Residents Share Reaction to State Shutdown

At in Maple Grove there are two topics everyone seems to be talking about: the hot weather and the government shutdown. 

"I've been here for about two hours and those are the two things I've talked with people about," Bob BrownLee said. This Maple Grove father of two brought his kids to the swimming pond to get a break from the heat.

"At least this park is open during the shutdown," he said.   

Like many people BrownLee is wondering why the shutdown debate has taken so long. 

"I just don't get it," he said. "How on earth has it taken this long to get things done? Every year I go and vote for people I think will take charge and be a leader and not one of them has stepped up during this entire ordeal." 

Tuesday morning Governor Mark Dayton called all lawmakers back to the Capitol to get a special session underway. Dayton believes it will take no more than two days to get all the bills worked out and passed. 

The shutdown has left 22,000 unemployed, road projects halted, state parks closed, and funding to social services cut off. The longest shutdown in recent U.S. history has varying effects on local residents. 

For Allison Manzi and her family the effects have been almost non-existent. 

"We're lucky we don't rely on the state for a job and we didn't have any trips planned to Minnesota parks," she said. "Really we've been uneffected." 

For the Daniel family it's a different story. 

"We're disgusted," Donna Daniel said. "It really has put a damper on my families summer." 

The shutdown has effected the family hobby, dirt bike racing. The track the Daniel's use is in Mora, Minnesota and it has been negatively impacted by the shutdown.

"They would love to be racing this summer but the shutdown has put an end to that for now,"  she said.

While officials at the race track were not immediately available for comment, Daniel's son just wants to race again before going back to school.

"I've been racing for six years now," he said. "I'm ready to get back on the track already." 

For people like BrownLee, he's just hoping the shutdown comes to an end this week. 

"I may not be a state employee or a non profit that has had to rely on the state for money, but I'm still overwhelmed at the lack of intelligence in our state government and hope it all comes to an end soon,"  he said.

Governor Dayton says some state employees could be back to work as early as Wednesday as bills are signed.