.

Good afternoon everyone. My name is Elliot Payne. I'm the President of Minneapolis City

Council. I will call this, call to order this

regular meeting of the City Council for January 15.

The Clerk will call the role.

Council Member Chavez.

Present.

Council Member Warren.

Present.

Council Member Schaeer.

Present.

Council Member Wansley.

Present.

Council Member Shattai.

Present.

Council Member Whiting.

Present.

Council Member Chowdhury.

It's absent.

Council Member Stevenson.

Present.

Council Member Rainville.

Present.

Council Member Vitor.

Present.

President.

President.

President.

President Payne.

President.

There are 12 members present.

Let the record reflect that we have a quorum.

Before we begin the meeting, I want to offer a friendly reminder to all members and staff

that this meeting is broadcast live to enable greater public participation.

The broadcast includes real-time captioning as a further method to increase the accessibility

of our proceedings to the community.

Therefore, all speakers need to be mindful of the rate of their speech so that our captioners

fully capture and transcribe all comments for the broadcast. We ask all speakers to

moderate the speed and clarity of their comments. With that, the agenda for today's meeting

is before us. I'll note that item number eight under new business, which relates to a resolution

calling for a state moratorium on evictions, has been noticed to include a public comment

period. The intent is to allow our constituents the opportunity to share their positions on

this proposal with us prior to a vote. However, our council rules do not permit public comment

at meetings of the full council. That being a core function of our standing committees.

Therefore the motion is to adopt the agenda as presented together with the motion to suspend

council rule 7.2.d to permit the acceptance of the public comments on that agenda item

as I've already described. Additionally, I'm proposing a new business item number nine,

is a resolution condemning the egregious disregard of constitutional rights and the

reprehensible unsanctioned commission of violent acts against the Minneapolis community

during Operation Metro Surge. Printed copies of the resolution are in front of all of us.

Are there any amendments to be made to the agenda? May I have a motion to adopt the agenda

as I've stated. Second. The clerk will call the roll.

Council Member Chavez.

Aye.

Council Member Scherer.

Aye.

Council Member Wansley.

Aye.

Council Member Shugtai.

Aye.

Council Member Whiting.

Aye.

Council Member Chowdhury.

It's absent.

Council Member Stevenson.

Aye.

Council Member Rainer.

No.

Council Member Veer.

No.

Council Member Palimasana.

Aye.

Vice President Osman.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

There are 10 ayes and 2 nays.

That carries and the agenda is adopted as amended.

The next item is acceptance of minutes.

Today we have four sets of minutes.

They are from the final three meetings of 2025 held on

December 9th, 11th and 16th as well as from our

organizational meeting for this term which was held on

January 5th. I would entertain a motion to accept all of

those minutes.

So second.

But Clark will call the roll.

Council member Chavez.

Aye.

Council member Warren.

Aye.

Council member Schaefer.

Aye.

Council member Wansley.

Aye.

Council member Shugtai.

Aye.

Council member Whiting.

Aye.

Council member Stevenson.

Aye.

Council member Vita.

Aye.

Council member Palmisano.

Aye.

Vice President Osmond.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

There are 12 ayes.

That carries and the minutes have been accepted.

Finally, we have the referral of petitions, communications and reports to proper committees.

that motion please second the clerk will call the roll council member Chavez

aye council member Warren council member Schaefer I council member once I

council member Shukti I council member Whiting I council member Stevenson I

council member rainbow council member Vita council member Palmas on I vice

president Osmond I president Payne there are 12 eyes that carries and those

matters have been referred colleagues today's meetings being held in order to

handle time sensitive business that could not be delayed until the first

regular cycle of our committee meetings which are set to begin on Monday January

26th so the bulk of our agenda is under new business under the standard

legislative process these items would have been brought forward through our

standing committees with the committee's recommendations however we are

dispensing with all of these items today without a prior review and

recommendation this is to ensure that city business can continue as planned we

We have a couple items to dispense with before we get to new business, however.

The first order of business is notice of ordinance introductions.

Under the city charter and our council rules, each ordinance is subject to two readings

conducted on two separate days following the formal notice of intent to bring forward an

ordinance for its first reading, formal introduction to the legislative process, and referral to

the standing committee having subject matter jurisdiction.

Today we have our first notice of 2026-2029 term and that is a notice from Council Member

Wansley to introduce at the next regular meeting of the City Council which is scheduled for

February 5th the subject matter of an ordinance to amend the housing code to authorize eviction

moratoria during states of emergency.

And before I open up for questions I'll first recognize that we've been joined by Council

member Chowdhury. Are there any questions on this notice?

Seeing none that notices hereby given and no further action is

required at this time. As I indicated in the formal

introduction, we'll come at the next regular meeting of the City

Council which is scheduled for Thursday, February 5. Our next

order of business is unfinished business. Today we have one item

of unfinished business and that is Council's reconsideration of

the mayor's veto of the humane encampment response ordinance, which was passed at our

final meeting last year on December 11th.

I'll ask our clerk to explain the reconsideration procedure for us before we take action on

that item.

Mr. Clerk.

Mr. President, as you noted, the mayor did veto the humane encampment response ordinance

and returned that act together with his objections in writing as required by city charter pursuant

to City Charter Section 4.4 C 3 and as provided in Council Rule 7.8 an act that's vetoed by the

Mayor is returned to the City Council for automatic reconsideration at its next meeting. As provided

in that rule the reconsidered act is placed before the body in the same form without debate and

without amendment and the immediate question to be decided by the Council at this point is as follows

shall the decision of the City Council stand notwithstanding the veto of the

mayor if at least two-thirds of the council votes in the affirmative then

the mayor's veto is overridden and the original act as pounce passed by

council will be adopted that means an override requires a minimum of at least

nine affirmative votes otherwise the mayor's veto is sustained and the

original act fails with that mr. president I'm ready to call the roll on

motion for reconsideration are there any questions about the procedure for the clerk

seeing none to summarize the motion to reconsider the veto of the humane

incumbent response ordinances before us to override the veto requires at least nine

affirmative votes the clerk will call the roll council member chavez aye council member warren

Nay.

Council Member Schaefer.

Nay.

Council Member Wansley.

Aye.

Council Member Shugtai.

Aye.

Council Member Whiting.

Nay.

Council Member Chowdhury.

Aye.

Council Member Stevenson.

Aye.

Council Member Rainville.

Nay.

Council Member Vita.

No.

Council Member Palmisano.

Nay.

Vice President Osmond.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

There are seven ayes and six nays.

That motion fails and the mayor's veto is sustained.

The ordinance is not adopted.

The next order of business is new business.

We have eight items today that are bypassing our standard legislative process and coming

directly to full council for consideration and formal action.

I'll call up staff to introduce each item before asking for a motion.

Items one and two are for the acceptance of grants for the health department.

For efficiency of them, I'll invite Lisa Brandau, Director of Public Health Initiatives, to introduce

both of these items for us and then open the floor for any questions or clarifications

from Council.

Welcome.

Thank you, President Payne.

So there are two grant acceptances.

The first one, I believe, is the year four of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant,

which is for foundational capabilities of public health.

So that is funding that comes to us directly from the CDC for that work.

The second grant is a strong foundations grant

that's state funded, state funds that come to us

for implementation of evidence-based home visiting,

family home visiting services.

And I'd be happy to take any questions.

Thank you.

Are there any questions for staff?

Seeing none, may I have a motion

to approve agenda items one and two?

Is there a second?

Second.

The clerk will call the roll.

Council member Chavez.

Council member Warren. Aye. Council member Schaefer. Aye. Council member Wansley. Aye.

Council member Shugtai. Aye. Council member Whiting. Aye. Council member Chowdhury. Aye.

Council member Stevenson. Aye. Council member Rainville. Aye. Council member Vita. Aye.

Council member Palmisano. Aye. Vice President Osmond. Aye. President Payne. Aye. There are 13 ayes.

That carries and those items are approved. Items 3 and 4 are grant applications submitted by the Public Works Department.

Public Works Department. I'll invite Kelly McIntyre, Senior Professional

Engineer, to introduce both of these items and see if there are any questions

or clarification from Council. Welcome.

There are two Met Council grants that we're applying for, that we would like to

apply for. These grants provide funding for projects that reduce inflow and

and infiltration into the sanitary sewer system,

which we call I&I.

That is groundwater and stormwater

that gets into the sewer system.

The goal of removing I&I is to free up capacity

in the regional metropolitan council system

and treatment plant for growth in the population

in the region and treatment plant capacity.

Thank you. Are there any questions? Seeing none, may I have a motion to approve agenda

items 3 and 4.

So moved.

The clerk will call the roll.

Councilmember Chavez.

Aye.

Councilmember Warren.

Aye.

Councilmember Schaefer.

Aye.

Councilmember Wansley.

Aye.

Councilmember Chowdhury.

Aye.

Councilmember Stevenson.

Aye.

Councilmember Rainville.

Aye.

COUNCIL MEMBER PALMISANO AYE VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN AYE PRESIDENT PAIN AYE THERE ARE 13 AYES

THAT CARRIES AND THOSE ITEMS ARE APPROVED ITEM FIVE IS A GRANT EXTENSION SUBMITTED BY

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT I WILL INVITE MELISSA RUSSO GRANT COORDINATOR TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM WELCOME

OH THERE WE GO THIS IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF AN EXISTING GRANT WE RAN INTO SOME DELIVERY ISSUES

with parts and vehicles at the end of 2025 which was the ending period of the grant and so we

reached out to the state to do a four-month extension so that we could finish the upfitting

of the vehicles and sale of older vehicles thank you are there any questions for staff

seeing none i will ask the clerk to call the roll all right well actually is there a motion

to approve item number five.

So moved.

Second.

The clerk will call the roll.

Council Member Chavez.

Aye.

Council Member Warren.

Aye.

Council Member Schaefer.

Aye.

Council Member Wansley.

Aye.

Council Member Shugtai.

Aye.

Council Member Whiting.

Aye.

Council Member Chowdhury.

Aye.

Council Member Stevenson.

Aye.

Council Member Rainville.

Aye.

Council Member Vita.

Aye.

Council Member Palmisano.

Aye.

Vice President Osmond.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

There are 13 ayes.

That carries and that item has been approved.

items six and seven are adjustments to salary schedules for the city's non-represented and

politically appointed employees. I'll invite Dugan Kern, principal compensation and

classification consultant for the Human Resources Department, to introduce both of these items.

Thank you, President Payne.

I do have a slide for your reference.

I have two items to present related to 2026 salary increases for the non-represented and

the politically appointed populations.

The numbers that you see to the right in the table here are provided and they are supplied

from the approved budget for 2026.

This is the number of people impacted and the total cost of these increases.

The proposed increases are 4% for the non-represented population and 2.5% for the politically appointed

population.

These would be effective January 4th and the budget numbers here are inclusive of the salary

increases, step progression and longevity.

Thank you.

Are there any questions?

SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER CHUG TIE.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

I'M JUST WONDERING, IN THE PAST, I'VE SEEN THIS ITEM AS AFFECTING THREE GROUPS OF NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, BROADLY SPEAKING.

THE POLITICALLY APPOINTED EMPLOYEES, THE NON-REPRESENTED, AND THEN JUST THE APPOINTED OFFICIALS.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF THE APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE INCLUDED IN THE NON-REPRESENTED SECTION HERE, AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT.

THE APPOINTED OFFICIALS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE NON-REPRESENTED.

GOTCHA.

YES.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

SEEING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 6 AND 7?

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.

Council Member Chavez.

Aye.

Council Member Warren.

Aye.

Council Member Schaefer.

Aye.

Council Member Wonsley.

Aye.

Council Member Shugtai.

Aye.

Council Member Whiting.

Aye.

Council Member Chowdhury.

Aye.

Council Member Stevenson.

Aye.

Council Member Raineville.

Aye.

Council Member Vita.

Aye.

Council Member Palmisano.

Aye.

Vice President Osmond.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

There are 13 ayes.

That carries and those items have been approved.

Finally, item eight is consideration of a resolution calling on the state of Minnesota to enact an eviction moratorium.

This item is submitted by council members Wansley together with vice president Osmond,

council members Chavez and Stevenson.

I'll ask council member Wansley to introduce this item for us.

Thank you, President Payne.

Colleagues, I know that we will have a public comment before taking up this item, I believe,

which is the resolution calling on Governor Walz to enact eviction moratorium in response to the

extreme violent siege occurring in our city and being waged all across our state. But I would just

like to briefly share a few thoughts as we begin this discussion. I know many of us here have

witnessed the chaos that has been afflicted amongst our communities, our city, and our residents.

