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Earlier this week, Council had a special meeting behind closed doors to discuss the private encampment near the Coliseum on E. Lake St. Mayor Frey called for this special session last Friday “for a briefing and consideration of a potential litigation matter” against the property owner. This potential litigation resulted from the fact that the City does not have the authority to intervene on private property when the property owner has given residents permission to set up the camp. My office has heard from many of you about this encampment, and I have been in constant contact with various departments across City government to ensure the health and safety of housed and unhoused residents and neighbors alike.
While encampments are not the answer to providing stable, dignified housing for our neighbors, a lack of a plan will only lead to more people experiencing homelessness. Along with a number of my council colleagues, I support a Housing First approach to address homelessness. Housing First is an “evidence-based strategy that quickly connects people to homes and helps them access voluntary services, such as substance use treatment, peer support, and employment services.”
The reason we’ve got to this point is because there is no plan to address homelessness in Minneapolis. By simply evicting encampments with no plan thereafter, the mayor’s actions often lead to our unhoused neighbors simply moving a few blocks away and setting up another encampment.
One of my concerns with this lawsuit was the lack of a plan from the mayor’s administration beyond just evicting the encampment. Despite repeated questions from myself and my colleagues, Council was not given satisfactory answers on where those residents would go if this lawsuit moves forward and the City evicts the encampment. At Monday’s special meeting, we learned that nearly 60 people are sleeping at the encampment. This is in stark contrast to Mayor Frey’s claim a few months ago that only “27 people are experiencing unsheltered homelessness across our city.”
On the day of the vote, the Hennepin County Homeless Shelter Bed Availability for Individuals 18+ was only 12 beds available that morning and only 2 beds that night.
That is why I voted against moving forward with a lawsuit against the property owner to vacate the encampment. While I have concerns with the encampment being next to a school, I don’t believe that this is the best path forward. Moving people when there is not enough capacity is not the way to address unsheltered homelessness. My position is that instead of wasting time and money on a lawsuit, we should use those resources to move unsheltered residents into a navigation center or another location that is safe and secure both for those living at the encampment and neighbors who live in the area. Ultimately, Council voted 6-4 to approve the City moving forward with the lawsuit.
To address this issue, my office continues our work with the City Attorney’s Office and City staff to develop a Safe Parking ordinance and a Safe Outdoor Spaces ordinance. These ordinances seek to support unhoused residents by enabling safe, temporary, and regulated outdoor environments through strategic zoning code changes. They will draw on precedents from successful models in Duluth (Safe Parking) and Denver (Safe Outdoor Spaces) along with other peer cities.
These ordinances are complex policies that need to align with, and are limited by, state statutes and various city ordinances. Due to these complexities, staff are taking care to ensure that they are being developed in the best way possible. I’ll be sure to keep you updated as we move forward with the legislative process. We had a positive meeting about these policies this week.
I will also continue to support city funding to start a navigation center to address this issue rather than simply move it to the next block.
I’m disappointed to see that Mayor Frey refused to sign the Council’s action to deny two contracts run by an individual who threatened council members and made homophobic and sexist remarks towards the body. Refusing to sign our motion to deny these contracts is harmful to our LGBTQIA+ community.
 At yesterday’s council meeting, we passed a resolution honoring Welcoming Week 2025. The theme for this year’s Welcoming Week is Stories We Share.
The City of Minneapolis is a Welcoming City. Each year we celebrate Welcoming Week, an annual opportunity for communities across the country to celebrate community diversity, promote mutual understanding and foster a sense of belonging for all. Because Citizenship Day and Constitution Day take place during Welcoming Week, the City also hosts annual events focusing on the importance of U.S. citizenship and how to apply to become a citizen through naturalization.
2025 events
Check out the City of Minneapolis Welcoming Week page, where you’ll find Welcoming Week events to join including:
- A community celebration and litter pickup
- A job fair
- An immigration forum
- A storytelling game
- A citizenship workshop
Show your support
All of us make the City of Minneapolis a more Welcoming City. For Welcoming Week 2025, you can show your support by joining a community- or City-sponsored event, sharing information about the City’s All Are Welcome Here campaign, and so much more. Learn more about Welcoming Week, and thank you for all you do to foster a sense of belonging in our Minneapolis community.
At yesterday’s council meeting, we passed a resolution calling on the state legislature to ban assault rifles, high-capacity magazines statewide, require safe storage of firearms, and give cities local authority to enact local gun control legislation. In 2020, gun violence was declared the leading cause of death in children and teenagers. In June 2022, public health leaders across the state of Minnesota declared gun violence as a public health crisis and committed to work to prevent the deaths of innocent people of all ages and backgrounds.
