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This morning, the City Council considered the Introduction & Referral of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Introduction & Referral is a technical step of the policymaking process – it sends an Ordinance to the relevant Committee for discussion, amendments, and a public hearing. This action failed by a 6-4 vote of the Council, effectively killing any possibility of advancing rent stabilization this year. It also killed the possibility of holding a public hearing on this important issue, which has been under consideration at City Hall since late 2019, was approved by voters in 2021, and was recommended by a Council-created Work Group of experts. Due to the August 25th deadline to get Rent Stabilization on the ballot, there is now no pathway to achieve this timeline this year. Just last month a majority of the Council voted in favor of drafting this policy.
Today is Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays for Muslims around the world. As the 3 Muslim members of the Minneapolis City Council, we were observing Eid with our families and community when we learned of this news. It is a common practice for Council leadership to reschedule meetings that conflict with major holidays.
City Council meetings are typically held on Thursdays. When the Council’s calendar for this year was voted on in September 2022, this week’s meeting was set for this Wednesday in an effort to accommodate Eid for the City’s Muslim Councilmembers and staff. The precise date of Eid al-Adha is determined by the lunar calendar; early last week, Eid al-Adha was confirmed to be observed Wednesday, June 28, the same day of the Council meeting. Unfortunately, Council leadership decided against using their authority to reschedule this meeting.
We will share next steps in the coming days.
Eid Mubarak,
Jeremiah Ellison, Ward 5 Councilmember
Jamal Osman, Ward 6 Councilmember
Aisha Chughtai, Ward 10 Councilmember
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