And many of us have done everything that we can to support our community on the ground despite

the very credible threat of violence being waged by ICE agents who have been just simply terrorizing

our communities for just living. I want to also take this opportunity to say thank you to the

countless number of residents who have been in the streets protecting our neighbors with nothing

more than whistles and their cell phones. Every single one of you who have continued to stand

loudly against this violent occupation are true heroes and are demonstrating what loving your

community looks like. In just a few days, I have received hundreds of emails, letters of support

from community organizations and neighborhood associations all stating that this is a critical

need that will help keep our community safe and as a elected official i want to be able to say that

i am doing everything i can to fight back against what is happening in our city right now especially

as i see our diverse community working together to take care of one another in response to the

state violence we're seeing many people who will be speaking here today to give public comment

are doing so during their work break or switch neighborhood patrol shifts to be here so in

advance again thank you so much for taking the time to be here despite everything going on in

our city i also want to acknowledge that there are hundreds of people who are not able to be here

today but support eviction moratorium because they are out patrolling our streets our schools bus

stops making sure children can get to their home safely making sure people again can get to their

places of worship safely those folks are out helping make our neighborhoods safer and i want

to extend gratitude to you also they are making sure that the families and residents impacted

are able to move at least a little bit more freely around our city or at least feel an ounce of

SAFETY THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING GIVEN BY THE AGENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES OR ALSO WHERE THEY'RE NOT

SEEING BEING EXTENDED BY THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO REPRESENT THEM SO THIS IS AGAIN AN OPPORTUNITY

FOR US TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR COUNCIL AUTHORITY TO SHOW

UP FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND I'LL SHARE MORE COMMENTS AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENT BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY

THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR WORKING WITH ME ON THIS AND I HOPE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT

AND WITH THAT I WILL MOVE THIS MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

THIS HAS BEEN MOVED FOR APPROVAL AND SECONDED.

BEFORE WE TAKE UP THE RESOLUTION, WE WILL HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

PERIOD. AS PART OF OUR AGENDA ADOPTION, WE DID SUSPEND THE RULE TO PERMIT THE ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE WILL PROCEED WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

Mr. Chair. I'm sorry.

Council Member Palmisano.

Mr. Chair, I apologize.

When I was voting on the agenda, I did not realize you were putting in the public comment vote along with the approval of the agenda.

I did vote yes on that.

I don't wish to.

I agree with Council Member Wansley that there are hundreds of people that would wish to be here today if we were having a real public hearing about this.

So I would like us to reconsider that vote for public comment at this time.

THE MOTION. IS THAT A MOTION?

YES. SECOND.

MR. CLERK, DO YOU HAVE ANY GUIDANCE ON THIS MOTION TO

RECONSIDER? MOTION TO RECONSIDER HAS BEEN

MADE BY SOMEONE WHO VOTED WITH THE AFFIRMATIVE.

SO THAT'S A PROPER MOTION. IT'S BEEN SECONDED.

THE BODY NOW WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER IN ITS VOTE WHETHER IT

WISHES TO PROCEED WITH HAVING THE PUBLIC COMMENT WHICH WE'VE

NOTICED AND ALREADY ONCE ADOPTED AS PART OF ADOPTING THE

SO THE VOTE IS TO RECONSIDER THAT MOTION NOW.

IF THAT MOTION PASSES, THEN THE MOTION WOULD BE TO ADOPT THE

AGENDA WITHOUT THAT PROVISION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REST OF THE

AGENDA AS PRINTED.

I HAVE VICE PRESIDENT OSMAN IN CUE.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS MOTION TO RECONSIDER OR ARE YOU IN

CUE FOR THE PART?

NO, FOR THE PARK.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S PROCEED WITH THIS MOTION TO RECONSIDER.

I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION TO RECONSIDER BUT THIS WOULD REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE TO

THIS SIMPLY REQUIRES A MAJORITY VOTE OH SIMPLE MAJORITY OKAY UM THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL

COUNCIL MEMBER SHAVEZ NO COUNCIL MEMBER WARREN AYE COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFER AYE COUNCIL MEMBER

WANSLEY NAY COUNCIL MEMBER SHAGTI NO COUNCIL MEMBER WHITING AYE COUNCIL MEMBER CHOWDRI NO COUNCIL MEMBER

Stevenson.

Nay.

Council member Rainville.

Aye.

Council member Vita.

Aye.

Council member Palmisano.

Aye.

Vice President Osmond.

No.

President Payne.

Nay.

There are six ayes and seven nays.

That motion fails and we will continue to proceed with the

public comment period.

For.

I was going to make a comment on my nice day.

I'll recognize Vice President Osmond.

Thank you, Council President.

I do want to hear from the resident that came.

Thank you so much for being here.

There's over 30 or 40 members that sign up,

the public that came to testify.

But I do want to make my comment.

I might not be here at the end of the meeting,

so I'll pick up my kids.

I do want to say that, you know,

as we just ended the press conference,

that, you know, people in our city,

especially immigrant communities,

are very scared to go out to work, to go out shopping.

I don't know if you have visited on Lake Street and Franklin.

Businesses are closed.

They have been closed.

And what we're asking, it's very simple thing.

We're asking the governor will is to pass this moratorium

and make sure that he is standing up for our residents.

Governor Walz is the only person with the power to pass this resolution.

I would like to tell Governor Tim Walz that history will document you,

the history will write you a time where authoritarian government,

as I call it, under Donald Trump, are coming and terrorizing our most

vulnerable residents. People from my community that went through refugee, that went through

civil war, that came here for safety, now they don't know where to escape. They are

scared to go out. They've been snatched. This is the same people that went through the

process of fetting process, the legal way as they call it. There are people with refugee

status that are being taken away from my community, Somali community, Afghan

community, Latino. So many people are being scared. We know what's happening in

the city of Minneapolis. So I'm calling the governor Walz to do something. You

know, history will write you what have you done when the communities are being

terrorized enough with the press reaction, but we need some action here. We have not received

business support, the communities that are bringing economy, the heart of Lake Street and Franklin.

We have not got any support from business community that are struggling. COVID time,

you stood up, you have done great work to address some of the challenges that we face, but now

this is our COVID. This is immigrant COVID. So I'm hoping that you will listen to our city council

members and our city. And we are asking the statewide moratorium to folks that are not able

to pay their rent. And I hope that you will listen to the leaders that represent money of

your constituents. Thank you so much. Councilmember Chowdhury.

Thank you, President Payne. I will try to keep my remarks brief because I want to get to the public comment, and I'll probably have some comments afterwards.

I just want to ground us in the moment that we're in. We wouldn't be calling for an eviction moratorium if it wasn't an emergency, right?

The very nature of an eviction moratorium shows up when there is a state of emergency called by the governor.

And I think it's very apparent to constituents, to residents, to the world that's watching the city of Minneapolis and Minnesota at large,

because we've seen horrific actions happen at the hands of ICE in Richfield, St. Cloud, Mankato as well, that we are in an emergency.

Last night, I was on the ground at 24th and Lindale over there to just make sure that people were okay to observe.

And it was another inflection point where a community member, a Latino person was shot.

And that's another dramatic moment of escalation.

And we don't know what happens next, right?

today as a council member as a daughter of immigrants I have a whistle around my neck and in

my coat pocket I have my passport that is not the regular moment of peacetime

and I commend all Minnesotans all Minneapolis residents that are showing up that are leaning

in and doing whatever is possible you are all being asked to do way more than you should ever

have to be asked to do, but I thank you for your resilience and your grit.

And we as elected officials, local leaders have a very important role to play.

And that's why I think this call for an eviction moratorium is serious.

And I think the council members who are authoring it also understand that it is rare to call for

something like this, right? This is not an everyday thing to call for an eviction moratorium.

The reason why we're calling for it is because many community members have lost significant amount of their income.

They do not feel safe. They have seen their families torn apart.

They are trying to shelter in place, but they're being forced to go out and work to make sure that they aren't displaced in a moment where it is so dangerous to be displaced.

and our neighbors who are able to go out and work and show up,

they understand when they're on the ground and they're talking to their immigrant neighbors

how fragile, how precarious things are for people right now.

And so local government, our role, one thing that we can do in this moment

where we aren't able to tell the federal government to stop,

where we can't control these ICE agents as council members,

is make sure that people have the means to protect themselves and stay inside.

And a part of that is making sure that they do not get kicked out of the rental unit

where they are staying because of non-payment of rent.

And also, people aren't trying to avoid paying rent.

People are crowdfunding.

There's mutual aid drives happening in every single school site in the city of Minneapolis.

In a high school, in my ward, they know that they have to raise $20,000 to $50,000,

and they're doing it consistently.

people are still trying to pay their rent and make it happen but sometimes it's not going to happen

on time sometimes it's not going to be enough and we want to make sure that people aren't kicked out

of where they're living so they aren't made even more vulnerable housing is always a human right

but right now it is an even greater necessity for people it is people's safety it is people's

anchor and so I I am really grateful that the my colleagues are bringing this forward I stand in a

united front with them. I appreciate the work of the governor so far. I think we're at a different

point now where we need to take more steps and we need to escalate in terms of how we're addressing

people's basic needs as Minnesotans, as Minneapolis. That's our duty. And with that, I would love to be

added as a co-author if the council members will have me. I'm seeing it nod. So thank you. I

appreciate it and to all of those that showed up in such short notice to come and speak

at City Hall I really appreciate you I think it's important that we have this public comment and to

my colleagues I think this is something we can lean on together right it's timely our city's been

through a lot this is one of the first meetings we're having as an organized body let's hear from

our people and hey if we need to have more public comments and we need to put out a hearing that's

noticed let's do it because we gotta just continue to hear from our constituents so we can do

THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE FOR THEM.

COUNCIL MEMBER CHAVEZ.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT

PAYNE.

I ASKED MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORT

THIS RESOLUTION AND THAT WE HAVE

THE GOVERNOR DO EVERYTHING THAT

HE CAN TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS.

I KNOW THAT MANY OF US HERE

TODAY HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM SO

MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS ASKING

GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP AND DO

WHAT THEY CAN TO PROTECT OUR

IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS.

I WON'T LET YOU ALL KNOW THE

TYPE OF CALLS THAT I GET

day not just people from Ward 9 but Latino neighbors from across the city

of Minneapolis in the suburbs in Greater Minnesota and in the state folks don't

want to go outside and have to pray that they're not going to get stopped by ice

when I asked my neighbors to stay home to shelter in place the number one thing

they asked me is saying Jason why am I going to stay home how am I going to pay

my rent how am I going to afford the groceries how are you expecting me to

change my whole life to then eventually get kicked out of my rental unit. So now

you have our immigrant neighbors driving to work and I was talking about this

earlier shaking as they're holding their wheel and praying to God that they're

gonna make it to work and then make it back home to see their beautiful

children this is not normal it's not normal to be in this country and to

literally have your family torn apart just because of the color of your skin

because that is actually what is happening here in Minneapolis and in

this state the color of your skin is it is what is being targeted by the federal

immigration authorities. And one of the things that we need to do and need to figure out is how

do we address the symptoms of what is happening in this country. So ICE is literally following

vehicles, breaking down windows, stopping people on highways on the way to work, on the way to

dropping off their kids to school, at daycares, and tearing them out of their cars. That is one

the number one ways that they are doing this work today so how do we help

address that issue we help people stay at home we have to call for an eviction

moratorium and in the city of Minneapolis we need to do what we can to

make sure that people can shelter in place at home because they are safer at

home and that is one of the things that neighbors would love to do but can't

because they still have to pay their bills and they're stressed about how

they're gonna stay in their home without getting evicted so you know

I think that our neighbors in Minneapolis have totally risen up to the occasion.

They have literally crowdfunded fundraisers.

They have provided their neighbors with food.

They drop them off in their front yards.

They drive their neighbors to work.

They don't sleep at all.

But you also know who's not sleeping when they see a random car on their street.

It just might be someone else on the street or immigrant neighbors.

They see a car on their street and they're scared.

So imagine how they feel when they're going to work, when any random car is just following

them.

So I'll say that our neighbors have totally risen up to the occasion and it's time for

us as government to support our neighbors as well.

This is one thing that we can do today, but it's not the only thing we should be doing.

we have a federal government that does not care about our neighbors it is up to local government

to be the front line of defense the way our neighbors are literally putting their lives on

the line so i hope that this could be unanimous council member warren

on.

Sorry.

Sustainabilities for family is something that's very important

to me.

But I'm having a very difficult time understanding

how this will sustain our families for the long term.

We know that ice is toxic.

We know what's happening in our community is extremely toxic, but this does not sustain our families for the long term.

If they're not able to go to work today or tomorrow or next month, what does sustainability truly look like?

Are we bailing out property owners?

