I hope you are all staying warm!  It’s been a busy time at City Hall and especially at our office. In this newsletter, you’ll find updates on: the City’s response to the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders; OUR Rescue contract; continued efforts on Neighborhood Safety Department oversight and upcoming violence intervention contracts; new Franchise Agreements with energy utility companies and continued work on the City’s climate goals; proposed after action review of the Allison Lussier case; highlights from community events I’ve attended; upcoming events and activities; and cold weather information and resources.  

Like many of you, I am troubled by the actions President Donald Trump has taken since he took office last month, and I’m concerned about how residents in our community will be impacted. City leaders at every level – Council, Mayor, and the Mayor’s Administration – are committed to working together to minimize the negative financial and societal implications for Minneapolitans.  

On Tuesday last week, the Minneapolis City Attorney’s gave the Council a detailed presentation on how the City will be impacted by President Trump’s Executive Orders. Following their presentation, the City Council authorized the City Attorney’s Office to join and pursue legal action against the Trump Administration in matters that harm the City’s ongoing work or harm Minneapolis residents. I was excited to support this change, it’s important that our Attorney’s have the ability to act quickly so they can legally fight to protect the people of Minneapolis. 

Like many of you, I first found out that an organization called OUR Rescue had been selected by the City to provide anti-human trafficking training and services at the new South Minneapolis Community Safety Center when the Minnesota Star Tribune published an article about it on February 5th. OUR Rescue is a scandal-plagued organization that gained notoriety for credible and continuous allegations of mismanagement, human trafficking, and sexual assault. Many of you contacted my office expressing dismay, horror, and concern about the Office of Community Safety contracting with this organization. As a result of your advocacy, the Frey Administration chose to end the potential contract after my colleagues on the Council and I raised the community’s valid fears and concerns. The Office of Community Safety has said they will be re-soliciting bids for this critical service. I hope they will bring forward a contract with a vendor that has real expertise in supporting victims and survivors of human trafficking. 

I want to sincerely thank all of you that contacted my office, I am always moved by the level of care our community has for one another and our collective safety. If you have any additional questions or concerns about this, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

Last week, Council Member Wonsley brought forward a Resolution to move the Group Violence and Youth Group Violence Intervention (GVI/YGVI) contracts currently managed by the Neighborhood Safety Department to Hennepin County. This proposal resulted from her efforts over the last two years to work with the Neighborhood Safety Department and Office of Community Safety to address systemic issues, including mismanagement of unarmed community safety programs. For more detailed information you can read Council Member Wonsley’s detailed memo from May of 2024 outlining the concerns and consequences for community.  

For context, the City settled a lawsuit last year that stemmed from inadequate contracting practices within the Neighborhood Safety Department. The Director of Neighborhood Safety recently resigned from her position at the City and Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette is serving in the interim role. Half of the positions within the department are vacant, including the position that manages Group Violence Intervention and Youth Group Violence Intervention contracts. GVI and YGVI have been successful models for reducing gun violence around the country, contributing to significant reductions in gun violence in cities like Indianapolis, Boston, and Cincinati. An outside study of the Office of Community Safety and Neighborhood Safety Department, which was presented to the Council in November 2024, identified significant gaps within the governance of programs that are a part of the community safety ecosystem.  

Unfortunately, Commissioner Barnette responded to CM Wonsley’s proposal by leveling baseless accusations at unnamed Council Members in the press over the proposed move, alarming and upsetting many community members, ultimately resulting in multiple Council Members receiving threats both publicly and privately. I asked Commissioner Barnette repeatedly to provide any evidence of his allegations, he failed to answer any questions or provide any evidence. 

Ultimately, after extensive discussion, the Council decided to indefinitely postpone CM Wonsley’s proposal.   We were finally informed, after months of inquiring, that the contracts with GVI and YGVI providers had been finalized and it was important to us to indefinitely postpone this item to prevent any disruption of services. I still have ongoing concerns about the mismanagement of the Neighborhood Safety Department. I will continue to take my responsibility for oversight seriously and ensure that your tax dollars are being used to fund sound programming that increases public safety and brings much needed resources to our communities. 

As a member of the City’s Clean Energy Partnership, I am thrilled to share that after a year of hard work we have successfully passed new Franchise Agreements with CenterPoint Energy for gas services and Xcel Energy for electric services in Minneapolis. These new agreements commit both companies to reducing emissions by 20-30% by 2035 and act as a tool to hold Minneapolis utilities accountable and outline service quality, program delivery equity expectations, and prioritize our underserved and low-income neighborhoods. They also guarantee accurate mapping information for company infrastructure locations and investments. I’m grateful for the work of our City staff, Council Member Cashman, the Clean Energy Partnership members, and all of the environmental advocacy organizations who informed, guided, and supported this work.  

While I’m proud of what we were able to achieve in these agreements — I know there is so much more work to be done to build a climate resilient Minneapolis and meet our City’s ambitious goals.  

The City Council approved a formal request to the City Auditor to conduct an independent after action review of the City’s and Minneapolis Police Department’s actions relating to the death of Allison Lussier and the subsequent investigation.  