Also yesterday, Council Member Chowdhury provided notice to introduce an ordinance that would enact regulations on components, possession, storage, and use of firearms that would go into effect immediately if the state legislature enacts a statute that gives cities local authority to enact gun control legislation. I am looking forward to supporting this action when it comes before the City Council.
The City of Minneapolis publishes public data on crime and other community safety topics, but not on clearance rates. Effective investigations are an important component of a comprehensive approach to public safety, so it is important that council members and the public understand the current status of clearance rates in the City and what can be done to improve them. Theory and evidence from criminology suggest that effective investigations may deter criminal behavior by increasing the certainty of consequences, thereby modifying the perception of the personal risk to engaging in the behavior and reducing its likelihood. In contrast, simply increasing the severity of punishment can lead to high levels of incarceration that unnecessarily harm individuals and their communities and waste public resources. Timely investigations may also break the cycle of retaliatory violence, while repeated, unsolved cases may erode public trust.
In response, we passed yesterday a Legislative Directive requesting from the mayor case clearance rates across a number of categories, an explanation of the City’s methodology for calculating clearance rates, barriers to improving clearance rates, and investigation capacity.
 It’s officially Welcoming Week! The Ward 9 team was glad to participate in the East Lake Street Cleanup.
The Southside Green Zone Council serves as an advisory board to the City Council and Mayor on the implementation and evaluation of the Southside Green Zone Work Plan. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 30. More information, including instructions on applying, can be found here. If you have any questions about the Southside Green Zone Council or the application process, please reach out to my office.
 In addition to the Southside Green Zone Council, the City is accepting applications for several other boards. Serving on a City board or commission is your chance to directly shape policies that affect daily life, like housing, transit and public safety. Your voice brings a fresh perspective and drives transparency in City decisions.
Most boards meet monthly, and it’s a great way to gain valuable skills, build relationships with community leaders, and grow your understanding of local government.
Opportunities include:
- The Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights works to promote and enforce civil rights across the city.
- The Heritage Preservation Commission safeguards the city’s historic and cultural legacy.
- The Workplace Advisory Committee advises City leaders on employee and workplace issues.
Ready to get involved? Explore current openings, and apply Sept. 1-30.
 As mentioned in previous newsletters, Council approved funding to establish the City’s first Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) that will travel around the city to provide opioid treatment, reduce opioid overdose deaths, increase access to treatment and promote long-term recovery. I’m glad that these investments are coming to fruition and that our residents will soon benefit from them.
As of last month, the MMU is operational and visiting communities around the city. If you would like to learn more about this service or request that it visit your neighborhood, here are some resources:
At this week's Council Meeting, we approved the concept layout for Hennepin County’s Park Avenue and Portland Avenue Safety improvements project.
As I shared in previous newsletters, Hennepin County is leading a project to bring safety improvements to Park and Portland Avenues, between Interstate 94 and 46th Street. Construction is not scheduled to begin until 2027, but my office has heard from many residents who believe that something needs to be done to address valid safety concerns until construction begins.
Because Park and Portland are county roads, those decisions will ultimately be made by Hennepin County but I believe that the city must also help. I have been in contact with Hennepin County Commissioner Angela Conley, who agrees that temporary measures should be put in place as well. We are staying in constant contact with City and County staff and Commissioner Conley as decisions are being made. As soon as I know something, I will share that update. In the meantime, I will continue advocating for interim safety treatments.
The Blue Line will be out of service beginning on Monday, Sept. 22 through Saturday, Oct. 4 due to the Track & Signals Project, as part of METRO Transit’s Renew the Blue efforts. This closure is happening to allow for multiple repair efforts along the Blue Line corridor. There will be no LRT service on either the Blue or Green Lines between U.S. Bank and Target Field stations during these repairs.
Replacement Bus Service: During this time, replacement buses will operate along the full length of the Blue Line, serving all stations to ensure continued access for riders. METRO Transit encourage riders to plan their trips in advance as replacement bus service is not as fast as the Blue Line and other local routes may provide better alternatives.
Additional Resources:
 The 13th Annual Festival de las Calaveras: Twin Cities Día de los Muertos Celebration will take place on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 3:00 - 10:00 p.m. at the Hook & Ladder theater + Minnehaha Ave. S. The event will bring together an amazing line-up of artists, lucha libre, low riders, puppet bikes, vendors, food trucks, and community to celebrate ancestors and culture.
 Voters have several options for how to cast their ballots in this year’s municipal election, and any voter is allowed to vote early starting Sept. 19 or on Election Day, which is Nov. 4 this year.
