In 2024, a focus of my work was to increase safety resources Citywide, with a specific focus on the areas of Ward 10 that had been identified by community members as in high need. After hearing from many of our Uptown neighbors and local businesses about safety, I worked with the community to bring forward a budget amendment for Safety Ambassadors to come to the cultural district. The Community Safety Ambassadors have existed in various areas of Minneapolis since the creation of the Office of Community Safety, the budget amendment I brought forward over two years ago specifically allocated money to bring this resource to Uptown. 

Despite this budget amendment (see pg.10 of the budget markup packet to learn more) passing the Council unanimously, and being included in the final adopted budget, the administration had not implemented the program. Funds specifically for this purpose were redirected by the administration in 2025 without approval from the Council or input from the Uptown community. It has been an area of frustration for me, and for the community. However, my office and our neighbors never stopped advocating for this program. 

I’ve met with the multiple Directors of Neighborhood Safety that have existed in my tenure, named this repeatedly as a priority to the administration, and worked alongside all of you to make sure this program came to fruition.  

I’m so happy to announce that after all of our shared hard work, Director Harrington of the Neighborhood Safety Department publicly announced in the Public Health, Safety, and Equity Committee (PHSE), that Safety Ambassadors are coming to Uptown in November of this year! 

Until November, NSD will be looking to hire ambassadors and doing community engagement to adjust to Uptowns needs. I will continue to send out updates as this process continues, and if you have any questions, please reach out to my office.

Thank you for continuing to be a partner in this work to ensure community safety in Uptown. I can’t wait to continue this work together. 

In Solidarity,  

Aisha Chughtai