What about overhead and utilities?

other things that we have to take into consideration and the fact that we're

still overcoming from the last moratorium that we just had during

COVID there's bigger pictures here and there's more plans that need to be made

to build mutual aid to help sustain families different this doesn't spell

out safety success in long term it's a bullet a band-aid on a bullet wound this

IS BIGGER THAN US. SEEING NO ONE ELSE LEFT IN

CUE, I WILL PROCEED TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ALL IN ATTENDANCE AND ESPECIALLY

FOR THOSE WISHING TO OFFER TESTIMONY. COUNCIL MEMBER VETAW.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE

today that this is a resolution that is excuse me that is for the governor to consider that the

minneapolis city council is literally doing nothing but asking the sending the governor a

greeting card to say can you please consider the things we want on this paper i think there's been

a lot of confusion in my office with people calling and emailing and approaching me and

asking for a moratorium on evictions and that's not what's happening here today i think i think

i just want us to be clear about that this is literally something that will be sent to the

governor saying we would like for you to consider this as the minneapolis city council and not any

action being taken here today so people i'm grateful that people are here to speak i don't

think it's fair that you know everyone wasn't given notice enough to come down and speak but

they're going to have a chance to speak but they're not speaking to us doing any action today

this is just to pass this resolution for the governor to then hopefully take action i just

can somebody clarify that for me on the record please mr clerk mr president uh the summit the

summary that council member vita just gave is absolutely correct this is a formal act by the

body asking the state government the state of minnesota and our governor tim walls to consider

and take appropriate action in response to this resolution it is a formalized request

adopted by the body but no formal action by this body thank you mr clerk i also would hope that um

you know colleagues will put out information to their constituents and let them know that there

is no moratorium on rent so people are not confused and think that whatever action we're

taking today and whatever shows up on social media that um they are still responsible to their

landlord for rent unless something like that happens because that is not what we're voting

on here today and i also um you know i don't i i i'll just leave it at that i just really hope that

we all put out proper information so that people understand the action that is taken here today

and that they are still responsible for their rent until the governor or whomever does something

DIFFERENTLY. MR. CLERK, CAN YOU ALSO SPEAK TO

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING?

MR. PRESIDENT, THE OPEN MEETING LAW REQUIRES A SUFFICIENT NOTICE

BASED ON BOTH TYPES OF MEETINGS AND SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT ARE

TAKEN. THIS IS A MEETING THAT WAS ADDED TO THE CALENDAR AND

INTERIM CALENDAR ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR TO COVER THE

POTENTIAL FOR TIME-SENSITIVE BUSINESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE.

THIS ITEM IS ADDED TO THAT. HOWEVER, WE ADDED THE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC AS PART OF THE PUBLISHED AGENDA THAT THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IF APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL THROUGH ITS RULES WHICH IT WAS SO THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE NOTICE TO THE FULL COMMUNITY. SO WHEN THAT AGENDA WAS POSTED ON TUESDAY IN LIMBS AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, THAT NOTICE WAS GIVEN THAT THERE WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ATTACHED TO THIS ITEM. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. COUNCIL MEMBER SHAFFER. THANK YOU FOR THIS

moment to share my thoughts. From the outset, let me state clearly that I stand with this

council as we did last Wednesday, the mayor and the residents of our great city in calling for an

immediate withdrawal from ice from our streets and to an end of the attacks that are being made on

our rights, our freedoms, and our way of life. We love Minneapolis. We love our immigrant neighbors

regardless of their legal status. An attack on them is an attack on all of us. Their safety

is our safety. And I am committed to doing everything within our power to stand in solidarity

with them in this moment. I also want to name the fear that so many in of our city are living

in right now, particularly immigrants and communities of color. People are afraid, as

we've stated already, afraid to leave their homes, go to work, take their kids to school,

or seek medical care. This is not what our country is about. These are our neighbors,

and this fear is shaping every part of their daily lives. At this very moment, we are facing

deeply alarming threats from federal leaders, including statements invoking the Insurrection

act the actions of ice are already harming severely the everyday lives of minneapolis

families students workers parents and business owners such unprecedented attacks

call for unprecedented acts of care while i am not confident that this resolution will achieve

its aims i appreciate that this resolution as amended doesn't just impose the burden of cost

of standing up to ICE on tenants or housing providers exclusively, but assures that the

costs will be more evenly distributed. Regardless of how the Governor responds, what this moment

demands most are grassroots, rapid, on-the-ground responses to this unfolding crisis. This is a

a united we stand moment. My focus tomorrow, the next day, and going forward is on making

an immediate and tangible differences for residents in my ward and across the city who

are experiencing fear, instability, and financial hardship because they do not feel safe leaving

their homes. This includes pooling resources, distributing food, providing financial emergency

assistance and other basic supports at the grassroots hyper-local level. Working directly

with trusted community leaders and neighborhood networks to get help to people quickly, with

dignity and without unnecessary barriers. This is where we can act immediately. This

is where we can reduce harm right now. And this, this is how we stand up for the values

that define our city. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Schaefer Councilmember Wanzi you're in queue. I'm wondering if you'd

be willing to hold your comments until after the public hearing so we can make sure folks

get enough time to speak. Sure. Okay. All right. With that, let's move to the public

COMMENT PERIOD. FOR ALL IN ATTENDANCE AND ESPECIALLY FOR

THOSE WISHING TO OFFER TESTIMONY EITHER AS A REGISTERED SPEAKER OR

SUBMITTING WRITTEN COMMENTS, LET ME OFFER THIS NOTICE.

THIS PUBLIC MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND BROADCAST.

THE BROADCAST MEETING IS LIVE. IT'S A LIVE STREAM OF THESE

PROCEEDINGS AND THE BROADCAST AND RECORDING ARE DEEMED PUBLIC

DATA UNDER THE MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT DATA PRACTICES ACT.

BY ATTENDING THIS MEETING AND PARTICIPATING IN THESE

proceedings, your image and testimony or information that you provide will also be subject to

disclosure under the law. That includes but is not limited to your attendance, your name,

and other personal details you provide, your testimony or comments, whether formal or otherwise,

and any written submissions you make which are included in the record of this meeting.

If you plan to address the Council, please note that we will be taking speakers in order

REGISTERED. IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED YET BUT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, SPEAKERS CAN REGISTER

WITH THE CLERKS OUTSIDE OF ROOM 392 WHICH IS OUR OVERFLOW SPACE JUST OVER THAT WAY.

EVERY SPEAKER HAS BEEN ASSIGNED A SPEAKER NUMBER. WE WILL BE CALLING SPEAKERS BOTH BY THEIR

ASSIGNED NUMBER AND BY NAME. IF YOU PLAN TO SPEAK AS PART OF THIS HEARING AND HAVEN'T ALREADY

REGISTERED YOU MAY DO SO NOW. EACH REGISTERED SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE

Council. We have a timer available to help speakers monitor the use of their time just over there.

We ask that you wrap up your comments when your time is expired so that we can accommodate all

speakers this evening. We also ask everyone to be respectful of all speakers and of all opinions

offered. If you have written comments or materials to submit, please give those to the clerks at the

registration table and those will be included for the public record. We also have printed comment

forms available at the registration table if you'd like to submit a comment on this proposal

and have that included in the public record i also would encourage everyone everyone to take

advantage of submitting your comments in other ways the easiest way to submit your comments and

to ensure that they are added to the public record is to send from send those from the city's website

at minneapolismn.gov slash public comment with that we're ready to open the floor for public comment

SO FAR WE HAVE 40 SPEAKERS REGISTERED FOR TODAY'S HEARING.

I WILL CALL SPEAKERS IN GROUPS OF FIVE BY THEIR REGISTERED NUMBER.

IF YOU ARE IN THE OVERFULL SPACE, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE CHAMBER AS WE APPROACH YOUR NUMBER.

THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS WE HAVE REGISTERED TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE NATALIE CHURNEY,

PATRICK BERRY, HEATHER MILLER, CECIL SMITH, AND SHAMUS MCNAMARA.

I WILL NOW RECOGNIZE SPEAKER NUMBER ONE, NATALIE. WELCOME.

Hi, I'm Natalie Cherney. I live in Ward 9. I hope some of you guys get elected. I'm vice chair of the Minneapolis DFL.

Since ICE has taken over our city, my life has changed.

This morning I was driving three kids to school and they asked, is ICE going to target my school?

and I couldn't tell them yes or no because you see I've protected schools last week after

Renee Good was shot my friend called me in a panic and she said Natalie I need you to come

to my school today three ice vehicles drove by her school and I chased them down I had my windows

down I did laps around her school and I thought to myself is this the day I get

shot in my journal I wrote letters to my parents and to my friends just in case

letters I call them I've been delivering groceries and driving neighbors to work

I've ridden in patrols in powder horn I've assembled know your rights kits I

I say this not because I am doing anything better.

I'm any better than those of you who are sitting in front of me.

I say this because I am a brown woman.

I am afraid.

I called my mom last week, and she said,

Anak, that means child in Tagalog.

Do you have your passport?

And I said, Mom, I don't have $250 to get a passport.

She said, I'll pay for it.

You see, my brother died 10 and a half years ago.

I'm the only child they have left.

In the letters I wrote to my parents, I said, I don't want to die.

But if I die because I'm defending kids from ICE, so be it.

I leave you with this.

I love this city.

I love this country.

We need to do everything we can to protect our neighbors.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we will welcome Patrick Berry, number two.

Bernie.

Hello.

Hello, my name is Patrick Berry. I live in a Stevens Square community, and I came out of the homeless camps of this town.

Absolutely, I did. And I'm not here to speak with you about a whole lot of drama and personal things like that,

because we're all feeling it deep inside, are we not? One side or the other.

I've heard a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, that's a poor choice of words, considering that a woman is dead.

we don't need a band-aid on a bullet wound. What this is

is a seventh generation combat application tourniquet,

a chest seal, and a rear seal, which is something

that I have to carry because of the world that we now live in.

The lack of response to the housing, the lack of response to the unsheltered crisis,

and all of these other issues are part of what's driving

the reactionary accelerationism that is driving our democracy

into the ground. It is providing the reactionary talking points for people to attack this city

and to invade us illegally, unconstitutionally. Frankly, that's on all of you, regardless of

your ideologies. I'm asking you to go ahead to the extent that you can, all of you. And again,

with the last moratorium, we saw protections applied to the unsheltered residents of Minneapolis

and the state of Minnesota.

This is absolutely crucially important

for reasons that I don't have to repeat for the millionth time.

I got up off the streets.

None of you did that for me.

None of you helped me with that, frankly, respectfully.

I did it myself.

I did it with the help of community, and we are growing.

We are not locked into your election cycles,

your economic cycles, and your news cycles.

We are building a movement based in coherency,

and we are radiating that coherency from the micro to the macro.

I strongly suggest that you start heeding the people

instead of the special interest groups and the gentrification occurring

and figure it out.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Number three, Heather Miller.

Hello.

Before I begin, I just wanted to state that the size of this room

is a disservice to your constituents and the crowd of people who was gathered

downstairs. A 30-person capacity with yourselves included. Egregious. Okay,

anyways, I am here to speak on behalf of the Stonebridge World School staff who

sent a statement. So to the City Council of Minneapolis, we are writing to you as

a staff from Stonebridge World School to share our concern over our students'

families during this emergency in our city. We ask that the governor enact an eviction moratorium.

Stonebridge's community is small and diverse and we work closely with families.

It is important as educators that we listen to our students' needs. Today the families of our

students told us that they are in need of over $20,000. We're raising funds for rent, food,

basic necessities and plane tickets to reunify families that have been separated.

The community has come together during this time with an outpouring of assistance to meet these needs,

but this is not an effective long-term solution.

Stonebridge staff and families need the Minneapolis City Council to address these needs

and allow for our community to safely shelter in place as needed.

We urge you to consider that our families need long-term rental assistance and stability.

Please respond with the urgency that our students deserve.

Sincerely, Stonebridge World School staff.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have number four, Cecil Smith, followed by Seamus McNamara.

And I will read off the next five speakers, which are Todd Fitzgerald, number six.

Ivy Letourneau, number seven, Mitchell Hanson, number eight, Eileen King, number nine, and Kristen Eldridge, number ten.

We welcome up number four, Cecil Smith.

Council President, members of the council, my name is Cecil Smith.

I reside in Ward 1, and I'm President and CEO of the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association.

I appreciate the opportunity to testify today.

MHA is strongly opposed to the policy put forward in this resolution.

An eviction moratorium is not a solution.

The damage done far outweighs any perceived benefits.

We learned what happens in an eviction moratorium from the COVID-19 experience.

Renters get so far behind that they cannot catch up, despite rental assistance.

And we currently do not have enough rental assistance available to even support this policy.

Furthermore, whatever government procedure results from this policy, renters are potentially exposed on a publicly available list.

Think that through if you're trying to assist renters.

Deeply interventionist policies such as an eviction moratorium and rent control have chilling effects on capital flows to our market.

A market that needs significant capital to build the housing we need in our community.

Even this discussion is damaging our ability to attract resources for future development.

If an eviction moratorium happens, the greatest stress will be felt by our affordable housing providers,

who have not yet recovered from the first moratorium and are now in a financially weak position.

They will need financial support to survive this policy.

This is not the solution for the challenge before us.

Please think again and consult broadly with all the partners so that we can support those who are struggling right now.

Thank you.

Next, we welcome number five, Seamus McNamara.

Good afternoon, council members.

