Jermaine Toney, lead policy analyst with the Organizing Apprenticeship Project, had a commentary piece in the June 23rd St. Paul Pioneer Press about the legislative win-win of addressing economic and racial inequalities while working to mitigate climate change and buoy the sagging economy.
In analyzing Minnesota’s new energy programs bill, which commits $2.5 million to jobs creation for low-income people in energy-related enterprises, Toney writes:
“Is this investment in job creation, which can reduce disparities while reducing the harmful effects of climate change, a model of reform to build upon at the state Legislature?
And does this symbolize that public investment in people of color and low-income people can play a role in leading us out of economic recession?
Answer to both: yes.”