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Dear Neighbors,
These last few days have been extremely challenging for our city and our South Minneapolis community with the recent shootings at the encampments. Gun violence and any kind of violence in our community is unacceptable. I have been on the ground since the shooting on E Lake St and 28th Ave, connecting with Hennepin County staff, our Homeless Response Team, community members volunteering time, local business owners, people who are struggling with homelessness and addiction, and nearby neighbors.
On September 8, the Mayor called a special meeting for the council to take up a lawsuit against the property owner at Lake and 28th to abate and remove the encampment. This passed 6-4. The lawsuit couldn’t prevent what happened Monday. At a recent hearing, the judge declined to issue a restraining order and took the matter under advisement. We cannot let lawsuits replace real solutions. I encourage you to watch my comments in full from that meeting.
My message was clear: It's frustrating that we only act during crises. We've repeatedly called for real, sustainable solutions to unsheltered homelessness, and while I’ve offered and pursued many ideas, there’s been no real partnership with us as policymakers to make them a reality. Without low-barrier shelter options, housing, and strong resource navigation, clearing encampments only causes more trauma and leads to new ones forming. It doesn’t make any of us safer, it shifts the issues, and it makes acceptance of services harder. That’s exactly what happened after the mass shooting. The following days a new encampment formed nearby Moon Palace books and it was shameful to see people without water, food, a place to use the bathroom, and to see the nearby businesses and community without a central place to get information about what was happening.
Unhoused individuals have been displaced since the shooting and I am deeply troubled to see the lack of compassion for them and the rest of our neighbors who have just experienced a traumatizing mass shooting. Regardless if someone is unhoused, there needs to be care in the direct aftermath of a mass shooting for them and the entire community. I heard from community members first hand that they did not feel they got the care they deserved, in some cases no care at all.
I saw in person that it was our neighbors—community members, service providers, and local business owners—helping with cleanup and connecting displaced individuals to resources. I’m grateful for the conversations I had with them yesterday about immediate next steps. I am also very grateful to Commissioner Angela Conley and Council Member Jason Chavez for their work during this difficult time. Public health remains a major concern, with no bathrooms, handwashing stations, or trash collection at the site. I’ve requested support from Public Works to address sanitation.
This Saturday, September 20th at 9am, a community cleanup will be held at Lake & Minnehaha— it will kick-off at Solcana Fitness, please join us.
Our office continues to push for the urgent and consistent presence of violence interrupters in areas impacted by gun violence, as well as the immediate deployment of the Medical Mobile Unit to support displaced residents. We’re also advocating for trauma-informed services to support healing. I’ll keep the community updated on the City’s response. In this moment, compassion and forward-thinking, community-centered solutions are essential.
There are important lessons to learn and meaningful improvements to make. Our neighbors deserve timely emergency response, effective services, and compassionate care in times of crisis. I’m committed to using my experience to drive real action and lasting change.
Best,
CM Aurin Chowdhury
 Please come and join the Tunnel of love in solidarity with Annunciation at Washburn High School. The gathering was organized by community members seeking to stand in solidarity with Annunciation and to spread love and peace throughout the neighborhood. The event will take place next Wednesday from 5:30–6:30 p.m. These gatherings have been happening weekly throughout September, but they have not been widely publicized in the Twin Cities. It has been a restorative space to grieve in community and connect with others who are also hurting and caring deeply about these issues.
 Happy first day of early voting! Voters have the option to vote early in-person at the Early Vote Center, located at Elections & Voter Services headquarters at 980 E Hennepin Avenue. This option is especially helpful to voters who may need extra time, support, or accommodations to complete their ballot.
The Early Vote Center will be open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., starting tomorrow and continuing through 5 p.m. on Monday, November 3.
The city has planned pop-up sites and extended hours in the final two weeks, which includes weekend in-person service hours, all of which is posted to the EVS website and will be promoted as we get close to Election Day.
