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Dear Neighbors,
I'm deeply disappointed in Mayor Frey's decision to veto the Pause Evictions, Save Lives ordinance. This is the wrong call.
Because of the Operation Metro surge, people and families had no choice but to shelter in place. As a result they have fallen behind on rent. From neighborhood mutual aid groups and residents directly impacted, we have heard the same thing again and again: people simply need more time to catch up.
Right now our city is facing crises on multiple fronts, including the very real threat of a wave of evictions unlike anything we have seen before.
Unprecedented times call for solutions that meet the moment. Pausing evictions was one such solution, one that could have helped keep people safely housed while they get back on their feet.
This could have been a moment for all of us to step up together. Instead, working people and low-income residents are bearing the burden of this decision. That is wrong and will only deepen disparities working and poor people face.
I will be voting to override the veto, and I hope my colleagues will join me.
While the Mayor has proposed an additional $1 million in rental assistance, without a pause on evictions, that amount is simply not enough. These policy tools must work hand in hand. I am also concerned that this funding would come from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, an essential resource our city relies on to reduce homelessness and expand access to housing.
As council members, we will continue to explore every option available to us. We will not back down from standing up for our residents who are struggling the most right now.
In Community,
Council Member Aurin Chowdhury
Mayor Frey Vetoes Ordinance, Endangering Thousands of Minneapolis Renters Impacted by Operation Metro Surge
Joint statement by Council Member Wonsley, Council Vice President Osman, Council Member Stevenson, Council Member Chavez, Council Member Chughtai and Council Member Chowdhury, authors of the ordinance Pause Evictions, Save Lives.
MINNEAPOLIS– Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has vetoed the Pause Evictions, Save Lives Ordinance that would have temporarily slowed evictions to protect families impacted by Operation Metro Surge. The Mayor’s veto, if sustained, will contribute to mass evictions of residents in our city who were impacted by Operation Metro Surge.
The Mayor’s veto is particularly distressing, given the recent report by the City of Minneapolis indicating that the occupation left renters behind on rent by about $15.7 million after just one month. Additionally, over sixteen state legislators who represent Minneapolis requested Mayor Frey sign the ordinance to support their efforts at the capital to advance a similar state-wide renter protection.
Mayor Frey’s veto was with full knowledge that current resources for rental assistance are significantly insufficient to address the need. The Minneapolis City Council is working to support state legislators to secure the tens of millions required to keep people housed. But time is needed to secure those funds and distribute them to residents in need.
Mayor Frey has not articulated a plan to prevent mass evictions caused by Metro Surge. His announcement today that he supports an additional $1 million dollars in rental assistance is a victory for residents who worked with the Council to force the Mayor to make this concession. Now that Mayor Frey has made clear he believes only money for landlords, not policy, can prevent evictions — the Council will be looking at all the resources the City has available to increase rental assistance in Minneapolis.
Mayor Frey’s choice to prioritize landlords’ bottom line over thousands of residents facing housing instability illustrates that, despite his national media presence during Operation Metro Surge, the Mayor is more interested in the landlord lobby’s needs than the working people of Minneapolis.
Pause Evictions, Save Lives is one of many tools the government must be prepared to utilize if we care about preventing the looming an eviction and homelessness crisis. Mayor Frey ignored housing experts who shared data to support this policy would mitigate against evictions. Rather than listen to these experts or the countless residents and impacted families who have testified about the urgent need for this measure, he rationalized his veto with unsupported claims from a handful of landlords. It is always more cost-effective to prevent eviction than to try and re-house families who have been evicted. It’s commonsense policy, rooted in compassion.
During Operation Metro Surge, working class residents fundraised tens of millions of dollars to keep each other housed and safe. Mayor Frey celebrated these efforts on national news. Now that the spotlight is off our city, Mayor Frey is allowing the eviction of the very same families who were targeted by the Trump administration.
The City Council will vote on whether to override or sustain the Mayor’s veto on March 26th, 2026. An override requires nine votes.
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