My name is Seamus McNamara.

I'm a constituent of Ward 9.

I'm a recent resident of Minneapolis and a member of the Twin Cities Tenants.

I came to the city three years ago after landlords favor system left me

blomeless and living in my car in Chicago. I was working at UPS, essentially

living in the warehouse parking lot. This led me, like many other displaced

Chicagoans, to move to the cities in Greater Minnesota. I moved here looking

to start over, only to find the same gentrification that pushed so many people

is hungry for more houses to flip.

I pay $1,000 for a roach nest of an apartment

while my new landlords ignore my request for pest control

in favor of renovation to the unit that was vacated.

The abuse of my neighbors, both housed and unhoused,

has been going on long before ICE was in our city.

The fact that it took a video murder of Renee Good

in broad daylight for you to say that this is unacceptable

is frankly infuriating.

It's defuriating.

ICE and other right-wing groups have been terrorizing our most vulnerable community members since

long before this operation.

They are coming for our most marginalized communities, first trans, queer, BIPOC, immigrant,

homeless and disabled.

Now I might not look like those most affected by these policies, but to me solidarity is

not a four-letter word.

It is an everyday action.

It is these communities who took me in when I was homeless and showed me the way to survive

and when the world doesn't even know you exist.

I applaud the call for an eviction moratorium, but I push for it to be further reaching than

just simply saying no evictions.

Landlords do not obey the law unless they are forced to.

They will evict simply on a whim.

Today you are a tenant, tomorrow you are on the street.

Expand this moratorium with its clause to include a moratorium on all encampment evictions

within the state of Minnesota.

An added clause to keep ICE and excessive law enforcement

presence out of the encampments.

Protect and house our community members

who need us more now than ever.

We deserve a city to protect life, dignity, and safety,

and we refuse to settle for less.

Thank you.

Next, we will welcome up number six, Todd Fitzgerald.

Good afternoon.

My name is Todd Fitzgerald, and I live in Ward 5.

The brutality of ICE and the murder of Rene Good is on everyone's mind today, and the time has come for this council to take action.

The presence of ICE here is not law enforcement, but a vicious campaign that violates our constitutional rights.

Homes have been entered without judicial warrants.

Peaceful protesters have been arrested without charge.

And violence has been routinely used against anyone these thugs come across.

What are you going to do about it?

Our governor has suggested that we look to the voting booth and the courts to resolve these issues.

However, Election Day is 11 months away, and the president's handpicked Supreme Court declared him a king in their 2024 ruling of Trump versus the United States.

We are on our own. So what are you going to do about it?

I acknowledge the difficulty of a city standing up to the federal government, but that should only inspire our creativity.

I would recommend that our snowplows should dump snow to block the roads to the Whipple building

and any staging areas to prevent these thugs from launching at violent raids on our city.

Also, our traffic laws apply to everyone.

Minneapolis officers should be ordered to keep our streets safe by ticketing anyone going 31 and a 30,

using a cell phone while driving, or not wearing a seatbelt.

Make it personally expensive for anyone who comes here to attack our community.

Every moment ICE is delayed will mean the difference between our rights not being trampled on,

families being together at the end of the day, and our neighbors not being murdered.

If officers refuse to do this or look the other way,

they should be reprimanded and fired for abandoning our city.

Then volunteers should be vetted and deputized to enforce traffic laws

and giving a path to becoming sworn officers for stepping up in this crisis.

the actions of ice is what the gestapo looks like in the 21st century they are here in our city

what are you going to do about it thank you thank you next we have ivy letourneau

number seven

hi Ivy Letourneau I live in Ward 3 I know some of you know what's going on in our city because

you're out there because you're organizing because you're hearing it directly from your constituents

the rest of you like you know about it now because people have come here to tell you

it's out there for you to hear about if you're willing to look. There's a militarized force

terrorizing our city, your constituents, like our neighbors, and it is the most ordinary people in

our city who are putting their bodies on the line to stand up for each other. And, you know,

whether it's for this resolution today or anything else that's going to come up while this is going

on in Minneapolis. I just want you to think about what are you doing that does any justice,

that honors your constituents in terms of what your response is, right? Like there are people

who will be here to remind you at your next town hall or, you know, at the next protest or, you

know even in 2029 right well we'll ask you that question but most of all you

know 20 30 years from now when your kids your grandkids your biographers when

they when they ask you and when you look at yourself in the mirror like what is

your answer going to be so what did I do with the power I had at the time it

it mattered most?

Are you going to be morally at peace

with what you have to look yourself in the mirror

and admit to?

What are you going to do with the power that you have?

There's not going to be any time like now.

I mean, this is it.

What are you going to do?

Next up we have number eight, Mitchell Hanson.

Hello, Mitchell Hanson.

Yeah, I mean, honestly, I was really hoping that there would be more unity overall on this council.

Some people here surprised me, some didn't.

But I'm still happy that, you know, why, you know, you know what's not political?

You know, people who are facing homelessness, you think it's political to them?

Being in the street, in the mirror, what he just vetoed, basically treating people humanely.

So what, you want these people to end up homeless and then treat them like crap like you already do?

Like people in Harrison can't leave their place just like everywhere else around the city.

People are literally being threatened by ICE saying, didn't you learn your lesson?

You want people to what?

Just because it's not perfect, we're not going to do it.

That's one of the reasons we don't have it fully planned out.

Landlords were happy to take rent when it was free and just like, here you go.

But suddenly, you know, this guy from Steve Efrick wants to tell us that it's a terrible idea.

Let's be bad for business.

I don't care.

I want people to stay in their houses, in their apartments.

If you're going to vote no on this, wow, how would you be able to sleep at night?

You're going to tell your constituents, forget it.

You know what?

And once you're homeless, we're going to bulldoze you.

And we're going to, do you laugh about this?

Do you enjoy it?

Like, I was hoping that this council could be like, yeah, all we're doing here is just bringing it to Tim Walls to make a decision.

That's all we're doing.

And I know some people here probably would wish that something would happen to me.

Because you have made life so political over things that aren't.

This is just basic common sense here.

People have a right to stay in their place and not get murdered.

Like, that's what you're saying?

You're saying, no, forget it.

I don't even want to try because it's not perfect.

Because we don't have 100 people here.

I'm shocked. I just I want to help people stay in their homes. I'm good at it. If you give us the

resources we need, we can do this job. We don't I mean, like, what is the concern? Well, I know

there's the business concern. But like, do you really just want us all gone? Don't tell me you

care about immigrants and then vote no on this. Like, you don't know what I mean, just like,

thank you. Gracias.

Yes, mahat zanid.

Number nine is Eileen King.

Good afternoon.

My name is Eileen King.

I'm a constituent in Ward 10.

And if my voice shakes, it's because I don't want to be doing this.

But I'm doing it anyway because I can't not speak up on behalf of people I care deeply about

who aren't able to safely come here today for themselves.

I've been doing direct support for nearly six years of people living outdoors and in encampments,

and of several friends who have transitioned out of living in camps and cars.

I've sat under bridges in the rain.

I've given late-night rides to shelters.

I've helped distribute hundreds of thousands of meals.

And I've taped tent poles together in the dark in sub-zero temperatures.

And I say that not to brag, but for context.

I'm not here as a preachy white liberal.

I'm here from a place of deep solidarity with my neighbors who carry unfathomable lifelong trauma

from lacking safe places to be. The resolution before us is in direct response to increased

threats on our black and brown and native and Latinx and immigrant neighbors, and I affirm the

urgency behind taking that action. But we also know that those same groups are disproportionately

likely to experience homelessness for the same structural reasons that they're under direct

attack right now. We're all well aware that we have neighbors who aren't leaving their homes right now,

but that's not just people who are hunkered down in houses and apartments. It's also neighbors who

aren't leaving tents to obtain food and life-saving warmth.

There is no justice for neighbors who are under threat

without justice for all of our neighbors who are under threat.

Eviction is the euphemism that we seem

to have chosen for the city violently bulldozing

our neighbors' temporary shelters.

How then can we consider an eviction moratorium

that doesn't include those people,

that doesn't include stopping the sweeps?

Evict ICE, not us, means all of us.

Minneapolis has the opportunity to lead here

in genuine solidarity with all neighbors who are under threat,

not just with the ones who are currently living indoors.

We therefore call on the council to take that stand,

to call for a moratorium,

not just on evictions of rental housing,

but of encampments as well.

We can build a city that protects all of us.

We deserve that and we won't settle for less.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Up next is number 10, Kristen Eldridge.

and on deck, the next five are Bob Goonan,

Clyde Warren, Dex Anderson, Liam Casey, and Eli Sherman.

Welcome, Kristen.

Thank you for your courage, council members.

I am a war for resident.

I am an employee of a majority minority city

who is also vulnerable to ICE and the actions that

have happened in the city of Minneapolis.

I am calling for a statewide eviction moratorium

and a letter to Governor Walz.

Council members, folks are scared to travel, to do groceries.

ICE is showing up in our most vulnerable places

where people should feel safe.

Minneapolis has always led the charge as an example

for surrounding communities, and I urge the council

and Governor Walz to stand for its constituents

when the federal government has abandoned us.

As a principal city, we have a lot of influence on the state.

Please keep our families in their homes

safe from homelessness and a terror of ICE. I'm proud of the city residents for standing up to

fascism but our electors have not shown the same courage at the state. In times like this,

courage should be easy. It should be it should be an easy yes to send a resolution to Governor

Walz. It's kind of ludicrous to have to send a letter honestly. Please vote to protect immigrants

from eviction and keep a barrier between them and ICE. I want to call out War 4

representative and also War 5. You said this was a time to come together. We

shouldn't need attorneys to protect War 4 right now. We need solutions that are

swift and direct. Sign the letterhead to Governor Walz please. Lastly to Minnesota

multi-housing if you don't have renters you won't have any development. So please

please sign the letter. That's easy.

Thank you. Number 11, Bob Gunan.

Hello, everyone. My name is Bob Gunan.

I'm a resident of North Minneapolis in Ward 4.

I'm going to shorten my comments a bit about what ICE is doing to our community

because there seems to be general agreement about that,

but not on what your responsibility as council members is to do about it.

Our immigrant community members are living in fear.

We know that ICE uses advanced surveillance technology to identify,

to track, and to target them.

Documented or undocumented, citizen or not,

they are all living under military occupation.

Like many community members, I've asked myself, what can I do?

Like tens of thousands, I have attended protests

since ICE murdered Renee Good, but I'm also taking part

in the mutual aid networks that residents have set

up to provide direct material support to these families.

Like waiting with the children of immigrant families

at school bus stops, driving the children to and from school,

picking up and delivering groceries and medicine,

often paying out of their own pockets because the parents cannot go out, cannot work, and they are running out of money.

But these mutual aid networks cannot cover the cost of rent.

There has to be a larger system solution in place to address that problem, and that is where a statewide eviction moratorium must come in.

But it is on you as city council members and on Mayor Frey to do something more than talk.

And I repeat, words are not enough.

You need to do your part, and you need to act.

Calling on others to do mutual aid is not enough.

Pass this eviction moratorium resolution.

Keep our immigrant neighbors in their homes

until this crisis passes.

Thank you.

Number 12, Clyde Warren.

My name is Clyde Warren. I am a renter in Minneapolis and a member of the IPG tenant union.

I'm here today representing myself, my union members, and thousands of local renters who are joining the call for an eviction moratorium.

The people of Minnesota are experiencing a growing invasion of federal agents carrying out a racist, violent crackdown targeting our immigrant neighbors.

My neighbors are living in fear of abduction, kidnapping, and deportation.

Thousands of immigrants have been sheltering in place and not leaving their homes for weeks and weeks.

Whether or not people have legal status, a work permit, or even citizenship, all immigrants are terrified right now.

These agents have shown again and again that they don't care about any of us, our children, or our rights.

I want to be sure that this City Council understands the kinds of horrible decisions families have to make in the absence of intervention.

Across the city, immigrants are relying on their neighbors and their fellow parents to take their kids to the bus stop

because they are afraid of getting kidnapped by masked and violent agents on the way.

Then they have to call in sick to work, missing pay,

because they need to make sure that when another parent walks their child home at 3.30 p.m., it won't be to an empty house.

People are doing what any one of us would do in crisis, sacrificing their paychecks, their health, and their rent money

to try and keep their family together, no matter the cost.

This is not the story of just one person.

This is reality for hundreds and hundreds of our neighbors.

How can families living paycheck to paycheck pay rent in these conditions?

What we're seeing is economic harm being pushed onto our people through this racist immigration enforcement,

while housing courts and eviction processes operate like nothing has changed.

Thank you.

Next, number 13, Dex Anderson.

Welcome.

Lucky number 13.

Hi, my name is Dex Anderson.

My pronouns are they, them.

I am a resident of Ward 10.

And good, Linnea came back in time to hear this because apparently she didn't want to hear public comment today.

But I think she should listen.

I work for a disability advocacy organization, but I'm here speaking in my personal capacity as a private citizen.

