Council Member Aisha Chughtai
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Friday December 19, 2025 |
It’s been a busy end of the year as the City Council works to finish all of its businesses, including passing a final City budget. I have been working tirelessly negotiating with the Administration and Mayor Frey’s staff to deliver a budget that funds core city services, and invests in programs that residents identified as priorities, while not impacting this year’s property tax levy or laying off front line or union represented staff positions.
Before I talk about the vital work the Council has done over the last stretch I need to address something that has been weighing heavily on my heart and mind: What our city is experiencing right now is federal occupation, a campaign of fear intended to divide our communities and rip immigrant families apart. I am shocked and horrified by the brutality and trauma our State is experiencing during Trump’s campaign of terror called Operation Metro Surge.
While I have been negotiating the budget, my office in collaboration with multiple of my colleagues and their staff have been documenting and trying to follow up on ICE abductions, violations of state and local law by ICE agents, and connecting impacted residents, business owners, and communities with resources. Our offices are also seeing unprecedented solidarity mobilizations, independent neighborhood ICE patrols, elders standing by our schools amid ICE raids, and hundreds of other acts of defiance of hatred and solidarity with our immigrant neighbors.
An important reminder during this period of federal occupation if you encounter ICE or Federal activity:
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You have the right to stay silent and to talk with a lawyer
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You can refuse to sign documents until you talk to a lawyer
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You have the right to not open the door unless you see a valid judicial warrant. It must have your correct address and name and be signed by a judge
If you see any federal activity, call the MONARCA rapid response hotline at 612-441-2881. MONARCA is a local immigrants rights organization committed to upholding the rights of all Minneapolis residents during this time.
Immigrants are welcome in our city, period. Thank you to the hundreds of community members already defending our neighbors against unjust treatment at the hands of an out-of-control federal government. In these times local governments must act as the last line of defense to protect our residents and the first line of service, so residents receive the services and support they need. I’m proud of the work that the Council has done, but I am most proud of the way I’ve seen my Ward 10 neighbors and people throughout the city step up in this moment.
The rest of the newsletter will focus on the final legislative actions in the end of 2025, if you have any questions about anything in the Newsletter please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office.
We now have an adopted 2026 City budget. The Budget Committee heard presentations from the various departments that make up the City of Minneapolis. The presentations served as a brief for the committee and public on departmental budget requests, changes to funding and their performance over the last year. You can find those presentations here. During our 3 budget committee hearings we had a chance to hear directly from dozens of residents in-person and even more submitted written testimony. And, on Tuesday December 9th, the Council held the Truth and Taxation hearing before we unanimously passed a balanced and people-centered budget.
Through our public hearings we’ve heard and received written testimony from hundreds of residents; we heard from dozens of workers asking us to restore the proposed cuts and ensuring co-enforcement is fully funded so that workers have a known and trusted place to report labor violations or wage theft. Many others testified asking the council to oppose the Mayor's proposed cuts to the Public Access TV budget, which is part of an over 40-year history of some of the strongest public access programing in the country. You can read and listen to public comment on the budget here. As the budget chair I worked tirelessly with the administration and my colleagues on the council to pass a budget that centered important services our residents count on, eliminated duplicity, and kept the tax burden from ballooning further out of control.
Emergency Shelter Operations Funding
We are facing a housing crisis in the city and there is ongoing need for resources to address unsheltered homelessness in our community. Often existing resources and support fall short due to gaps in funding to keep operations going. It is critical we keep providing housing resources to our unhoused community. I voted in favor to use one-time funding of a $1,000,000 to assist with emergency shelter operations. These funds will be used to increase staff and bed capacities at shelters.
