 The council took two votes to address two of the mayor’s vetoes. One was on an ordinance I brought forward, Care Over Criminalization. This is an ordinance to decriminalize the possession of paraphernalia, align the municipal code with state law after the legislature decriminalized possession of paraphernalia in 2023. After a majority passed it two weeks ago, the mayor put politics over substance and vetoed it. Unfortunately, we were unable to override that veto yesterday. Not a single Minneapolis resident will see their health or safety improve because of the mayor’s action.
The second veto override vote was on the Pause Evictions, Save Lives ordinance. This would give renters more time to pay their rent. Currently, if a landlord plans to file an eviction due to missed rent, they must give the renter 30-days notice prior to filing the eviction. This ordinance would have increased that notice period to 45 days. Again, the mayor vetoed this policy that would have helped our communities recover after the devastation left behind Operation Metro Surge. Unfortunately, we were also unable to override this veto.
More information on these two ordinances can be found in my previous newsletter.
 Minneapolis residents and businesses are invited to engage in a conversation regarding the commercial pre-eviction notice ordinance being proposed by Council President Elliott Payne and myself. The proposed ordinance would require a written notice 30 days prior to the initiation of eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent for commercial tenants.
Come join us for our meeting on Monday May 11th from 5:30-7:00 PM at Windom Park Recreation Center (2251 Hayes St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418).
 At today’s council meeting, we voted on the Sensitive Places, Assault Weapons, Facsimile Firearms, and Enforcement (S.A.F.E.) ordinance. This work has been led by Council Member Aurin Chowdhury since September 2025, and I was proud to join as a co-author along with Council Member Palmisano and Council Member Whiting. This ordinance would only go into effect if the state legislature passes a law permitting cities to take such action. This ordinance would, among other things:
- Ban the possession of assault weapons, large-capacity magazines, binary triggers, ghost guns.
- Prohibit possession of firearms in City-owned or -operated buildings and public places, such as businesses, restaurants, event venues, and places of worship.
- Make it illegal for a person to possess a firearm near controlled substances.
- Regulate the safe storage of firearms.
As we took this vote today, I thought about our kids at Annunciation and the Annunciation community who are leading with moral clarity, which led to an historic vote in the MN State Senate. I also think about the mass shootings of our unhoused neighbors who have been targeted, and the countless neighbors we have lost to senseless gun violence across Minneapolis. Specifically, I’m thinking of those in the Northside and Southside who for too long have been disproportionately impacted by gun violence.
My mind was also on the mass shooting that occurred on August 26, 2025, next to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. An individual fired 29 rounds from a rifle within eight seconds at a group of people. The perpetrator killed Gregory Sweeten and six others were injured. This is where I went to high school, one where 98 percent of students identify as Latino or Black. This school is home to working class families. Students should never have to wonder whether they will make it home or not because of these senseless acts.
 I am excited about the opening of the Southside East Lake Street Clinic. This is a site that was once a Family Dollar, destroyed in the summer of 2020 as our community faced a racial reckoning after the police murdered George Floyd. For years, this lot sat as a reminder of what we lost, how our city must continue to reckon with its harms, and the pain and trauma our community has carried.
It has now become a reminder of what we’re capable of building while continuing to address health inequities, police brutality, and structural racism that has plagued our community. The Southside East Lake Street Clinic sits in a community that has long been medically underserved, a community that has always deserved better and has been underinvested and underinsured. That’s what makes this even more significant.
In 2024, I was proud to author a budget amendment that allowed the city to help with the project and is being used to open the pharmacy space within this building. I want to thank everyone who made this possible.
The City has rolled out a new dispatch service to better connect the community with Community Safety Ambassadors in the East Lake Street and East Franklin Avenue cultural districts. Community members, business owners and visitors can now call or email dispatch to request support within the Ambassadors’ scope of services, making it easier to get timely, non-emergency help in the corridor.
Community Safety Ambassadors wear bright blue uniforms and provide a friendly, non-law-enforcement presence in the neighborhood. Safety Ambassadors provide:
- Safety escorts
- Wellness checks in public areas
- Help filing police and 311 reports
- Connections to City resources and services
- Support for businesses
- Basic first aid such as CPR and NARCAN
The new dispatch system helps ensure requests are routed quickly and efficiently, strengthening coordination and improving access to support for people who live, work and visit the area. Safety Ambassadors provide services five days per week, typically during daylight hours.
To request an Ambassador:
- Call: 612-673-5392
- Email: safetyambassador@minneapolismn.gov
Learn more about the Community Safety Ambassadors program.
 May is American Indian Heritage Month in Minnesota, celebrated every year to recognize American Indian cultures, contributions, history, traditions, art, and land. Throughout May, community members participate in events like open houses and pow wows.