However, in that work, I am much more aware of the impact of ICE on disabled Minnesotans.

The disability services sector is largely populated by immigrant workers.

It's BIPOC people who are helping people with disabilities with their care tasks, with going to the doctor, with their needs that they have.

And people who are people with disabilities who are immigrants are likewise doubly impacted by this.

Because when they go to the doctor, they're afraid that ICE is going to be there in the emergency room or in the waiting room waiting to pick them up.

And we've already seen how ICE treats people with disabilities with the lady with autism, who also has a TBI, who was brutalized by ICE just this week.

Many of these workers are afraid to go to work, which means that people with disabilities who are served by these workers are not receiving care.

They are not able to get to the doctor. They are not able to get their medication and the care that they need, which greatly impacts their quality of life and their ability to live.

Additionally, disabled people of color don't feel safe in the city, and they are unable to move and run when ICE shows up.

They often cannot drive, so they are relying on transport of friends and family who are also at risk.

That is why an eviction moratorium is needed at the state level, because these people are already on a knife's edge and on a precipice.

And if we don't do something, we will see many more disabled people become unhoused here in Minnesota.

We cannot mutual aid our way out of this.

Thank you. Fuck ice.

Thank you.

Number 14, Liam Casey.

My name is Liam and I live in North Minneapolis.

I was born in Alaska, moved to California, Texas for 11 years, all before our family decided

to settle down in Minnesota.

I've lived and grown up in Minnesota over a decade and here in this city for six years.

I call Minnesota home.

I'm a citizen of this country, a country founded on ideals of life, liberty, and pursuit of

happiness for all.

Recently, these have simultaneously come under attack from our own federal government.

ICE officers act with brutish impunity, smug attitudes, and acting as if this country and

the laws are theirs to interpret and enforce.

Pay attention.

Oh, council member.

There are lots of police officers who act with this same attitude,

and I see this attitude with some of the council members as well.

Why is it that when I'm exercising my First Amendment right peacefully

and following all orders and in line with my pursuit of happiness,

I am shot in the head with rubber bullets, CS gas deployed en masse,

and witnessing disgusting uses of forces with most encounters?

A kid's heart stopped yesterday from inhaling too much CS gas.

This does not have to happen to enforce immigration.

Here are means citizens have for protection when standing up for inalienable rights is

still something you can't separate yourself from.

This helmet to prevent my skull from taking lethal damage by non-lethal shot by agents.

A gas mask to protect my lungs from what is a war crime.

Goggles to protect my vision and earplugs to protect my hearing from LRADS that they

have deployed.

Rubber bullet was...

I saw a video of a kid getting blinded by a rubber bullet when he got shot in the face

from three feet away.

Here's a hat.

I urge the council to sniff the hat and show their support for the American people.

It is coated with the remnants of CS gas.

Thank you.

Please show your support and solidarity.

Make a decision that actually counts for people.

Thank you.

We need to recognize number 15, Eli Sherman.

On deck is number 16, Sarah Ormson.

Number 17, Leif Greena.

Number 18, Jeanette Corsilius.

Number 19, Lawrence Williams, and number 20, Genesee Saleh.

Number 15, Eli Sherman.

Thank you.

Thank you, President Payne.

If we wanted to avoid public comments on this issue, it could have been adopted by unanimous

consent.

But we're here talking about it.

Why?

This is the most basic thing we can do to show support and solidarity with our community

right now.

I hear a lot of concern for landlords and for business interests and for capital and

well what will happen to the money?

I don't really care.

I don't think a lot of people really care right now what happens to the money.

Oh, Councilmember Rainbow, I am a Ward 3 resident and if you don't want to answer my emails

you might want to listen to me now.

Thank you.

I urge you to put your priorities in a different order.

Put the residents of this city above capital.

Put the residents of this city above landlords.

We need help right now.

We are all out here defending ourselves.

I don't hear these same arguments about fiscal responsibility when it comes to the Minneapolis

Police Department being $20 million over budget.

Nobody seems to care about that.

you know what, what do we get for that money? We get a police force that stands by and watch

the populace be brutalized and gassed with things that are not allowed by the Geneva

Convention and other countries, but they're allowed here on protesters.

I stand with our immigrant community and everybody who is afraid that this modern Gestapo might pick

them up and take them somewhere, whether you're an observer or someone who is at risk. And I

challenge you that if you don't have the courage to meet this moment and send a resolution up to

Tim Walz that you don't even have to do anything about, you just have to pass the buck. This is

like your thing. I urge you, if you don't have the courage to stand for our neighbors, step down and

let somebody who will do it. Number 16, Sarah Ormson.

my name is sarah ormson i live in northeast minneapolis i'm a public health nurse and a

mental health nurse i'm calling it for an eviction moratorium that includes our unhoused neighbors

we cannot allow our city to displace our neighbor neighbors in encampments just like we cannot

allow ice to displace our neighbors the care that we provide to the most vulnerable in our city

sets a precedent to what is acceptable by the federal government and ice that is currently

ripping our city apart it is a major health risk for anyone to be outside right now in the freezing

cold tear gas left lethals and bullets in the air we can't allow evictions to weaken our community

right now stopping evictions of encampments is the least we can do after the veto of the humane

encampment response displacing unhoused residents makes it incredibly hard for outreach nurses

social workers to reach patients who are at an increased risk of being harmed by ice this is

a public health emergency and keeping our community safe and healthy starts with housing for everyone

and halting all evictions number 17 laif grina

Members of the Council, my name is Leif Grenna.

I am the President of the Minneapolis Regional Retirees Council, a constituent body of the

Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation.

I am 73 years old.

Being 73, I am part of the cohort that is the largest demographic experiencing homelessness

in the United States.

30% of people on Social Security only have that as a source of income.

And out of that, I pay a premium every month for Medicare.

ICE's reign of terror does not discriminate based on age, only race.

They don't care how old you are.

They don't care who you are.

They will come after you regardless.

Absent action by the city council and the governor, you will have more homeless people.

Elderly people who are working because Social Security can't pay the bills and who now cannot

work will lose their homes because they cannot pay rent.

It's obvious.

I want to remind you of the words of Frederick Douglass,

power concedes nothing without a demand.

This resolution is a demand on the power of the governor

in the state of Minnesota to act on behalf of its people.

I urge you to support making that demand.

Thank you.

Next we have Jeanette Corsilius.

Greetings.

My name is Jeanette Corsilius.

I work in Minneapolis as a union and community organizer.

I am a member of OPEIU Local 12, Office Professionals Employees International Union, and I am a proud

member of the Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America. I am also a delegate to the Minneapolis

Regional Labor Federation. All three organizations have signed on to the eviction moratorium

ordinance. Our most vulnerable Minnesotans have not been able to work or leave their homes in six

weeks because we are under siege by our federal government. Every day I wake up to a nightmare

and I can barely sleep at night. I'm constantly on my phone

making sure that we have patrols around our schools, making sure that our neighbors have

food to eat every day. I'm stressed. I am a daughter of an immigrant. I cannot imagine how

immigrants who have newly come to this country feel right now. Many of them are thinking about

fleeing Minnesota. If we care about our neighbors, we will stand up for them. More and more students

are not showing up to school. They're choosing the virtual option. I'm asking every single one of you

to take a stand, show some empathy, be leaders in this moment because the mayor will not, the governor

will not take a stand or be forever remembered as enemies of the people think about 50 years

from now if we're all alive what will we be remembered as in the history books

thank you for your time thank you next we have lawrence williamson

Lawrence Ward 8. Two days ago I was detained for a number of hours at the Whipple Federal Building.

You can see my scratch still. And while I was there I was walked past a long line of Latino

men in shackles. These are breadwinners and providers for families in our community

and they are being put on planes and flown to camps. That is where we are.

are. So let me be abundantly clear. Come February, we are not doing evictions in Minneapolis.

And we can do no evictions the easy way or we can do it the hard way. And I think it's

incumbent on all of us to try and do it the easy way. Thank you.

Next we have Jazimi.

No, don't go for it, please.

Thank you.

All right, go for it.

I want you to see my face when I say this.

Orian, you said it was your responsibility to ensure that residents have the same means

to protect themselves and stay inside.

It is by any means necessary that I and my comrades on the correct side of history will

ensure that our neighbors are protected and safe.

Comply, be complicit, ICE will kill us anyway.

Authoritarians do not need permission. Walls knows this. We the people in the

streets are not going to fall for the trap of momentous reformist stagnation.

If the city police refuses to enforce our laws, maintaining their white

supremacist thin blue line, the people will continue to be forced to pick up the

slack. This is just another consequence of decades of austerity. We are used to

taking care of ourselves, but know that that only makes your position and

assumption of power obsolete. Or you can help us help ourselves. You must support on paper

and out loud an eviction moratorium. Together we are feeding each other. Together we are

housing each other. Together we are fighting for each other and we will arm each other

as is our second amendment right. It is accelerationist to not provide support as people are being

ushered further and further into the margins. Our housing support networks are already overburdened

and as more people lose access to housing and become homeless because they're stuck inside,

it is collaborationist to allow fascists to continue to harm our neighbors on the streets.

Stepping up to submit a formalized request to the governor is more action than has been

taken thus far under this occupation, and it's still not enough.

This city has failed to uphold its own laws to arrest the Nazi who murdered Renee Nicole

Good.

Immigrants are under attack.

Homelessness is being further weaponized by the system.

unhoused folks and homeless immigrants work, pay taxes, and have families that love them,

who regardless of that, and in the absence of all that, still deserve to be protected.

These people live outside. We are letting them freeze to death.

Undesirables, that's what the fascists see.

We must resist the Nazis trying to clear them from our communities.

We must protect them.

We must include language to support our homeless neighbors.

Thank you, Jason, Robin, Irene, Aisha, Jamal, Sorin, and Elliot.

Thank you for fighting. Everyone else, you disgust me.

Thank you. Next we have number 21, Stacey Belkarin, 22, Alina Hawley, 23, Tia Jeanette, 24, Ella Hagan, and 25, Joe Hesla.

I'll welcome up number 21, Stacey.

Thank you, President Payne. My name is Stacey Belkarin.

I'm here on behalf firstly of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation AFL-CIO which endorsed

this eviction moratorium last night its delegation. It is important that you all know

our union members of all of our 175 plus unions under our umbrella are experiencing terror.

They are experiencing terror on their way to their hourly wage work. They're experiencing it on their

way home shaking. They're experiencing it. Yesterday, we held a press conference talking

about an ATU local 1005 member who was taken from a bus stop on December 2nd. They didn't

make it home until January 6th. We are working with the AFL-CIO networks that we have across

the country to do what we can for our union members, but we need all of our leaders, especially

the folks that we endorse to lean in now. I'm taking this hat off to now speak as a constituent.

I will reintroduce myself. My name is Stacy Balcoran. My pronouns are they them. I live in Ward 3.

Michael Rainville, there are people of color living in Ward 3. I live in North Loop. We exist.

We are looking for a leader. Acknowledge her. Them, excuse me. Acknowledge them. I am a member of the

press. I am out there every day. If ICE is not in word three, which it is, if you're thinking it's

not an issue for us, it is. I have colleagues I care about who are on the ground every day. I'm

freaked out for them. I am a member of the press out there every day. If I were shot in the effing

face, what would you say? I'm a renter. I may look like I make a lot of money. I work for a labor

union our pay is fair okay if I needed to stay home thank God my employer is

part of the employer class that cares because you certainly don't thank you

number 22 Elena Hawley my name is Elena Hawley and I've lived in the twin cities

all my life with neighbors for neighbors a member of the Housing Justice League

neighbors for neighbors works to ensure Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota

is a place where everyone has a stable, humane place to live in the neighborhood they choose.

On behalf of our organization, I'm speaking up in support of an eviction moratorium in Minneapolis

to keep people safely housed during this crisis. We're asking the governor to unlock this possibility

with a state of emergency, as well as asking county and state leaders to pursue moratoriums

at higher levels. When COVID ripped through our lives, our leaders recognized that an external

force made it impossible for ordinary Minnesotans to conduct business as usual,

and took the reasonable step of implementing an eviction moratorium.

Pandemics and federal deployments are circumstances out of our control,

but the ability to distinguish an emergency and take necessary action

to prevent damage to human life and safety during that emergency

is, fundamentally, the only ability that warrants the election to public office.

I certainly hope that the leaders Minneapolis elected can see the absolutely unreasonable danger

that the specter of eviction poses to human life in this moment,

and I hope that you will take swift action

to prevent further damage by enacting an eviction moratorium.

The country is watching us to see how we respond to this moment.

We have a reputation as a humane refuge,

a stronghold of logic and bravery.

A decisive action like an eviction moratorium

in Minneapolis and Minnesota

will influence the actions taken by cities and states nationwide.