Reinstating Emergency Housing Vouchers
In addition to funding emergency shelter operations, we reinstated emergency housing vouchers. This program has been championed by Council Member Wonsley for multiple years to ensure that our unsheltered neighbors are given access to housing and services with a model that proved extremely effective during the covid-19 pandemic. Housing vouchers have allowed many of our unhoused residents and families to secure and maintain housing. In partnership with Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, the reinstatement of this funding will replicate a federal housing program funded during peak covid pandemic, which has proven to be successful. This program will not only provide housing but additional direct services to prevent. I supported changes to the source of this amendment in the final Council meeting to ensure that frontline AFSCME staff were not impacted by the program funding. The Mayor, as well as Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) and Hennepin County, both committed to implementing this program for the next three years and finding a long-term funding solve. In the four-year term I will be work diligently to hold all parties to that commitment and finding solutions in the Council’s budget process if they do not follow through with implementation.
To tackle the ongoing issue of vacant store fronts in areas like Downtown and Uptown, Council Member Cashman and I brought forth the Vacant Retail Activation program. This is a cost share program with $800,000 of investment from the City to support the renovation of suitable spaces for small businesses to fill in our vacant store fronts. This program will operate alongside existing business support programs such as the Development Technical Support (DTAP). I believe this is just one of many creative solutions City leaders can and should be investing in to ensure our small businesses have the support they need as Minneapolis continues to experience the changing landscape of our local economy after 2020.
Franchise Fees Allocation
We are currently in both a climate crisis and an energy costs crisis. My colleagues, Councilmembers Koski, Cashman, and I brought an amendment to allocate over 4 million dollars from the increased franchise fee towards the Green Cost Share weatherization and retrofitting in Environmental Justice areas as defined by State Statute. This increases the opportunities for residents to participate in green-house gas emissions reductions while also saving money on energy bills. This will predominantly benefit parts of Minneapolis that have higher percentages of BIPOC and working-class residents compared to the rest of the city. Weatherization and retrofitting reduces CO2 emissions, which improves air quality and reduces impacts of climate change. This is beneficial to those with health conditions that are exacerbated by air pollution and climate change. I’m grateful to Council Member Cashman for being an incredible leader and partner this term to see a historic level of investment to meet the City’s climate goals, this amendment is just one example of it.
Labor Standards Co-Enforcement Funding
One of the most common refrains in public comment was the need to restore the proposed cuts to co-enforcement funding. We heard or read testimony from nearly 100 residents, the co-enforcement model is vital to vibrant and thriving economic life. The program is a partnership between the City’s Labor Standards Enforcement Division, Workers Centers, and trusted organizations, who've trained and built trust with our service industry workforce to fight wage theft and labor violations. I was proud to co-author the amendment to restore the cuts and fully fund this vital program that protects, educates, and supports workers.
Budget Committee Holds Second Public Hearing
The Budget Committee continues to hold presentations from the various departments that make up the City of Minneapolis to brief the committee and public on their budget requests, changes to funding and their performance over the last year. This week held a second public hearing and had a chance to hear directly from dozens of residents in-person and even more submitted written testimony.
We heard from multiple people about the importance of ensuring co-enforcement is fully funded so that workers have a known and trusted place to report labor violations or wage theft. Many others testified asking the council to oppose the Mayor's proposed cuts to the Public Access TV budget. This kind of direct feedback is invaluable to the Council ahead of passing a final budget.
The next public hearing of the Budget Committee will be on Wednesday, November 19th at 6:05pm, the final opportunity will be at the Truth and Taxation hearing at 10:00am on December 9th, I encourage you all to attend or submit something in writing here.
Humane Encampment Response Ordinance
I was proud to author the Human Encampment Response Ordinance (HERO) with Council Members Jason Chavez and Aurin Chowdhury that creates a standard operating procedure for how the City handles encampments. This includes enacting a public health response to encampments, providing restrooms, garbage collection and safe sharps disposal; ensuring notice is given with enough time to make sure that service providers have time to connect with encampment residents. This policy alone will not solve unsheltered homelessness but is an important step towards a more coherent, humane and cost-effective approach to supporting those experiencing unsheltered homelessness. I am disappointed that Mayor Frey publicly stated he would veto this Ordinance but refused to do so in time for the Council’s final meeting of the year, leaving the City Council unable to take up an override vote. The Council has the authority to override a veto, denying us the opportunity to do so undermines the residents of Minneapolis who elected the Council to represent them and vote on legislative items.
