The St. Paul City Council is expected to vote in the next few weeks on a proposal to ban tobacco sales until age 21. We know that this common sense policy would reduce lifetime addiction and save lives. Research shows that almost every adult cigarette smoker (95 percent) started smoking before they were 21.

Research also shows that Tobacco 21 laws work and reduce the number of teens who smoke and keep kids from starting to smoke. Since the 1960s, efforts like this have cut the smoking rate in this country from more than 40 percent to about 14 percent. At the same time that we are making progress on reducing tobacco use, there’s been a sharp increase in e-cigarette use, especially among teens. That’s why e-cigarettes should be included in any proposal considered by the city.

More than 45 cities and counties in Minnesota have raised the legal buying age for tobacco to 21, according to ClearWay Minnesota. On behalf of HealthPartners, and our 7,300 employees who live or work in the city, I urge the City Council to vote yes to add St. Paul to this list.

Thomas E. Kottke

Dr. Kottke is HealthPartners medical director for well-being, and a practicing cardiologist.

Increased awareness

I was very moved with the letters written by Monica Nilsson and Jerry Wynn last Thursday (“The long run” and “Over each new hill,” Sept. 26). To read that Amy, who was homeless and spending her nights sleeping on mats with some 80 other women, was finally be able to obtain an apartment was heartwarming. I pondered what it must be like to live under these circumstances and really could not truly fathom fully this reality.

Also, Jerry’s description of the colors he observes as he drives his semi-truck daily was truly breathtaking. His ability to convey his thoughts is awesome.

These letters helped me to realize how truly fortunate I am to have a bed that I can sleep in nightly and increase my awareness of my beautiful surroundings. I am afraid I usually take these things for granted, and I shouldn’t.

Marion McCarthy, St. Paul

Should not there be diversity?

What is up with Minnesota? I had the impression that we were hard working, honest and “above average.” I expected these qualities to be present in our Minnesota government. But, over the last few years I have witnessed, with disappointment, spectacular failures of MnSure, MnLARS, DHS, education administration (achievement gap and proficiency levels) and other persistent local government problems. All these failures have been reported in this paper. What could be the cause?

Recently, the news of the scandalous hiring of DFL Rep Jamie Long by DFLer Ellen Anderson at a University of Minnesota operation caused me to think that perhaps this activity is the reason. Are all our government agencies populated by people with the same political leaning? If so, should not there be diversity? It would be hard to currently fault anyone because most bosses would hire “like minded” subordinates unless some diversity was needed or imposed. Perhaps the “opposition party” should have minority status in some of our agencies’ hiring practices. This is my thought. But of course, we all are interested in curbing these systemic failures. Anyone have other solutions?

Steve Dorff, Roseville

Land for education

Now that more than 860,000 Minnesota public school students are back in the classroom, we want to call attention to a little-known source of school funding: our state’s School Trust Lands. These public lands have been set aside in the state Constitution since 1858 to generate revenue for public schools. The School Trust Lands differ from the state’s other public lands because they’re strategically managed to maximize long-term economic returns specifically for education. Each year, income generated by these lands is distributed to every school district in the state.

More than 2.5 million acres of Minnesota land currently contribute to our schools. While revenue on these lands is generated through a variety of economic activities such as timber harvesting and leasing for mineral exploration, the biggest revenue driver is Minnesota’s taconite mining industry. State revenue generated from taconite mining accounts for approximately 80 percent of the school trust.

Though 92 percent of the School Trust Lands are in the northern part of Minnesota – including Koochiching, St. Louis and Itasca counties – the impact can be felt in every Minnesota county. When timber is harvested near the Canadian border or taconite is mined on the Iron Range, schools in every corner of the state benefit — most located far from the actual timber and mining operations. In 2018, public schools received $33 million from the Permanent School Fund. Proceeds are allocated to all public schools in Minnesota’s 330 school districts on a per pupil basis and vary each year.

Curious to see the impact of School Trust Lands in your school district? We encourage you to visit this interactive map from the Minnesota Office of School Trust Lands. As the map indicates, the iron mining industry is just as critical to schools throughout the state as it is to the communities on the Iron Range.

The School Trust Lands serve as a reminder of Minnesota’s commitment to education. As legislators charged with overseeing this important fund, we will continue to support the industries that contribute to it to ensure that Minnesota’s economic vibrance, natural resources, and legacy of strong public education are protected for generations to come.

Jerry Newton, Dale Lueck and eight other legislators who are members of the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission

Sen. Newton, DFL-Coon Rapids, is chair of the Minnesota Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission. Rep. Lueck, R-Aitkin, is vice chair.