It’s so difficult for me to write to you at the end of what has been yet another horrific week for our community. In the last month, too many of our neighbors have experienced unimaginable loss. I am heartbroken for impacted families and loved ones. I am struggling, as I know many of you are, with the amount of grief and fear that is permeating our city. It’s my hope that we turn to one another for support and solidarity, and that we recommit ourselves to working together to advance real solutions that finally put an end to gun violence in our communities.  

This week should be a wake-up call to every leader in our city to step up and put an end to unsheltered homelessness. It is, and always has been, a disgrace for encampments to exist in the wealthiest country in the world. It is a systemic failure at every level of government that those who have the least among us have so few resources available to them, they are forced into live in these conditions. The hateful and dehumanizing rhetoric directed at those experiencing unsheltered homelessness is unacceptable. Our unhoused neighbors are worthy of dignity, respect, and care, and we have failed them.  

The current practice of the Administration is to do the same thing over, and over again, expecting different results. I believe we need real solutions, not repetitive and traumatizing seeps that penalize and criminalize those in need while doing nothing to end homelessness. I am asking for the City to immediately deploy Violence interrupters to existing hot spots for antisocial community violence, and a collaborative effort from the Mayor and City Council to establish a navigation center with beds and services to meet immediate needs and put people on a pathway for permanent housing. 

This has been a summer of too many tragedies for our communities, many of them the result of senseless acts of gun violence. If you or someone you know is struggling or needs assistance, the City of Minneapolis is collaborating with The Family Partnership to open a neighborhood assistance center for anyone impacted by recent shootings and those affected by violence in our city.  

• Where:  
  • The Family Partnership - 1527 East Lake St.  
    • Use the entrance along Bloomington Avenue 
• When: 
  • Thursday, Sept. 18, from 2-6 p.m. 
  • Friday, Sept. 19, from 2-6 p.m. 
  • Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
  • Sunday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Services Provided:
  • Mental health support 
  • Non-denominational spiritual care 
  • Victim services information for those impacted by recent mass violence
  • City of Minneapolis Mobile Medical Unit (Friday and Saturday)
  • Informational resources and referrals for unsheltered neighbors
  • Human Trafficking prevention resources
  • Household safety and security information
  • Snacks and water 

The rest of the Newsletter will be focused on updates about the work happening at City Hall, opportunities to connect with your neighbors, and ways get involved and make your voice heard. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any questions! 

Council Committee Restructure 
My colleague, Ward 5 Council Member Ellison recently accepted a prestigious fellowship opportunity that he will complete alongside his Council responsibilities for the remainder of the term, while he will continue to attend Council meetings, he will be unable to attend committee meetings. Ultimately, standing committees have no decision-making authority. Every item that is discussed and approved then goes to the full City Council for debate, and Council Members who are not a part of a committee can still move work on their priorities, present proposals, and discuss items with colleagues. Standing committees simply allow for some deliberation to be done, and changes to be made, ahead of meetings of the Whole City Council. With this in mind, my colleagues and I have been deliberating the best way to change assignments to ensure there is a quorum on the Business, Housing, and Zoning (BHZ), the Administration Enterprise Oversight (AEO), and the Public Health and Safety (PHS) committees now that Council Member Ellison will be absent.  

Other Council Members brought forward proposals, all of which I ultimately supported, but did not have enough consensus on the body to pass. I brought forward a compromise option that addressed the equity concerns that had been raised about BHZ by decreasing the number of Downtown representatives from three, to two, in order to ensure Council Members who represent each of the city's Green Zones were on the committee. I hope that residents feel this representation is more fair to each region of Minneapolis.  This action also shuffled other Council Members to ensure each committee had six sitting members, and that no member was on every standing committee. I'm grateful that my colleagues were able to support this consensus option and that we are moving forward together.

Increasing Oversight of Surveillance Technology 

A new ordinance related to surveillance technology contracts, authored by Council Member Wonsley, unanimously passed at the last City Council Meeting. In the Ordinance, surveillance technology is defined as all technology used to electronically capture, audio, photographic, video, biometric, digital and other forms of recording activities of individuals or groups, and is used primarily for investigation, incident response, or requests for service. For both transparency and accountability, it mandates that the City Council hold a public hearing in the Committee of jurisdiction about each contract related to surveillance technology. It also requires a summary of the proposed contract and the technologies intended use. Lastly the ordinance gives Council the authority to vote on proposed surveillance contracts.  