You have the responsibility to protect the lives of people in Minneapolis.

you have the opportunity today to set an example that will protect people

nationwide and to the financial concerns about an eviction moratorium if

landlords are harmed financially in this moment they should be looking at the

federal government to end the circumstances that are causing them

harm thank you next up we have number 23 Tia Jeanette

Hello. I'm here today on behalf of the Quadro Whittier Tenants Association. We live in Ward 10. We represent five buildings in the Whittier neighborhood.

I just wanted to say that I think it is absolutely unconscionable to pursue evictions while we

experience this violent invasion and occupation. It is shameful to force our most vulnerable

neighbors to make the impossible decision between safety or shelter.

Now is the time to show your community that you are willing to use the power that you

have to help keep them safe from harm and protected from displacement.

Calling this moratorium a bandaid on a bullet wound.

Disgusting, by the way.

doesn't make it okay to turn and look the other way while your community is bleeding thank you

next up we have number 24 ella hagan

I'm Ella Hagan. I live in Ward 10. I'm a member of PSL.

Trump has declared open class warfare against the people of Minnesota, from canceling child

funding to ending financial support for food stamps to skyrocketing insurance

premiums and cutting additional funding to states with sanctuary cities. Trump

has targeted Minnesota for collective punishment. He has enlisted his own

personal army to enforce this punishment. In doing so, after over six weeks of

Operation Metro Surge, ICE has made working conditions for Minnesotans

across the state impossible. Facing a mountain of rising costs and a

dangerous and racist federal occupation, workers are in desperate need of relief.

We're hearing from our neighbors, our friends, our families, our loved ones.

Leaving their homes to go to work brings uncertainty of whether they might be

detained on the street from their cars, outside places of worship, hospitals, or

or their workplaces themselves.

They're forced into a crisis where going to work

means being detained and staying home

means they can't pay rent.

Governor Walz has the ability to enact

an eviction moratorium, halting all evictions

until such a time that ICE is no longer a barrier

for Minnesotans to pay their rent.

He did this during the COVID-19 pandemic

when thousands of people were unemployed or unable to work.

he can and must do so again.

Next up we have number 25, Joe Hessla,

and on deck we have number 26, Samuel Hessla,

number 27, Rhea R, number 28, Jessica Siminski,

number 29, Jesse Mortensen, and number 30, Tyler Klarnell.

Welcome number 25, Joe Hessler.

Thank you, my name is Joe Hessler, I live in Ward 9,

I'm a retired school teacher.

And the other day I was patrolling

at a school in Minneapolis,

a group of brown and black kids were enjoying

there at the door and suddenly the staff said,

get inside, get inside now, now, don't dawdle, get inside.

It was a traumatic moment,

and who knows how often that happens.

I'm asking you today to vote for this,

and I want you to think about right now,

Don't think about who's pressuring you,

like Mayor Frye or someone else on the council.

I want you to think about if it's your mother,

or your uncle, or your kid that could be left

when their mother gets snatched on the way into school,

who gets a knock on their door,

who gets yanked out of their car.

You need to think about that,

and you need to vote yes on this,

because it's the right thing to do,

and if you don't, history will not treat you well.

NEXT WE HAVE NUMBER 26 SAMUEL HESLAH.

HI.

MY NAME IS SAMUEL HESLAH.

I just want to say it's about time to abolish ICE and get justice in here.

It's time to speak up.

it's time

to

at my workplace

some of my coworkers

is targeted

by ICE

and my manager is also targeted by ICE.

And I'm scared to go to work.

I don't know if I should stay home or still go to work

because if I go to work,

I don't know if I'm going to find my co-workers dead or deported.

I don't want that.

no i don't want my manager to get deported or dead no no no i don't want that so i'm actually

scared to go to work too thank you yeah you're welcome

next up number 27 Reagan Reagan hi my name is Reagan rink I'm home lines managing organizer

a renter and award three resident I want to thank all the council members here who put this

resolution forward and I have a particular thank you to the council members showing up on the

front lines with your community we see you thank you I am an organizer I meet with people in their

homes, I meet their families, and I work with them as they pursue their vision of stability and

justice in housing. As an organizer, you get really close with people. I have held relationships with

people for years. The people I organize with, that I live with, and that I love, don't want to go

outside. They tell me that they're thinking about where they can hide in their apartments. They say,

is my closet going to keep me safe?

They aren't leaving unless they have to for work.

They're asking their landlords to intervene,

and even at the bare minimum, they are getting no support.

And frankly, they're being gaslit

as they're about the reality of ice in their parking lots,

throwing their children to the ground and brutalizing them.

No one should have to make this choice

between the safety of themselves or their loved ones

and the freedom to move about their day as they so choose.

But here we are, and thousands of renters are having to make that choice every day here.

We are all frogs in a pot right now.

Some of us have been boiled alive.

Others see what is coming and have nowhere to go.

And still, there are still some of us here who are just starting to feel uncomfortable with what's happening.

I would never choose the pathway my elected officials have to enter into public service as a representative of the people.

There are decisions and challenges to be faced that I don't think I could stand up to.

But you and every single one of my elected officials in this state and at the federal level did make that choice.

You chose to take on this responsibility and burden.

And so it's on you to come up with a better solution if you do not like this one.

That's not on us.

It's empty words.

It's not enough.

So please be bold.

Move now.

Do it together.

And move towards real action.

Pass this resolution.

Thank you.

Next, we will welcome number 28, Jessica Ziminski, and I'll just remind folks to just keep all

your comments respectful and mindful.

We're all going through a lot of intensity here.

Welcome.

Hello.

Thank you.

My name is Jessica Ziminski, and I am a Ward 9 resident and a policy attorney at the Housing

Justice Center and a member of the Housing Justice League.

Housing Justice Center is a nonprofit legal organization that is focused on insurance

access to safe, affordable, and fair housing. Nothing I have to say right now

is something you haven't heard before, but it is important enough to keep

repeating. Minneapolis and Minnesota are in crisis. ICE has taken over our city

and is kidnapping our neighbors. Schools are closing. People are terrified of

going to work or getting groceries because they know that they are just one

encounter away from being stolen from their families. Our undocumented

neighbors are a vital part of our diverse community and we need to show

them that we are here for them and value them. And it's not just our undocumented neighbors at risk.

ICE is targeting anyone who doesn't look white or has the guts to stand up to them. Community

members are showing up with donations, food deliveries, and patrolling the streets. It's

time for our government to show up for them and do its part to ensure that parents don't have to

risk being taken away from their children simply because rent is due in two weeks. Minneapolis and

Minnesota need to act and issue an eviction moratorium in response to this public health

and safety emergency. We owe it to our neighbors to ensure that they have the ability to focus on

their personal safety and not stress about whether they will still have a home to shelter in next

month. We don't know how long ICE will be terrorizing our community, but we do know that an

eviction moratorium will save lives just like it saved lives during the COVID-19 eviction moratorium.

A moratorium gives people the chance to seek rental assistance while they shelter in place.

it gives them the chance to live another day and not have to worry about just a bill

until it's finally safe to go to work again we are in an emergency and we need to let our neighbors

know that their safety is more important than a rent check the time to act on this was yesterday

but the second best time is now evict ice not us thank you next up we have number 29 jesse mortenson

Thank you, Council President.

Jesse Mortensen, Ward 12 in the Standish neighborhood.

For me, this is about shared sacrifice.

Councilmember Chavez and others have spoken powerfully to the folks who have no choice

but to take extraordinary measures who are being racially targeted by ICE in the Federalists

right now.

We've seen just incredible evidence of so many people across Minneapolis who are not

in that category, sacrificing time, energy, money to help people who are being targeted.

It's only straightforward to me to ask landlords in this city and this state to share in that

sacrifice because where else do people have to go?

We're asking landlords, let people stay home because they have nowhere else to go.

That's safe right now.

And I think if this was a flood, if the waters were rising and we were all passing buckets

to stand around. I think we would, if we were running low on buckets, we might go to that

Minnesota multi-bucket association and say, hey, we need you to share some buckets right

now. I think that's pretty straightforward. Thank you.

Next up, we have Tyler Clarnow, number 30 on deck. Number 31 is Anna Nelson, 32, Angela

B, number 33, Faduma Mohammed, number 34,

Michaela Royfels, and number 36, Kenton Card,

number 35, had to leave. Number 30, Tyler.

Thank you. Okay. Looks like Tyler left.

Number 31, Anna Nelson, also had to leave.

Number 32, Angela B. I'm having a hard time reading that.

Hello, everyone. My name is Angela Bonfilio.

I'm a Ward 4 resident, and I'm here because we are absolutely horrified.

I'm here because for the last six weeks, ICE and the federal government have been terrorizing our communities,

having fear and isolation, and this stopped being about immigration enforcement a long time ago.

As a community member, after a community member, we're seeing harassed, beaten, and killed.

Last night, we experienced another horrific night with a man shot in North Minneapolis.

And then after, a car full of babies and children were attacked by the federal agents with three flashbangs,

sending a six-month-old to the hospital.

We demand that Governor Walz issue a state of emergency now

and use his executive power to pass a statewide eviction moratorium immediately.

and you all have a part in that.

We asked the city council to unanimously pass

a resolution and policy to support the eviction moratorium

be put in place as soon as he does so.

During the last eviction moratorium as a tenant organizer,

I saw how so many families benefited from having more time.

That's what this does for us.

It gives us more time to figure out the rental assistance,

to figure out all the pieces,

and that's what we need right now.

I myself was protected through the eviction moratorium from retaliation from my landlord

for speaking up about my rights during the pandemic.

And two days after the moratorium was over, my lease was terminated in retaliation for

speaking up in 2021, removing myself and my neighbors from a community that we held dear

and deep relationships in for eight years in Ward 5.

We have heard from families not only worried about the rent,

but the retaliation from their landlords in this time

from other issues.

There is absolutely no reason why we don't need this again

during this time.

The country is watching Minnesota right now,

and we need to lead boldly.

Please be creative and work together to find solutions.

Number 33, Faduma Mohammed.

My name is Fadim Mohamed. I am a community organizer at New Justice Project and a Ward 9

resident. My mom, a Ward 5 resident, has not left her house since the murder of Renee Good.

The reality for many families in Minneapolis are facing right now, they are not leaving their house.

They are trapped at home out of fear. They can't work. They can't earn a wage. They can't pay their

rent and that fear has real economic and mental health consequences. We are scared. People in our

communities are being hunted down. That is the reality on the ground in Neapolis and February

1st is coming fast. If rent is due and people can't pay, we are looking at mass evictions in

the middle of another ongoing public health crisis. We cannot survive adding a housing crisis

onto everything we are already carrying. We are carrying too much. Evictions will not make the

city safer. It'll make it easier for ICE to abduct and murder our neighbors and

it'll make the city unstable. Some of you are new to this council and you asked us

to trust you this summer when you campaigned and we elected you and now

we're asking you to protect us, to stand up with us, join your constituents, join

your council members here who are on the ground every day, protecting us, making

sure people aren't getting kidnapped. Pass this moratorium, pressure Governor

walls to act. We will not survive this moment if we do not protect each other.

That is all I have to say.

Number 34, Michela.

Luis, I'm a Ward 7 resident. I'm here to just share a little bit of my

personal story. Some of you might know from my professional capacity, but I'm

here to speak my personal capacity. Unfortunately, who I am and who my

family are, we're not new to the prosecution and threats of

displacement from federal agencies and immigration laws.

Minnesota is the home that I was born in and continues to be my

home today, but there have been moments where this state has

failed us in our crisis to be affordable, right, and has caused

us to move to different states.

And I saw my family thrive in Arizona and Maricopa County and

Phoenix and saw that thrive and that drive that my parents have

being completely drowned away when there was an election of a

of a sheriff named Joe Aparo, who made it his mission

to remove and displace my community.

Minnesota is on the verge of being complicit

in those same steps.

I urge you now to take action on these resolutions,

to not only urge the governor to issue,

through his executive power, a conviction moratorium,

but to exercise your ability as the city council of the city

to use all the tools in your mechanism to alleviate the pain

and make sure that we are safe and whole.

I am also a board member of a nonprofit

who does immigration work, and it is incredibly,

there's no words to explain what it is to go through

a delegation of parental authority with a parent

to ensure that folks have a plan in place

for if they are caught on the streets and displaced

and their children are at home or they're at school

or they're anywhere else, that they actually have a plan

to be housed and go with a family member that is safe and secure instead of going into

the federal system, into a foster care system that does not care.

Filling out a DOPA is incredibly real and folks are at their last step of what can be

done.

I appreciate the folks that are on the street now with our community and to Councilmember

Chavez, I see you, I hear you, much love to you.

Next up we have number 36, Kenton Card.

And on deck, number 37, Ian Rosenthal, number 38,

Mike Samuelson, number 39, Rabbi Eva Cohen,

and number 40, John Hain.

Good afternoon.

My name is Kenton Card.

I'm a research associate at CURA at the U.

I live in Ward 6.

The academic evidence indicates that an eviction moratorium is an effective and measured tool

to foster community safety.

