The Minority Economy on the Verge of Collapse – These 125 DFL and GOP Legislators Can Make a Difference

There are 125 legislators, DFL and GOP, who each represent $100+million in ALANA economic interests in their legislative districts (see tables below). Together they can easily pass the necessary legislation to stabilize and grow the ALANA economy. The $60 billion ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) economy in Minnesota is on the verge of collapse.

85 percent of Minnesota Senators and 51 percent of Minnesota Representatives each represent at least $100+ million of ALANA economic interests (see tables and PowerPoint slides below). Together they have the necessary votes to pass supportive legislation to grow the ALANA economy in Minnesota.

Below is the list of legislators and districts with at least $100 million in economic interests. The actual value will be much higher as it does not include assets such as homes and other assets.

The questions posed to these legislators are:

How have you represented these economic interests in the current multiple legislative sessions ?

Can you help implement a long term comprehensive plan to grow the ALANA economy in Minnesota?

The ALANA Economy in Crisis

According to DEED 36.8 percent of the ALANA workforce applied for unemployment insurance. ALANA businesses are in sectors hit hard by Covid-19 and the economy shutdown and also with the destruction during the civil unrest. ALANA youth already with huge achievement gaps have less support and access to the new online world of learning. This that graduate this year will have a tough time in the job market.

Minnesota leaders need to take concerted and comprehensive action to stabilize and then grow the ALANA economy. Failing to do this will also bring the Minnesota economy down as ALANA renters pay $175 million in rent every month to property owners. ALANA homeowners own $27 billion in residential real estate with the corresponding impact on the mortgage industry as well as local property taxes. ALANA income of $25 billion fuel spending in the local economy and pay an estimated $3 billion in state and local taxes.

There is a deeper reason to the need for all legislators to act, especially these 125 legislators from both political parties in the House and Senate.

In 2011, OneMN.org, a multiethnic nonpartisan coalition went before the judicial panel that was responsible for drawing the new legislative districts in Minnesota. The team led by Brett Buckner, presented the data on ALANA economic interests to the judicial panel and recommended that the new legislative boundaries be drawn to maximize the representation of these economic interests. These documents are part of the public record. Legislators, especially in those areas where ALANA economic interests are over $100+ million have an obligation to represent their constituents and to create opportunities and avenues for their success. It is their legal and ethical mandate, to represent these economic interests, especially when these communities have historically faced marginalization.