Mall of America® is a national and international destination, drawing more than 40 million visitors annually. With an additional 5.6 million square feet, Phase II is expected to draw 60 million visitors and generate $4.3 billion in economic impact for the state of Minnesota. Mall of America is one of our state’s greatest assets.
Get the latest Phase II information
Voice your Opinion
The most important piece of this puzzle is YOU. To help show support for Mall of America’s Phase II expansion, please take a moment to contact your elected officials by sending them a letter on this important issue, encouraging them to support the legislation. This is a great way to share your view and support for the economic vitality of the state of Minnesota while getting involved in the political process and making a difference.
Write your Legislator
Letters and e-mails can be one of the most effective tools to influence legislators’ views. Your feedback matters! A letter documents your views and reminds your legislators that their decisions have a direct impact on you. Legislators are elected officials and want to hear from their own constituents.
- Use the correct title – e.g. Dear Senator [last name], or Dear Representative [last name], or Dear Governor [last name]
- Use your own words – Legislators are more responsive to personal letters, rather than form letters, because they have greater impact
- Allow for follow-up – Include your contact information (e.g. full name, home address, e-mail address and phone number) and offer to act as a resource should the legislator or staff have questions or need additional information
- Get to the point and be personal – Choose a few bullet points that are direct and give examples of why the MOA’s Phase II expansion is important to you. Include enough information to explain why you are writing and how this issue personally affects you and your district
- Know your facts – It is important to be accurate and honest in your letter. Please use the MOA Phase II Web site to find information that will support your message
- Be timely – Respond quickly to Mall of America Phase II e-mail updates. To sign up for updates, contact kholt@larkinhoffman.com
- Be positive – avoid using a negative, condescending, threatening or intimidating tone. Write in tones that you would care to receive in the mail
- Request a response – If you are interested in receiving a response, state that in your communications. For example, "I'm looking forward to your response on this important issue.” If you do not require a response, please note that in your letter or e-mail.
Send an E-mail
E-mail can be an easy, effective and immediate tool for communicating with legislators. The writing tips outlined above also apply to e-mails. Remember to keep e-mails brief, concise and include facts and anecdotes relevant to the legislator's district.
- Subject line – When e-mailing your legislator, make sure to include a note in the subject line indicating that you are a constituent, such as "Message from a MOA Phase II Supporter in District 34B."
- Identify yourself – Many legislative offices screen e-mails for address information identifying the sender as a constituent, so be sure to include your: full name, street address, zip code and e-mail address. E-mails received from outside the district are unlikely to be read and may be blocked by filtering programs.
- Avoid informal language – E-mail correspondence should be treated as seriously as a written letter. Resist the temptation to use informal language and symbols often associated with e-mail communications.
Read Testimonials: MOA’s Positive
Impact
Click here to read the testimonials.
Watch a Phase II Video
Click here to watch the Phase II Video
Find your Legislator
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here to find your legislator.
How the Legislature Works
The state Legislature meets every year with a new budget created every odd-numbered year. A new legislative session began on Feb. 12, 2008, with many new faces at the state capitol and a budget surplus, which will allow for additional state spending.
The Legislature is made up of the Senate (67 members) and the House of Representatives (134) members. You have one senator and representative based on the district you live in.
Because of the large number of issues voted on each year, the legislature divides into committees based on subject matter. In both the House and Senate, a committee decides how much money to include within its budget and sends their request to the "floor" so that the whole legislature can vote on it. The Senate and the House then work out any differences between the bodies through a conference committee process. When the Legislature has passed its final version of the bill, the budget goes to the governor to sign.