Strengthening the Separation Ordinance
As the Federal Administration continues to terrorize and dehumanize our immigrant neighbors, Council Members Jason Chavez (Ward 9) and Aurin Chowdhury (Ward 12) and I worked closely with immigrant rights organizations to strengthen the City’s separation ordinance. Changes to the policy include codification of the Mayor’s ban on ICE using city property for immigration enforcement; forbidding city resources: vehicles, property, staff, or other city owned and operated resources for the purpose of immigration enforcement; requiring training for City employees about the separation ordinance and compliance; discipline and complaints up for employees who violate the ordinance; mandatory reporting to the public and city council about any collaboration that happens with ICE, including if agents are masked, what if any actions City officials and employees take to assist with public safety during ICE operations in the city. Our colleagues recognized the harm being inflicted in our communities and our city and we are excited to announce our changes passed the council unanimously and eagerly await the mayor’s signature.
I will be sending out another newsletter in the coming days highlighting winter activities and event opportunities but for today I want to end by sharing a letter from me and my colleagues who are immigrants or the children of immigrations, urging support for our commercial corridors:
Minneapolis City Council Members Ask Community Members to Shop at Immigrant-Owned Businesses Amid Federal Immigration Enforcement:
"This holiday season, we ask you to take action. Shop at immigrant-owned businesses in Minneapolis: buy groceries, share a meal, purchase gifts, and spend time in our vibrant commercial corridors.
Your presence matters. Your support matters. We can help our immigrant neighbors and keep our communities strong during this difficult time.
With the increase in federal immigration enforcement actions in our community, we are seeing unspeakably traumatic and life-changing events; families are being torn apart, neighbors are being disappeared, and communities are being left to pick up the pieces.
Our offices have been on the ground in our wards talking with residents and community members, working to connect impacted families with resources. One of the things we hear repeatedly is that our local businesses are facing a significant strain and chilling effect from the ongoing federal immigration enforcement operations. Our local immigrant-owned businesses are dealing with employees and coworkers in fear of being abducted, and their main clientele is so scared to leave their homes. Some local immigrant-owned businesses have seen upwards of an 80% decrease in customers.
Together, we can stand up for our immigrant neighbors, and with your support, we can show our local immigrant-owned businesses that we know they make our city great. The diversity of our commercial corridors is the fabric of who we are as a city; they make Minneapolis vibrant and welcoming. We are resilient and rich in culture, art, and shared community because of them.
As we approach this holiday season, time off from work and school, visits from family and friends, and just some time to relax, please join us in supporting our immigrant neighbors. You can do so by shopping at the many wonderful immigrant-owned businesses in Minneapolis. We have grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops, and more along these corridors that are a perfect place for us to spend time as we gather with loved ones and neighbors. This is one impactful way we can support each other during these hard times.
Signed by proud Immigrant and children of immigrant council members,
Aisha Chughtai – Minneapolis Council Vice-President
Jason Chavez – Minneapolis Ward 9 Council Member
Aurin Chowdhury – Minneapolis Ward 12 Council Member
Jamal Osman – Minneapolis Ward 6 Council Member”
I continue to draw strength and resolve from the brave residents of our city who are stepping up to take care of one another and protect our communities from the out-of-control federal occupation of the city. Continue to reach out to my office with reports, questions, or concerns about federal activity in the Ward. And thank you for all you do to keep our communities safe.
In Solidarity,
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Contact us
Visit: minneapolismn.gov/ward10
Email: ward10@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2210
We've moved while work is being done in City Hall. Our office is in:
City Hall, Room 370
350 S Fifth St
Get Directions
For reasonable accommodations or alternative format please contact 311. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311. |
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