For events that are happening throughout the month of May, you can find more information on the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors (MUID) website.
In June 2024, the City of Minneapolis and Hennepin County entered into a Joint Powers Agreement to fund two full-time social workers dedicated to providing direct outreach to Lake Street. Yesterday, we voted to approve a request to extend the agreement for additional services. Services available include:
- Direct access to social workers in and around East Lake Street on a voluntary basis.
- Social workers will be available to engage with the community and make connections to existing resources. Transportation will be available to bring individuals directly to additional resources as needed.
- Social workers provide intervention and stabilization for people who may benefit from connections to services and resources.
- Stabilization care within the client’s community.
- Coordination among service providers across the state to formulate care plans for clients.
- Trauma informed approach to engaging with individuals who have been impacted by violence.
- Social workers may reach out and engage the person to assess their longer-term needs including their safety risk, and their capacity to connect to supportive services.
- Provide wrap-around services to help community members and reduce future calls.
- Based on client assessments, the response is tailored to everyone’s circumstance and customized to the person’s culture.
- Some situations may be resolved by phone, others require the opportunity to meet face to face to ensure ongoing support is provided, and to coordinate care and stabilize the community member within the community.
This program aims to provide direct access to existing social services through outreach on East Lake Street. It will allow for timely engagement with individuals who need support by meeting individuals where they are at in our community. This will lead to increased access to and use of community resources, public assistance programs, and non-urgent health care to support individuals.
Consistent with the priorities of a majority of council, this funding will lead to a reduced rate of arrests and/or prosecution of persons in mental health crises and an increased number of persons who remain in community settings with services and support. That, in turn, will lead to a system-wide cost-savings through reduction of incarceration and hospitalization. Further, we’ll see a reduced use of 911 and of repeat calls and visits to the same geographic area.
It is the hope that this program will increase public satisfaction with the response to low level criminal offenses while expanding access to existing services for individuals struggling with mental health, housing instability, and substance use disorders.
On just his third day on patrol, Officer Mitchell demonstrated his courage by rescuing an elderly couple from a burning building. His dedication to protecting others was clear from the beginning.
Tragically, on May 30, 2024, while responding to a shooting call, Officer Mitchell was ambushed. He was fatally shot while attempting to render aid to an individual he believed was injured. Officer Mitchell reflects heroism, compassion, and commitment to duty. He was a devoted fiancé, a father and a son. He is survived by his fiancée and four children.
At today's council meeting, I joined my colleagues to add the commemorative street name of Jamal Mitchell Way to Blaisdell Ave., between Franklin Ave. W. and 22nd St. W.
The 10th Ave. S. Bridge, built in 1913, was closed to car traffic in December 2021 because of safety concerns. Since then, Minneapolis Public Works has been studying how to repair and improve the bridge for people walking, biking, and driving. The project includes repairing parts of the bridge, replacing the bridge deck, and adding new railings and lighting. The project may also add new sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and a new water main.
In April, crews completed several major parts of the project:
- Water main receiving pits have dug and installed at the North & South Abutments
- Pier caps had been formed, reinforcement placed, and concrete poured
- Micropiling was installed for the South abutment footing & stem wall
- For the South abutment
- footing was formed
- reinforcement placed
- concrete poured
The Midtown Greenway Trail is currently open for pedestrians and bicycles. For more details and to sign up for email updates please visit the 10th Ave. S. bridge over Midtown Greenway project webpage.
The City of Minneapolis will celebrate Bike to Work Day Friday, May 15 as part of the Public Works department’s As You Go MPLS campaign. Pedal over to Government Center Plaza to join elected officials and fellow bike commuters for free donuts, “I biked” stickers, and more.
- 7-9 a.m. Friday, May 15
- Hennepin County Government Center Plaza
There is nowhere better to bike to work. Beat the commute, skip the parking, save some money, and enjoy the beauty that Minneapolis in May has to offer.
Bushes, branches and tall grass that hangs into the alley are a safety hazard for our collection crews and your neighbors. It reduces visibility for driving and scratches people and vehicles. That’s why we need your help keeping brush and branches along the alley trimmed.
Check your property for these other common nuisance violations too. They can be fire hazards and attract rodents.
- Garbage, litter, junk in yards
- Inoperable vehicles
- Piles of brush and branches
If a City inspector sees a violation, they’ll send a notice to the property owner. We typically give owners about a week to address an issue. If it’s not resolved by the due date, contractors will correct the violation, and the City will charge the owner a fee for the work. If you receive a violation notice and have questions, call 311 and ask to leave a message for the inspector. Read more about property maintenance on the City website.
