BY ED FELIEN
Precinct caucuses are this Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. To find out where your precinct is convening for your political party, call: DFL: 651-293-1200 or go to dfl.org; Republican: 651-222-0022 or mngop.com; Green Party: 651-288-2820 or mngreens.org.
The Farmer Labor Association is urging its members and supporters to caucus with the DFL and bring these resolutions for action from the Minnesota Legislature to their caucuses:
• A state minimum wage increase to $15 an hour effective immediately and further increases based on the cost of living.
• Legislation calling for a single payer health plan, similar to Vermont, which would be an extension of Medicare for everybody.
• Legalization of marijuana and immediate release from prison for anyone convicted of possession of a small amount of marijuana.
• Immediately begin phasing out nuclear power plants at Monticello and Prairie Island, and increased state subsidies for renewable energy.
• Felony prosecution and cancellation of contracts with any sports organization that allows racist names to be used as slogans or mascots for professional sports teams using publicly supported stadiums.
• An 8% excise tax on the sale of all Vikings tickets to help pay the Minneapolis share of the $890 million cost for the new Vikings stadium.
• Polly Mann, one of the two co-founders of Women Against Military Madness, has proposed a resolution calling for the U.S. to dispense with all its nuclear weapons.
There was a community meeting in Powderhorn Jan. 23 to discuss the future of fireworks on the 4th of July. Scott Vreeland, park commissioner for Powderhorn, said that the Minneapolis Police Department does not have the staff to handle both Powderhorn and the fireworks display downtown, so they are asking that Powderhorn celebrate the 4th of July on some other date. Many residents at the meeting wanted to continue to celebrate the 4th on the 4th. They believe private security firms and local volunteers could help maintain an orderly event. Resolutions on this question could demonstrate wide community support for a continuation of the Powderhorn tradition.