Allison Lussier was an Indigenous woman who was found dead in her home in February 2024. She was a domestic violence victim who made several 911 calls and filed police reports seeking to get help, including just days before her death. One year later, a police investigation into her death is still incomplete. What happened to Allison is devastating, especially because of the staggering rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and relatives around the country. For the last year her family has been seeking answers and justice – I hope the City Auditor will conduct an independent review and Allison’s family will finally get the answers they deserve. I’m proud to have supported this item, and it is my hope that this after action can help the City prevent putting any other families through this experience. 

Here are a few highlights from the events I’ve been grateful to recently attend: 

• My office held a community meeting last Tuesday at Centro to discuss our efforts to establish Nicollet Avenue between Grant Street on the north end to 28th Street on the south end as a Cultural District. I was happy to provide more information and get direct feedback from impacted members of our community. This project is a collaboration between the Wards 6, 7, and 10 offices, though the majority of the potential Cultural District is located in Ward 10. Here are some more details about what this may look like, and what it could mean for residents and business owners along the Nicollet Avenue corridor —
  • Nicollet Avenue would join parts of 38th Street, Cedar Avenue, Central Avenue, East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue East, Lowry Avenue North, and West Broadway as a Cultural District 
    • Cultural Districts offer a range of resources to businesses in the area including: 
    • Business District Support Grants, which support businesses with 
    • Promotions like ads and blogs 
    • Community Events and activities that energize public spaces 
    • Networking events for business owners 
  • Façade Improvement Matching Grants, which support businesses with
    • Exterior painting including murals
    • Siding and finish restoration 
    • Exterior lighting 
  • Real Estate Development Gap Financing Loans, which help businesses to  
    • Develop buildings with a positive effect on the community, like community health centers, theaters, food co-ops, and other similar community spaces 
  • B-Tap Business Technical Assistance Program, which connects businesses with 
    • City-funded providers that any business owner can contact for free business support like legal advice, booking or accounting support
  • This stretch of Nicollet Avenue meets the criteria required for a corridor to be designated as a Cultural District.  
  • The City’s Community Planning and Economic Development Department is finalizing a survey for property owners in the proposed Cultural District to fill out. This marks the first step in the legislative process to establish Nicollet Avenue as a Cultural District. 

• I had the pleasure of speaking to the leaders of Southwest Alliance for Equity (SWAE) at their yearly organizing meeting about the importance of the equity, racial justice and community work in the Southwest part of the City.  

• I attended a session led by the Health Department to assess community health needs at the City’s annual Community Connections Conference. It was so wonderful to see many Ward 10 residents attend this important discussion and share insight about the root causes of homelessness in our city.  

• The Children's Theater Company is presenting two performances throughout this month, concluding on March 9th.  

• "Milo Imagines the World" is a play that follows a young boy who discovers that first impressions are not always accurate, his sister is not as bothersome as he believed, and he develops a newfound admiration for the real world. The next performance is scheduled for Thursday, February 20, at 7:00pm.  

• "Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster" is a show about a monster named Leonardo. Despite Leonardo's best efforts, he is unable to scare anyone. He sets out on a quest to find the biggest scaredy-cat in an attempt to frighten them. The next performance will take place on Friday, February 21, at 7:00pm.  

• I would like to extend a warm welcome to Papa Chuy’s Bakery and commend their recent arrival in the neighborhood. They have opened this month and are currently hosting a Grand Opening sale. You can find them at 2409 Lyndale Ave S, in the former location of Vegan Treats, on the first floor. 

• The New Nicollet Redevelopment project is having Open House co-hosted by Whitter Alliance on Tuesday, February 25, from 5:00pm-7:00pm in the multi-purpose room at the Whittier International Elementary School (315 W. 26th St). Come stop by and learn how the community’s engagement has shaped the development framework and learn about next steps. 

Minneapolis is currently in a Cold Weather Advisory as we face below freezing temperatures.  

If you are someone you know is currently unsheltered, here is information from Hennepin County detailing warming shelters available in Minneapolis. 

Here are some reminders from CenterPoint Energy – the primary gas provider in Minneapolis:  

Under Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule, residential customers who are having difficulty paying their heating bills can not be disconnected of their service between Oct. 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. The Cold Weather Rule applies to both homeowners and renters. If your heat is ever turned off in the winter, please contact my office so we can help get this corrected under Minnesota’s Cold Weather rule. 

CenterPoint representatives can also refer customers to resources that provide financial assistance for heating costs such as Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program. This federally funded program helps pay for home heating costs and furnace repairs for income-eligible households. Applications are still being accepted for this program, and funds remain for Minnesotans this heating season.  

This was a busy Council cycle and a long newsletter of updates! I look forward to working with my colleagues on issues of critical importance to Ward 10 and the City. Your continued diligence and engagement help my office identify and solve problems our residents are facing, please keep reaching out about concerns and questions you have.  And I will leave you with this piece of good news, even though we are in a cold stretch warmer weather in coming next Monday! 

In solidarity, 

Aisha Chughtai