Thread by @prairieerik

What could rural MN communities do with $139 Million instead of a corporate handout to a prison?

As an elected person in rural MN, let me make a list for you.

#mnleg

Remember all those roads and bridges in bad condition that we keep talking about?

They’re definitely not getting better with age.

Ask a couple of City Managers in real Minnesota about the condition of their water and sewer systems. $139 Million wouldn’t even come close to solving this BASIC HUMAN NEED for thousands of rural people.

$139 Million could make a ton of improvements in workforce housing across Western MN where it’s desperately needed.

We’ve got a huge need for support of senior care and mental healthcare.

Many facilities can’t retain staff because the pay is so low.

Also, y’all know there’s ANOTHER FARM CRISIS ON, right?

Get this, some rural people will have difficulty accessing this NONSENSE because we still lack HIGH SPEED INTERNET.

Y’all realize that some schools here can only afford to be open 4 days a week?

Oh wait, there’s one in Tim Miller’s district.

Y’all know how many food deserts there are in rural Minnesota?

IN PLACES THAT GROW FOOD.

Good God.

Even if opening the prison brings 500 jobs that’s $278k per job.

This helps nothing but CoreCivic’s bottom line.

#mnleg

Here's another thing.

There's a MASSIVE need for affordable childcare across rural Minnesota.

This is a huge barrier for young families.

Remember this opiate and drug crisis that is ravaging rural America we keep hearing about?

How about we:
-End mandatory minimums
-Decriminalize drug use
-Focus on treatment

$139 million could go a long way in combatting human misery rather than building a new institution of it.