Congestion cited as reason to keep White Bear Lake slip numbers at bay. White Bear Press > News

brausenauto.com Arden Hills 1310 W County Rd. E 651-633-4100 Roseville 2170 N. Dale St. 651-488-8800 • Nationwide Warranty • FREE loaner cars • Family owned 3rd generation 657342

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2020 VOL. 45 NO. 12 www.shoreviewpress.com $1.00

CLIMATE CRISIS: Grassroots groups emerging PAGE 5

Pop-up pantry makes a diff erence

SARA MARIE MOORE | PRESS PUBLICATIONS Volunteers at the bread booth distribute loaves. Left to right: Bonnie Blystone of Shoreview, Carol Fogarty of Maplewood and Glen Simkunas of White Bear Lake. See story and photos on page 9. SARA MARIE MOORE | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Mounds View paraeducators rally midst stalled contract talks

BY ELIZABETH CALLEN EDITOR

SHOREVIEW — Mounds View Public Schools paraeducators held a rally during the Jan. 28 school board meeting to call attention to stalled contract negotiations.

District paraeducators who are members of the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 224 donned purple shirts for last week's board meeting. Some addressed the board during open forum, while others stood behind them, holding signs reading messages such as “We are waiting,” and “Invest in paras; invest in students.” Paid prep time, access to student IEP summaries, a wage increase, and the same level of health insurance contributions the district gives to other employees are the group's top concerns, according to union representatives. The group has been in negotiation with the district since June, the same time at which the district put forth its initial fi nancial proposal. As of press time, a second proposal had not yet been made.

SEE SCHOOL BOARD, PAGE 10

State legislators talk priorities at District 42 town hall

BY ELIZABETH CALLEN EDITOR

SHOREVIEW — It was a full house at the Shoreview Library last Tuesday evening for a town hall meeting with District 42 legislators.

Rep. Kelly Moller (DFLShoreview), Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn (DFL-Roseville) and Sen. Jason Isaacson (DFL-Shoreview) shared their priorities for the remainder of the legislative session, which reconvenes Feb. 11, and answered written questions from constituents about their stance on various issues. From the rising cost of insulin to ranked-choice voting, topics discussed at the Jan. 28 town hall ran the gamut. The fi rst question was on gerrymandering, which former State Representative Paul Gardner, who moderated the meeting, noted is a timely issue—district lines will be redrawn by the state Legislature in 2021 using data collected from this year’s census.

Moller, Becker-Finn and Isaacson all expressed interest in having a nonpartisan committee, rather than the state Legislature, be put in charge of determining district boundaries. Isaacson referenced a bill he authored last year that would establish a redistricting commission to adopt congressional and legislative boundaries after each census. That bill, Senate File 2233, did not get a hearing in the Senate.

“I had bipartisan opposition on that issue, and that’s been very frustrating. I like to tell my party that we don’t get to be the good guys only when it’s convenient; we have to be the good guys even when it’s not,” Isaacson said. “Luckily, in Minnesota, we’ve had a good court system that’s helped us out, so I’m confi dent we’ll end up with something that’s not horrible, but I’d love to see it (redistricting) done by a group of citizens that are engaged.” Voter ID was also among the early issues raised. Senate Republicans plan to renew their push to require identifi cation at the polls, which members of the DFL have widely criticized. In 2012, a proposed constitutional amendment to require identifi cation at the polls failed by a margin of 52% to 46%. All three legislators present at last week’s town hall voiced their opposition to voter ID.

“Voter ID is a ridiculous idea that’s based on a racist premise, and I absolutely, positively will oppose that 100%,” Isaacson said. “When put forth, it serves as a way to put folks who are in a tough spot, or not as privileged as a spot, to bar them from voting.”

Both Moller and BeckerFinn echoed that sentiment. Becker-Finn called the

SEE TOWN HALL, PAGE 8

SHOREVIEW

Fantastic Auto Repair at Fantastic Prices!

Complete Automotive Service Center All repairs backed by our 3 Year, 36,000 Mile Warranty Service Center Hours M-F 7-8, Sat 8-4

Oil Changes $19 99 $39 99 + tax + tax for Semi Synthetic or Full Synthetic

Winter Car Care Special a $79.95 value for ONLY $ 29 95 • Oil, Lube and Filter • Rotate Tires • 30-Point Inspection • Inspect Cooling System • Inspect Brake Linings and Front End • Inspect Battery, Starter, Belts and Cables Add a 4-tire balance for only $15