So I'm going to share recent research on the topic that shows how it stabilizes families,

it fosters health, and it has economic benefits.

And these are all part of things that we need to be concerned.

So it stabilizes families because it works in reducing evictions.

It fosters health.

We know we have a great natural experiment, grand, widespread across the country, moratoriums

during COVID-19.

It helped reduce mental distress during that crisis.

It also reduced the rate of infection and death.

Once the moratorium were pulled back, we know there were over 400,000 additional cases of

COVID, 10,000 additional deaths.

So how might acting harm health, not acting harm health?

I think that's something we need to ask ourselves right now.

We should expect the economic pressures during this unprecedented crisis to yield greater

evictions and that's going to mean violent arrests.

We know people are going to be very vulnerable during the eviction process to this.

Finally, fundamentally, there are positive signs that an eviction moratorium supports a healthy economy.

We know that vulnerable families recovered faster during COVID-19, and there is not evidence that there are negative consequences for the housing market of implementing this kind of policy.

my team at Cura has looked at Just Cause, a very similar policy, and shown with the most rigorous

econometric tools, there are not reduced rates of growth, of production, reduced supply, or increased

costs of rent. So I can share that evidence. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next up, number 37,

Ian Rosenthal. Hello, City Council. My name is Ian Rosenthal, and I'm a renter in Ward 9,

and I'm here to lend Jewish community actions voice

to the chorus of advocates demanding an eviction moratorium.

The Jewish principle of pikuach nefesh tells us

that the preservation of life supersedes almost all other rules.

The racist invasion of federal forces to the Twin Cities is endangering all of us.

And the daily violence our immigrant neighbors and loved ones are experiencing

is a civic crisis of the highest order.

We know that lives are at stake because we have already lost so many.

At the vigil for Renee Good on the day of her murder, a mother and child stood behind me.

The child asked, Mom, does ice kill children too?

Her mother, with unimaginable care and honesty, answered, I hope not, sweetie.

I lost my breath at the sadness of this moment.

I imagine my ancestors facing the same questions from their child and having to muster unimaginable strength to reply.

This is the world we are currently living in.

For the past six weeks, people have been terrified to go to work, school, or someplace as simple as the grocery store.

And the reality is that the most vulnerable in our communities know that they are often safest at home.

Yet they are still forced to do the calculus.

How many days of work can I miss and still make the rent?

And for those who have already had loved ones ripped away from them,

they are forced to spend on basic needs rather than solely focus on returning their beloveds.

Even under absolute duress, the rent is due.

At the time where our home is one of the last places of refuge,

our system is threatening to displace our immigrant communities.

There is no justice in eviction under occupation.

There is no justice in eviction at all.

And for this reason, we are calling on our city council to unanimously,

unanimously pass this resolution and policy today.

today and to Governor Walts we say do your part. Thank you. Thank you. Number 38, Mike Samuelson.

Mike Samuelson, Ward 2. This is an emergency. I'm here for people who can't be here

because they're protecting their neighbors or they're too afraid to be here.

this is an emergency we don't need words we need action today we can either do

something or we can do nothing this is an emergency this isn't the time to say

is this the perfect policy do you think anyone here thinks this is the perfect

policy that will solve all of our problems with ice no we know this is not

the perfect policy we know this is one part of the solution and so we need

action today from you all who we trust, who we've elected to help our city in a time where

we need so much help.

This is an emergency.

Please today unanimously pass this resolution, pass this ordinance, send it to the governor

and show him what leadership looks like from elected officials.

This is an emergency.

Thank you.

Next up, number 39, Rabbi Eva Cohen.

Thank you.

I'm Rabbi Eva Cohen, and I live in Minneapolis's Seward neighborhood in Councilmember Wansley's

ward.

I'm here with Jewish Community Action to testify to the need for an eviction moratorium in

wake of ICE's immoral occupation that's targeting our immigrant communities.

An eviction moratorium is an ethical, humane response to an unethical, inhumane situation.

As so many of our neighbors are sheltering in place to stay safe and are suffering financially

because they can't go to work or because their family members have been kidnapped, the last

thing that we need is for our neighbors to lose their homes and to become even more vulnerable.

Looking to Jewish tradition, the Mishnah, the oldest collection of rabbinic law, asserts that

renters can't be evicted during the rainy season, during the rainy winter time between the fall

festival of Sukkot and the spring festival of Passover. There's a recognition that it's not

ethical to kick someone out of their home when the weather outside is bad, when it's dangerous to be

unsheltered. Right now in Minneapolis, not only is it winter and not only is it freezing, ice is adding

a whole other level of coldness and danger. Let's do everything that we can to keep our neighbors

safe and warm in their homes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next up we have John Heine.

And on deck we have number 41, Clint Conner.

42, Conner Hobart.

43, Sam Weisberg.

44, Al Longtime.

And 45, Gwen Geyer.

Welcome number 40, John.

Thank you.

My name is John Heine.

I am a longtime resident of Minneapolis

and a resident of Ward 7.

I live on the street grid where south meets north.

I'm here to confirm what you've heard this morning.

Every neighborhood in this city is under a siege,

and it has to end.

You can't end that siege today.

They couldn't end it yesterday in federal court,

just the other day.

We've got to wait and have a hearing before,

and I appreciate the city being a part of that,

stepping up what can be done

to stop this invasion of our town.

But we have been invaded, besieged by a marauding army of armed thugs who are kidnapping our neighbors.

And I hope you take into account everything you have heard from my neighbors and fellow citizens today because they can't say it any more eloquently than I have.

I know you have seen it.

I know all of us in this room have heard it.

And you can't deny it.

So to say this is not an emergency.

It is.

It's a public health emergency.

It's a public safety emergency.

What can you do in this moment?

An emergency in the state of Minnesota, it sure as hell is.

I want that declaration.

And what relief you can afford.

It's just one element of relief in eviction moratorium.

There's so much more to do and people are here doing it.

And I'd like you to do your part.

Yeah, there's going to be economic disruption, some dislocation, but we've seen that already.

You can't rent a car at the Minneapolis airport right now.

They're all gone.

You can't find a respirator mask on the hardware store shelf in your neighborhood.

Well, we're making enough whistles anyway.

But what are you going to do?

What can you do today?

You've heard it.

It should be unanimous.

Pass the resolution.

Number 41, Clint Conner.

My name is Clint Conner.

I live in Lowery Hill, and I'd like to first of all thank the City Council for giving the

public this opportunity to speak on these very important issues.

Although I've represented many vulnerable tenants in housing court, I'm not here specifically

to speak about the moratorium.

Instead, I'd like to take this opportunity to address how the City is dealing with the

unprecedented issues we are facing more generally.

I'd like to follow up on the point my City Council member made, Ms. Schaefer, about the

importance of rapid local response in dealing with rogue federal agents. I

completely agree on that point but it begs the question where are the rapid

response professionals in the NPD whose salaries pay to respond to public safety

concerns. The mayor has been touting to the media that the city has already

spent two million dollars in overtime for the NPD since the ICE incursion but

But the only thing we have to show for that is 40 arrests of our own neighbor protesters

and zero arrests of ICE criminals.

We need the mayor to implement an ICE criminal arrest plan, just like the city of Philadelphia

has already done.

We need our police to help change the narrative from law versus radicals to ICE criminals

versus law, and we need it now.

Many suspect that Trump is using this as a testing grounds

for interfering with our elections in November.

If we don't use this time for our MPD

to learn counter-tactics, and we are caught flat-footed then,

like we are now, the results could

be historically catastrophic.

I hope you're not satisfied with the mayor's excuse

that ICE has bigger guns and more men.

This is not about guns, it's not about numbers.

It's about our paid professionals enforcing our laws

against oppressors.

Thank you.

Number 42, Connor Hobart.

Council, Ward 5, resident,

just here to say, I evict ICE, not us.

Thank you.

Number 43, Sam Weisberg.

Thank you, Council President Payne.

My name is Sam Weisberg.

I'm here.

I'm a liquor sales rep.

I work for a liquor distributor.

This is not a job that should put me in front of the city council.

I work with restaurants across the city.

I talk to dozens of restaurants every week.

every single restaurant in this city is being impacted by this ICE invasion right now.

They all have staff who are being affected. At best, staff are out because they are caring for

loved ones or watching their neighborhoods. At worst, and I have personally talked to multiple

restaurants in this situation, at worst, they have staff who are hiding in their homes and are not

able to come to work. It would be wonderful if those restaurants could pay those staff people.

For those of you who believe that an eviction moratorium is not enough of a policy, I would love to see your policy to support those restaurant owners.

If you like business, go support them. They could pay their people.

But until that policy is passed, February 1st is coming.

All you need to do is pass it up to the governor, ask the governor to pass an eviction moratorium.

What this policy is doing, what we are asking you to do, is to prioritize the life of people in your city who will be put into a system of concentration camps that are unaccountable.

We know this. This has been reported.

So you can either protect people's lives who are going to be put into concentration camps, or you can protect the financial investment of landlords in this city.

I'm a Jewish person.

I think that choice is really morally clear.

I don't understand why there's any hemming and hawing about this on this council,

but I really appreciate all of you who have been out doing the work in your neighborhoods.

Council Member Payne, I am especially grateful to you.

I see you on the street every day.

Thank you all so much.

Number 44, Al.

Hello, I'm Al Longtime.

I'm a Ward 7 resident.

It bears repeating that these agents of ICE, Customs Water Patrol, and DHS are deliberately

obscuring their identities, refusing to provide valid warrants, and brutalizing civilians

while doing so.

Our neighbors are being picked up outside of schools, their work, and their residences.

are being left without parents and providers. Who could go to work to pay rent in these conditions?

Friends of mine are afraid to leave the house. They don't go out. They carry their passport

with them to get groceries. All of them have been citizens since birth, but they know that

does not matter. A rent moratorium would help secure families so that no one is turned out

just to be scooped up by anonymous armed agents.

This is a public health necessity. Thank you.

Next we have number 45, Gwen. After that, number 46, Amber Frederick. 47, Megan Blackwood.

Number 48, Kimberly Luttrell. Number 45, Gwen.

Hello, my name is Gwen. I'm a resident of Ward 2, and I'm here to call for an eviction moratorium so that our citizens can do the job of our police and our government and protect our citizens.

because over the years we have seen that they will not come to protect us.

If you want us to survive, if you want us to still prop up your economy

that you care about more than our lives,

then please allow us to strike.

Please.

I feel the world is screaming out in pain.

The system that humanity has built is failing.

Our world is run by hatred and it sickens me.

It breaks my heart.

I'm extremely disappointed in the people before me.

I'm extremely disappointed that this is the world we live in.

I want to see change.

Everyone is no different from each other.

We all deserve love and care.

and what I'm seeing happening to our immigrants is sad,

and if we think it's going to stop with them, you're wrong.

You're wrong.

Donald Trump is using us.

He's seeing if he can break our spirit.

We can't let him, on a national scale, see us fail.

This is a test to see how much the federal government can do and get away with.

Please, we need to rise together, and we can only do that with enough effort if you have the eviction moratorium,

or else people are scared.

We're tied to our jobs, to live, to eat, to have health care, everything.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Number 46, Amber, welcome.

My name is Amber Frederick.

I'm a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Commissioner,

an at-large commissioner and a Ward 5 resident.

Councilmember Warren, you ran on ensuring that every resident has access to safe and affordable homes.

The housing crisis is not theoretical.

It's happening right now, and it is escalating in your ward.

Today, many of your constituents are afraid to show up and speak to you.

I recognize my own privilege in being able to speak to you today and I'm using it to

speak for neighbors who are too scared to be present.

Here's what they asked me to share.

We need to stay here with our family.

Our kids are missing school and my brother and his family are scared to go to work.

Another neighbor said, as a mother with a child on the spectrum, we are living in fear.

My husband and I are working from home and our lives are on pause.

Another shared, we are terrified to be out.

We have to order everything to the house.

Our kids don't get to play outside.

We don't know what tomorrow will look like.

This is not the American dream.

We are living in a nightmare.

We are American citizens.

Council members Warren, Vita, and Paul Massano, as an elected official myself, I have spoken

with you about values and beliefs.

And I believe that we share common ground.

I do.

believe that we share common ground. If those shared values do not include keeping our neighbors

safe, if protecting immigrant neighbors is dismissed as not sustainable, then I need to know

what will you do? This is an emergency. And our neighbors deserve proposals to be passed without

hemming and hawing about why they are not perfect. They will die. They deserve your action. You know

our immigrant neighbors are vulnerable. I believe that if you do not pass this, you're using your

authority as a shield from yourselves instead of using it to protect them. That is a deliberate

choice I believe that I do thank you number 47 Megan Blackwood my name is

Megan Blackwood I am a nursing student a healthcare professional a mom a wife and

and I'm a resident of Minneapolis.

Over the past few weeks, we've been catapulted into chaos.

As residents, we've been left wondering whether we still have a city we can all call safe,

not just in theory, but in practice.

I send my daughter to school wondering if she will be safe.

