the number of Tobacco Shop licenses would become 150 and the cap on the number of Tobacco Products Shops would become 25.
4) Liquor stores would no longer be able to sell any flavored tobacco products including menthol flavor. Non-flavored products would still be allowed.
5) The minimum price for packs of cigarettes or standard size cans of chewing tobacco would be set at $10.00. Coupons or price promotions would no longer be able to be used to reduce the price of any tobacco products including vape products.
7) Penalties for violations of age-of-sale and sale of flavored tobacco products would be increased.
To share your thoughts on this proposal with the whole City Council, email Contact-Council@ci.stpaul.mn.us or leave a voicemail at 651-266-8506.
Read the full resolution here.
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Welcome to St Paul's First ‘Youth on Boards’ Members
 On Wednesday, we welcomed the addition of six inaugural youth members to several City boards and commissions as part of the Youth on Boards initiative. Youth on Boards, a collaboration between Saint Paul Parks and Recreation and the Saint Paul Public Library through their Right Track and Sprockets youth programs, introduces young people to civic engagement and potential career pathways in local government while providing Saint Paul boards and commissions with support and structure to actively include young people in the decision-making process.
The following youth appointees were approved this week by the Saint Paul City Council:
- Abas Kawo - Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission
- Abdul Mohamed - Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Commission
- Jizelle Lobley - Business Review Council
- Everlyn Granda - Business Review Council
- Ryan Vue - Capital Improvement Budget Committee
- Abshir Ali - Capital Improvement Budget Committee
The youth appointees participated in a pilot program this summer that provided a baseline foundation on local government, navigating and serving on boards and commissions, engaging with the community as a representative and more.
In addition to the six new members announced today, another four pilot program participants have been appointed to join the Transportation Committee and the newly forming Financial Empowerment Community Council. These appointments will come before City Council for approval in the coming weeks.
For more information on the Youth on Boards initiative, contact Aisha Mohamed, Communications and Youth Engagement Coordinator for Sprockets, at Aisha.Mohamed@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
Right Track is the City of Saint Paul’s youth employment initiative for building Saint Paul’s future workforce, while supporting young people and their families now. For more information, visit www.stpaul.gov/RightTrack.
Sprockets is Saint Paul's out-of-school time network; a citywide system coordinating afterschool and summer learning opportunities and building connections between in-school and out-of-school learning. Sprockets works to increase the quality, availability, and effectiveness of out-of-school time learning for all youth in Saint Paul through the committed, collaborative, and innovative efforts of community organizations, government, schools, and other partners. Find programs through Sprockets at www.sprocketssaintpaul.org.
Nominate a business for the 2021 Saint Paul Business awards. Do you have a favorite Saint Paul business that you want to see recognized for their contributions to the community and the city’s economy? Businesses are selected to geographically represent Saint Paul’s rich and diverse communities. Nominations are due Friday, Dec. 3 by 4:30 p.m.
"Kids Deserve a Shot" Vaccine Incentive Program
Governor Walz announced the launch of “Kids Deserve a Shot,” a vaccine incentive program encouraging 12-17-year-olds in Minnesota to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The program consists of two sets of rewards: a $200 Visa gift card for 12-17-year-olds who start and complete their vaccine series over the between October 18 and November 30, and five drawings of $100,000 Minnesota college scholarships for any 12-17 years old in Minnesota with a complete vaccine series.
The “Kids Deserve a Shot” program comes as the state continues to drive vaccination efforts and awareness across the state, with a focus on boosting vaccination among this least-vaccinated age group. It is designed to encourage teenagers to get vaccinated and increase vaccination rates among adolescents. Currently, only 50% of Minnesotans 12-15 and less than 60% of Minnesotans 16-17 are fully vaccinated, the lowest vaccination rates of all eligible age groups.
Full program details and rules and online registration are available at https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/vaccine-rewards/kids-deserve-a-shot/.
People can get their free COVID vaccine by walking in or make an appointment through the Vaccine Connector. Call the Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline at 1-833-431-2053, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Use the state’s Vaccine Locator Map to find a vaccine provider near you. Check for vaccine appointments using the Vaccine Finder.
Boost Your Immunity
 Minnesota will begin administering Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster shotsto eligible Minnesotans in line with federal guidance issued from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Minnesotans who initially received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can now get a booster at least six months after their initial series if they are:
- 65 years and older;
- Age 18 and older and live in long-term care settings;
- Age 18 and older and have underlying medical conditions;
- Age 18 and older and work or live in high-risk settings;
All Minnesotans age 18 and older who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are recommended to get a booster shot at least 2 months after their initial vaccine.
Officials also authorized 'mixing and matching' COVID-19 vaccine boosters, meaning anybody who is eligible to get a booster shot can get either the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson booster shot regardless of what they received for their primary series.
Ramsey County is offering Pfizer booster shots at clinics. Booster shots will be available by appointment only. Note that not all providers are offering all three boosters. Please check with your local clinic or provider for what booster shots they offer.
COVID-19 Testing Update
The State of Minnesota and Ramsey County have opened COVID-19 testing sites that are free and open to everyone who believes they need to be tested, with or without symptoms.
The COVID-19 Test at Home program is now available to all Minnesotans across the state.
The State of Minnesota offers community testing at multiple locations. Currently, the closest Saint Paul locations include Roy Wilkins Auditorium and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport in Terminal 1. Appointments can be made through the Vault Health registration site. Walk-ins are also accepted.
Additional testing locations are open throughout the state.
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