The City of Minneapolis offers free use of Aira, an app that connects people with blindness or low vision to a live agent for navigation assistance. Aira can be used for free at:
- Minneapolis City Hall and Hennepin County Courthouse
- Public Service Center
- Public Service Building
- Nicollet Mall
- Minneapolis Convention Center
- Target Center
Aira is also available across the entire Metro Transit service area, including the METRO Blue and Green lines, and at the MSP Airport. Learn more about using Aira across the city.
 I hope you all had a happy International Workers Day! I proudly read the Minneapolis City Council’s resolution with my colleagues recognizing May 1st as International Workers Day at the 20th Annual May Day March on East Lake Street. We honored our Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Immigrant workers and their critical role in the labor movement.
I was also excited to see many of you at Powderhorn for the May Day Parade and Ceremony. This has been a community-driven celebration in South Minneapolis for 50 years. It was emotional as we were surrounded by neighbors who stood up to the federal government and loved ones who have been resilient in the face of the occupation.
Metro Transit has shared that buses will replace METRO Blue Line trains between Target Field and Fort Snelling stations May 9-10 to allow for construction and repair work. Replacement bus timing can vary and trips will take longer because of routing and traffic conditions. Metro Transit recommends planning extra time for your trip. Additional dates for buses replacing trains:
- May 30-31: Blue Line, Target Field to Fort Snelling stations
- June 29-Aug. 19: Blue Line, Target Field to Mall of America stations
- June 29-July 27: Green Line, Target Field to West Bank stations
- Aug. 16-19: Green Line, Target Field to West Bank stations
Find replacement bus locations and maps on the Metro Transit website.
Stay informed about service changes and project updates by signing up for email or text alerts from Metro Transit.
 The City of Minneapolis is developing the vision and goals for its 2SLGBTQIA+ equity work and wants your feedback. 2SLGBTQIA+ stands for Two-Spirit (2S), lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual. We use a plus (+) at the end for the many identities and experiences that can fit within.
The City’s Neighborhood and Community Relations department created a draft of the vision and goals for the City’s 2SLGBTQIA+ equity work after having conversations with community organization leaders, City staff, community members and Minneapolis residents between fall 2025 and spring 2026.
Read the draft of the vision and goals, then share your feedback by:
We welcome and encourage you to share feedback by May 20. The City will share an updated draft of the vision and goals in June.
Curious what happens inside Minneapolis City Hall? During Doors Open Minneapolis, you’re invited to take a look. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 9-10, this free event offers behind-the-scenes access to spaces that shape our city — and the people who keep it running.
At City Hall and Hennepin County Courthouse, don’t miss your first chance to see the newly updated City Council Chambers and other renovated spaces. Staff will be on hand to share how their work serves the community.
Doors Open is about more than buildings — it’s about helping people feel connected to their city. By opening these spaces, we make civic life more approachable and invite everyone to better understand, and care for, the place they call home. You can also explore City sites like Fire Station 1, the Minneapolis Traffic Management Center and other spaces that shape our city.
Plan your visit on the Doors Open Minneapolis website.
 Building healthier communities requires the dedication of people who are committed to improving the well-being of our city. To recognize those contributions, the Minneapolis Health Department held its annual Local Public Health Heroes award ceremony April 29.
The awards and ceremony are one way the Health Department recognizes the vital role community members play in building healthier communities and supporting the department’s vision. Healthy lives, health equity and healthy environments are the foundations of a vibrant Minneapolis now and into the future.
The committee selects recipients based on the excellence and impact of their work that aligns with one or more of the Health Department’s goal areas. Congratulations to these Local Public Health Heroes award winners:
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A Healthy Start to Life and Learning, Thriving Youth and Young Adults: Birth Justice Collaborative
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A Resilient Public Health Infrastructure: Portland House
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Health Equity: Miguel Fiol
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Healthy Living and Healthy Food Systems: Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra, Camila Valenzuela-Panza and Sierra Leone’ Williams
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Safe Places to Eat, Swim, and Stay: Healthy Roots Institute
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Substance Use and Opioid Response: Gaebriel Lyrek
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Sustainability, Healthy Homes and Environment: Sabathani Community Center
Learn more about this year’s winners on the City website.
 City crews have replaced the wiring in more than 700 streetlights over the last year. Streetlights that went dark from copper wire theft now shine through less expensive – and less likely to be stolen – aluminum wiring.
Last year an investment of funds to the Public Works Traffic Division allowed the City to hire more seasonal electricians, use more rental equipment and buy more material for the repairs.
Read more about streetlights on the City website.
Contact the Ward 9 Office
Email: jason.chavez@minneapolismn.gov
Phone: 612-673-2209
City Hall
350 S. Fifth St., Room 370
Minneapolis, MN 55415
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. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311. |
