Waite Park Community Council supports sustained commitment to city climate funding

The Waite Park Community Council’s board of directors unanimously voted Nov. 30 to sign-on to a letter encouraging city leaders to invest in and support the implementation of the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan.

The Climate Equity Plan was unanimously passed by City Council on July 20 and signed by Mayor Frey on July 25. The city has yet to commit long-term funding to achieve all of the plan’s goals, however.

A coalition of local climate, environmental and labor groups including MN350, ISAIAH, UNIDOS MN, SEIU Local 26, and Sierra Club is asking neighborhood associations to endorse the open letter, which call for “city leaders to use every necessary tool to guide Minneapolis forward as we transition our homes and businesses to electric and other cleaner energy sources.”

You can read the full letter here.

The board’s vote followed a 30-minute neighborhood forum on the Climate Equity Plan and letter. Just Transition Fund Coalition representative Jonathan Harms explained that the coalition is most focused on eliminating emissions from buildings, including weatherization and electrification of homes in the city.