The Early Vote Center opens Friday, Sept. 19, for early voting in person 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Voters can also cast their ballot by mail or by dropping off a ballot. More locations and hours will open up over the election season. For more details and updates, to request a mail ballot, to register to vote and more, visit the City website.
A free workshop for renters who want to save money and live more sustainably is taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (dinner will be provided). The event will occur at the Phillips Community Center, 323 11th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404. Join RCC to connect with city and nonprofit staff who can help you, your neighbors, and your building manager make your building more energy-efficient and eco-friendly. Take charge and make your home more comfortable, affordable, and green!
There is also a Zoom option on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (please RSVP for link). RSVP here. More information can be found here.
The City of Minneapolis would like your feedback on proposals from prospective tenants for the development and management of the community space within the EVS Center. The survey closes September 12, 2025.
The survey can be taken here.
 The Lake Street Safety Center is hosting another open house Sept. 24 to connect with residents, workers and local businesses. Join staff to meet service providers, explore available resources, and learn how the center can support you and your community.
The Lake Street Safety Center serves as a collaborative space of government and community-based services and resources. It offers services including:
- K-12 school enrollment and education-related resources.
- Resources for victims or survivors of crimes.
- Help with safety concerns or resolving conflicts.
- Housing services, like rental help or rapid rehousing.
- Support recovering from substance use disorder.
- Resources for the area’s businesses and property owners, like help with graffiti issues, lighting concerns, and registering security cameras.
- Connecting to social services and case managers.
- Free naloxone and fentanyl test strips are always available at the safety center – no questions asked. Pick up these resources to protect yourself and others.
There will be tables set up outside the center so you can stop by, ask questions, and find out how to connect with these services during regular office hours. You can learn how to file non-emergency police reports at the center; get your blood pressure or sugar levels checked by HEMS Bridge team and Hennepin Healthcare; and find out more about the City’s new Community Safety Ambassador pilot program in the Lake Street area.
Lake Street Safety Center open house
2-5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 242228 E. Lake St.
Learn more about the Lake Street Safety Center on the City’s website.
The City of Minneapolis recently re-applied for Bicycle Friendly Community certification with the League of American Bicyclists. Minneapolis was last awarded a Gold-level certification in 2019, and a lot has changed since then.
The next step in the application process rests with you. The league has opened a survey (about 10 minutes to complete) for all Minneapolis bicyclists. Your anonymous response will be factored into the City’s eventual certification and eventually shared with the City as feedback. Simply by responding you can help demonstrate the strength, knowledge and dedication of the Minneapolis bicycling community.
Fill out the survey and share with your fellow bicyclists. Read more about Bicycle Friendly Community certification.
 Minneapolis celebrates Transit To Work Day. As tens of thousands of daily riders already know, public transit is rapidly getting more frequent, faster, and safer in Minneapolis. That's real progress worth celebrating and experiencing.
There are two ways you can participate: Pledge to commute by transit Sept. 17. And then come celebrate transit before your afternoon commute at a Car Free MSP event:
Transit to Work Day event 4-6 p.m. Sept. 17 Commons Park downtown
There will be snacks, activities, giveaways, and demos for new riders. All are welcome. Transit to Work Day is a part of As You Go MPLS to promote the many ways to get around Minneapolis without a car.
 If you are interested in walking a school bus stop route for the 2025-26 school year, please fill out this form so that the organizers can follow up with you. The Bus Stop Guardian program will hold a gathering in August 2025 to go over details of the program, de-escalation techniques, and plan walking routes for the volunteers.
All Bus Stop Guardians volunteers must pass a background check to participate.
The City is responding to a widespread rash of vehicle damage and theft over the last month with more than 580 vehicles damaged or rummaged through. The most recent occurred overnight Aug. 19 affecting 118 vehicles across the city. Together, these crimes have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
The City’s focus is on disrupting and ending these crimes and arresting the people responsible for them. With 911 calls reporting the suspicious activity and officers patrolling impacted areas Aug. 19, the Police Department realized a crime wave was happening and took an all-hands-on-deck approach. Officers have so far recovered two vehicles believed to be involved in some of the recent damage and arrested three people, who are booked for auto theft. Two dozen community service officers were assigned to affected neighborhoods to gather evidence, speak with residents and help victims complete police reports.
What you can do
The City asks our community to stay vigilant and keep calling 911 immediately for suspicious activity. Provide details if you can: describe the clothing, direction of travel, vehicles and license plates. And share video evidence if you have it. Report damage on your vehicle if you have it. Community reports are helping make the difference.
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. TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311. |