For more details about voting early in-person, see vote.minneapolismn.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person.
 I’m proud to be co-authoring the Stop Slumlords ordinance along with several of my other colleagues. On Tuesday, City Council Members, renters, and community advocates rallied to kick off the Slumlord Tier Oversight and Protection ordinance. The ordinance requires a City Council vote on rental licenses for rental units that are significantly below the City’s standards of health, safety, and livability. I’m proud to stand with the renters of our city against slumlords who are taking advantage of our broken oversight system.
The Business, Housing, and Zoning committee will hold a public hearing on September 30th at 1:30pm in the Public Service Center (250 S 4th St, Room 350, Minneapolis MN 55415) for the public to comment on the policy.
 Save Oct. 22 for a free seniors fair. The fair is tailored for our senior community members and caregivers. The day will feature workshops, an elected officials panel, a resource fair, and a free breakfast and lunch. The workshops will cover yoga and meditation, City services, public safety and connecting with community.
Seniors fair 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, 5760 Portland Ave. S.
Schedule
Raffle with prizes to be announced.
9 a.m. - Welcome and breakfast 10 a.m. - Morning workshops: Community Safety: When to Call 311 vs 911, Building Community through Art: Legos activity 11 a.m. - Resource fair and lunch Noon - Panel discussion with local elected officials including City Council Members Andrea Jenkins, Emily Koski and Aurin Chowdhury. More to be announced. 1 p.m. - Afternoon workshops: Election Services and Ranked Choice Voting, Technology and Fraud
The seniors fair is sponsored by Wards 8, 11 and 12
 Welcoming Week 2025 is now on, and this year’s theme is Stories We Share. You can still attend the citizenship workshop this Saturday.
The City of Minneapolis is a Welcoming City. Each year we celebrate Welcoming Week, an annual opportunity for communities across the country to celebrate community diversity, promote mutual understanding and foster a sense of belonging for all. Because Citizenship Day and Constitution Day take place during Welcoming Week, the City also hosts annual events focusing on the importance of U.S. citizenship and how to apply to become a citizen through naturalization.
Citizenship workshop 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 Register for more details.
Learn more about Welcoming Week, and thank you for all you do to foster a sense of belonging in our Minneapolis community.
 Join SENA for their annual meeting, open to all Standish Ericsson neighbors.
 Sunday September 21, 5:30pm
 Lake Hiawatha Rec Center
 Free pizza & refreshments!
Neighbors will vote in new board members, discuss priorities, and hear from community leaders.  Serving on a City board or commission is your chance to directly shape policies that affect daily life, like housing, transit and public safety. Your voice brings fresh perspective and drives transparency in City decisions.
Most boards meet monthly, and it’s a great way to gain valuable skills, build relationships with community leaders, and grow your understanding of local government.
Right now, Minneapolis is accepting applications for several boards. Opportunities include:
- 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.
Ready to get involved? Explore current openings, and apply by Sept. 30.
Join your community for the last Open Streets Minneapolis of the season. The City’s popular summer event series continues this Saturday, Sept. 20, on Hennepin Avenue South.
Open Streets transforms major business and commercial corridors into car-free fairs for all ages to enjoy and connects all of its neighbors to enjoy culture, entertainment, activities and local vendors. Watch a video about Open Streets 2025.
Open Streets Minneapolis 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 Hennepin Avenue between West 26th and 36th streets
Come for live music, food trucks, lucha libre wrestling, art, dog rescue and fun for everyone.
Lasting change
As a part of the West Broadway Open Streets event this year, the West Broadway Business Coalition and partners planted 26 trees along West Broadway. West Broadway Avenue needed the shade and the greening, and every time it rains hundreds of tons of stormwater washes downstream into the Mississippi, carrying pollution with it. Planting trees helps soak up some of that water before it runs into our stormwater drains.
Find details about the 2025 Open Streets on the City website. |