Off-Duty Fees 

At last regular meeting of the City Council, my colleagues and I voted unanimously to collect fees for off-duty police work. Off-duty work is a secondary job taken on by Police Officers often with businesses and bars, done outside of their working hours with MPD and not unsupervised by the department. Despite being outside of MPD’s supervision, off-duty work is often done in uniform and still utilizes City resources such as squad cars. This has been criticized by the United States Department of Justice and organizations dedicated to upholding constitutional rights such as the ACLU, because it can undermine officer supervision, and contribute to officer burnout which poses a risk to both Officers and the public. The proposed fee for off-duty work is set at $6.99 per hour if the job is done without a City vehicle, and $27.58 per hour if a city vehicle is used. If the Administration takes action these fees could be implemented as early as 2026. I am thrilled that this measure passed with unanimous support. Minneapolis taxpayers should not be subsidizing side gigs. I look forward to the Council and the Administration working together to see these fees implemented as soon as possible.

First Avenue Reconstruction 

I have a brief update on the First Avenue project. Construction from Lake Street to Franklin Avenue is expected to be completed this year, with finishing elements, such as planting, to be added next year.   

Currently, 24th St. to 27th St. will be closed off with intersections at 24th and 26th Street remaining open for traffic. This work will include installing lighting, concrete work for sidewalks, bike facilities, and curbs.  If you have any questions or concerns during the progression of the project, please contact the project team via email or phone.  

• Project engineer: Tracy Lindgren, tracy.lindgren@minneapolismn.gov or 612-290-5898 

• Surface Water & Sewers engineer: Henneh Kota, henneh.kota@minneapolismn.gov or 612-816-9047 

• General Email info@firstavesouth.com 

• Project hotline with questions, comments or concerns: 612-451-0300 

Lake Street Safety Center Open House 

The Lake Street Safety Center is hosting another open house Wednesday, September 24th, to connect with residents, workers, and local businesses. This is an opportunity to meet with service providers, explore available safety resources, learn more about the center, and connect with supports for you and your community. I encourage anyone interested to attend and learn more by going to the Lake Street Safety Center at 2228 East Lake Street from 2-5pm.

Applications Open for Boards and Commissions 

The City is currently accepting applications for several Boards and Commissions! I encourage all those interested to apply, these openings are a unique opportunity to represent your community and be a voice in the decision making process. Right now there are openings on: 

• The Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights works to promote and enforce civil rights across the city. 

• The Heritage Preservation Commission safeguards the city’s historic and cultural legacy. 

• The Workplace Advisory Committee advises City leaders on employee and workplace issues. 

Most boards meet on a monthly basis, and staff are there to help new and returning members learn more about their role, it’s a great way to get involved with what’s happening in our City. You can learn more about current openings and apply through September 30!  

• Stand in Solidarity with Annunciation: Community members have come together to organize an event to stand in solidarity with Annunciation and come together to spread love and peace through the neighborhood. This is restorative space to grieve in community, connect with others, demonstrate care, and be in solidarity with those who have been impacted by the senseless tragedy at Annunciation. Join them next Wednesday, September 24th, from 5:30-6:30pm.
• Set Sail on Bde Maka Ska: On Sunday September 21st, from Noon-5pm is the final of this year’s Free Sailing Sundays. No strings attached, no reservations and no experience required! You will be provided with a boat, life jackets and a skipper (experienced sailor), just bring your friends, family and your sea legs.
• Open Streets Hennepin: Join the City for Open Streets Hennepin co-hosted with the Uptown Association, Saturday September 20th 11am-5pm, a celebration of community, creativity, and car-free fun in the heart of Uptown Minneapolis! For one day only, Hennepin Avenue will transform into a bustling pedestrian thoroughfare filled with local businesses, artists, performers, food vendors, and interactive activities for all ages. Stroll, bike, dance, and connect as we reclaim the street and spotlight everything that makes Uptown unique. Whether you’re a neighbor, visitor, or vendor, Open Streets Hennepin is your chance to experience the avenue like never before—up close, on foot, and full of energy.
• LHENA Food Share Program: Join the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association for the Food Share Program on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025 from 10:30am-12:00pm at Sencha Tea Bar in Uptown (2601 Hennepin Avenue South). The Food Share program offers free groceries to anyone who shows up and would like to participate, and is fully run by neighbor-volunteers. 

I hope you are all taking care of yourselves, and that you can find time to connect with community in the coming days and weeks. I hope to see you soon. 

In Solidarity,  

Aisha Chughtai 

P.S. don’t forget to check the Neighborhood Organizations’ Calendars: East Bde Maka Ska, South Uptown, the Wedge, Whittier Alliance.