I go to work wondering if my coworkers or myself are safe.

I go to campus constantly questioning every person without a campus ID,

asking myself whether they're meant to be there.

More than 40% of my cohort is made up of immigrants

and 10% have already dropped out.

The semester just started.

They were future nurses who had to put their dream on hold.

So I watch for them.

I watch for my daughter.

I watch for my wife.

And I watch for my neighbors.

That constant vigilance is not safety, it is fear.

And fear is exhausting.

ICE is not only instilling fear in immigrant communities,

it is spreading fear across neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and homes.

I know you may have limited power to remove ICE from our city,

but you have immense power to help us apply pressure to those who can.

Your voice matters too.

Your positions matter.

But know that silence is also a choice.

When we go home, we should be able to feel secure under our own roof.

A home should be a place of rest, not a place of anxiety that follows you through the door.

You sit in positions of power.

Across the state, there are people in positions who are in,

you are in, will say anything for attention,

for a headline, for 10 seconds of fame.

Will you be one of them?

Thank you.

Number 48, Kimberly Luttrell.

I feel like in Minneapolis I'm a sitting duck.

I don't feel safe at home.

I don't feel safe at work.

Kids aren't safe at school.

I was born in Minneapolis and I'm scared out of my mind because I have skin that is not white

and that is not fair. I am a nurse. There's a public health emergency because nurses aren't

showing up to work. Because we're freaked out. Because when we advocate for our black and brown

patients, what happens when ICE comes into our hospitals? We are making plans on what we are

going to do because we are in ethical dilemmas on what is the right thing to do.

What happens when they start pulling people out of ICUs when life is not sustainable?

Outside of the hospital, where is our moral code?

I make $80,000 a year, $20,000 more than what the average Minnesota makes, and I put my

my mortgage in forbearance this week because it's not sustainable mutual aid is not sustainable

anymore

our last speaker that signed up is connor carroll is there anyone else in the audience that wishes

to speak if you do please see the clerks outside of 392 otherwise welcome connor

Thank you, Council members.

I do hope that the Council makes it abundantly clear about what this resolution is and is not.

I know there was some confusion from folks about what this does and doesn't do.

To that point, I want to respond to some of the Council members who spoke at the beginning of the meeting,

expressing skepticism about the impact of this resolution.

Characterizing this resolution as just a letter to the Governor,

to me implies that it has no impact, and I don't think that's true.

I think a letter from the elected representatives of the largest, most vibrant city in the state

with the highest immigrant population absolutely has impact and sends a message,

not just to the governor, but to everyone across the country.

And I hope that you, council members, when you receive a letter from your constituents,

I hope that you would also consider that to be impactful as well.

because today's resolution is symbolic I would ask that the council work as fast as possible to pass

a citywide eviction moratorium so that immigrant renters can stay home and stay safe and I would

add to it is highly beneficial even to citizens and permanent residents of Minneapolis because

I personally know people who are citizens people of color and they are staying home more because

they are worried about getting picked up and harmed.

And I would also ask at the city level to pass rental assistance for Minneapolis renters

for the next three to five months at least so that eventually ICE will stop what it's

doing, I think.

But it will take time for people to build their savings back up, to build back the money

they are earning when they return to work, and they need to have some relief during that

time.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Now our last speaker is number 50, Abby Harry.

Hi, I wasn't gonna speak today

because I just wanted to support everyone else in the room,

but I'm a resident of Ward 4,

and I just feel like I have to add that I'm watching you,

Council Member Vita, on how you vote on this issue,

and I will personally support

if someone else runs against you next campaign,

if you don't vote yes.

Thank you.

That is our final speaker,

and that completes the list of registered speakers.

With that, I will close the public comment period.

I want to thank everyone who spoke or submitted comments.

With that, I know that Vice President Osmond

has a prior engagement.

I know Council Member Wansley has some comments

and I know that Council Member Whiting has an amendment.

Can we procedurally take up the amendment

and then speak to the full package?

Is that okay with everybody?

Okay, I will recognize Council Member Whiting.

Yes, thank you, Mr. President.

I have an amendment to offer and would like to speak to it.

sounds like we'll probably speak to this as a whole.

And so I know you all have,

should have been distributed copies from the dais.

If not, let me know and I'm sure the clerk will get them out.

But offering up, it sounds like Mr. President

then speaking to this amendment will come after as a,

right now.

Without objection, let's take up the resolution

as amended, Council Member Wansley.

I just want to second one.

Is there a, we'll take the full package as amended.

So let's move this as amended.

there a second second okay I will now recognize Councilmember Wansley

thank you president Payne as I highlighted colleagues earlier I'm

bringing this resolution forward urging governor Walz to enact the eviction

moratorium forward because I like many of you have been called on by my

constituents, some of which who spoke today, but a number of them who are represented by you all

also spoke today, and they discussed that they wanted us to do everything that we can to respond

to the reality of what our community is experiencing right now, and that is a violent

occupation by federal ICE agents. My office has filled countless requests and questions on how

the city can protect its residents, and I want to be honest, I have struggled to answer and to

respond to those questions because the reality is we as a community are experiencing an unprecedented

attack on our civil liberties and I'm grateful to Council President Payne for bringing the

subsequent resolution that also addresses that but in addition to them violating our civil

liberties it's also unclear what the plan is being brought forward by our elected leaders on how to

address the continued escalating violence that's being carried out by ICE agents against our

residents. And I recognize the city council is not equipped with the tools to effectively respond to

this crisis. But despite the lack of tools that we do have, I do think the ones that we're very

knowledgeable are of, which includes passing resolutions, passing ordinances, which is also

something we included in today's agenda and that you all passed as well. We do have a number of

tools that we can advance forward and I'm grateful that one of those are being brought forward for

consideration today and with support from several of my colleagues who've also been on the ground

and have seen what ICE has done in separating families and terrorizing our communities and

shooting flash grenades and tear gas at our residents and children. That said, I couldn't

imagine us not doing everything that we can when we're literally seeing ordinary people put their

lives on the line every single day to protect our residents. And this is one of the ways in which we

can mitigate harm. We recognize that many Minneapolis residents cannot safely go to work

and earn rent and normal tasks such as taking the bus to work, picking up kids from school,

or going to doctor's appointments or visiting your places of worship are now dangerous and can result

in you being kidnapped, arrested, or even shot and killed by a federal ICE agent. That said,

and that collective reality means that residents need to be able to shelter in place to survive

this attack. And in order to do that, we need an eviction moratorium. And this eviction moratorium

is simply a renter protection that prohibits the removal of tenants from their homes. And it has

been used to protect renters when there was exceptional circumstances, such as the COVID-19

pandemic, where we saw Governor Walz issue a eviction moratorium through the executive order.

Because again, in that moment, thousands of residents across the state lost their jobs and

were unable to work and thus unable to make rent. ICE is creating a statewide crisis that also

requires the governor to step in and ensure that nobody is evicted and then put at risk for being

abducted or again arrested or shot and killed. And without eviction moratorium, thousands of

vulnerable families are facing eviction as soon as February 1st. And the alternative is that workers

are then forced to leave their homes when it's not safe to do so. And again, being risked towards

getting kidnapped, arrested, or even killed by ICE. Governor Walz has the power to pass an executive

order and should do so immediately of declaring eviction moratorium. Everyday people, again,

are risking their lives to protect their neighbors, and they need to see political courage from the

people who have the means to take action. That includes us passing this resolution today. So,

again, I hope this will be supported by my colleagues and also grateful to Councilmember

WRITING FOR THE AMENDMENT THAT HE'S GOING TO DISCUSS AND REALLY TRYING TO REACH A PLACE OF

AGREEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT OUR HOUSING PROVIDERS SPECIFICALLY THOSE WHO ARE PROVIDING

CRUCIAL HOUSING SERVICES TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS NEED TO HAVE SOME RECONITION IN

WHENEVER THIS GETS ROLLED OUT SO I'LL LET HIM SPEAK FURTHER TO HIS AMENDMENT THAT I AM GOING

to be supporting today and again ask you all to support the resolution as amended

council member chug time yeah thank you mr president um

i want to start with thanking the the dozens of people who came out to speak today um or to um to

attend our proceedings here and just make your presence known and encourage us to do the right

thing in this moment. In the last few weeks, I have received hundreds of phone calls and emails

from my constituents and folks who are uniquely experiencing this moment and are looking for

local leaders to step up, are looking for local leaders to demonstrate that when we

are seeing our systems collapse and fail, when we're seeing our federal government attacking

our neighbors, that local government steps up to be the first line of service and the

the last line of defense for the people who call Minneapolis home.

I am a proud daughter.

I'm a proud eldest daughter of Pakistani Muslim immigrants.

And I grew up in a mixed status family.

I spent my early life in predominantly Muslim and immigrant community and

saw firsthand throughout my early childhood when ICE was first created, established in this country,

the type of horrors they have always inflicted upon the people whose communities they come into.

I have seen families torn apart from when I was three, four years old up until today.

And it's actually a really devastating thing to experience just how much worse it's gotten over time.

I went back and forth on the glorified greeting card comment because when it was first said, I was like, yep, I agree.

This is a glorified greeting card.

And why should we why should anyone have any concern about signing a glorified greeting card to the governor?

And I think it was the gentleman who's still sitting in the chambers who spoke about how important it is for the largest city, the most vibrant city in our state to be stepping up and that we shouldn't diminish that as just a glorified grading card.

And that got me thinking about the ways in which Minneapolis has led this state over and over and over again in transformative moments.

Whether it was in passing a $15 minimum wage, whether it was in being the first city to guarantee, earn sick and safe time to our workers,

whether it was in establishing a living wage, a minimum wage equivalent for Uber and Lyft drivers.

And when we step up, other cities follow.

And oftentimes, it then means that further action is taken.

And so, you know, I would say to our park board representative who's here,

I hope that similar types of actions will come from our other local government partners.

You know, and I think that's going to be an important inflection point

in helping make an eviction moratorium possible.

I know that our community is doing every single thing they can.

You know, like our community is calling for an eviction moratorium, is contacting the governor's office and their local elected leaders.

Our community is also stepping up in these brave and incredible ways right now, right?

Last night, 800 people from my neighborhood showed up to a community meeting.

We've never seen that happen before.

to say, you know, I am terrified in this moment, but what can I do to step up?

What can I do personally to step up in this moment to show up for my neighbors, to show up for my community?

And so, you know, I asked to our landlord lobby here today,

Mr. Smith, it's always wonderful. It's always a pleasure to have you in our chambers.

You know, if an eviction moratorium isn't the solution that helps keep people in their homes, prevents families from being torn apart, prevents people from being killed, then what is?

I mean, how do you suggest we get ICE out of Minneapolis?

Should we do more tweeting every day?

Should we do more national news interviews every day?

Should we beg them to leave?

I'm out of ideas actually and and so I'd love to know what how you suggest we show up for our

communities right now I'd love to know what you are doing to show up for the tenants who who pay

rent every month and and show me how we are all matching the courage that ordinary people are

demonstrating the extraordinary courage that ordinary people are demonstrating right now.

Until then, I, you know, I would, I can't sleep at night knowing that we have put any family

in the brutal and inhumane false choice of picking between losing their home

or losing their life or risking deportation. And so I am proud to support this today. And I would,

I would I want to thank the authors who brought this forward and would ask if I

can be added as a co-author as well thank you councilmember Rainville you

raised a pint of privilege yes thank you I I think we're all in agreement on this

and I I have to leave and I like to vote so I'd like to call the question please

second all right there is no debate on that question so I will have the clerk

Call the roll on calling the question.

Councilmember Chavez.

Aye.

Councilmember Warren.

Aye.

Councilmember Schaefer.

Aye.

Councilmember Wonsley.

Aye.

Councilmember Shugtai.

Aye.

Councilmember Whiting.

Aye.

Councilmember Chowdhury.

Aye.

Councilmember Stevenson.

Aye.

Councilmember Rainville.

Aye.

Councilmember Vita.

Aye.

Councilmember Palmisano.

Aye.

Vice President Osmond.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

There are 13 ayes.

That carries.

So we will take up the resolution as amended.

and I will ask the clerk to call the roll.

Council Member Chavez.

Aye.

Council Member Warren.

Aye.

Council Member Schaefer.

Aye.

Council Member Wansley.

Aye.

Council Member Shugtai.

Aye.

Council Member Whiting.

Aye.

Council Member Chowdhury.

Aye.

Council Member Stevenson.

Aye.

Council Member Rainbow.

Aye.

Council Member Vita.

Aye.

Council Member Palmisano.

Aye.

Vice President Osmond.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

There are 13 ayes.

That carries and that resolution is adopted.

Finally, we have item number nine, which is the resolution that I brought forward recognizing

Operation Metro Surge as an egregious disregard of constitutional rights and the reprehensible

unsanctioned commission of violent acts against Minneapolis community during Operation Metro

Surge.

I don't think I have the voice left to read this resolution fully.

I've lost my voice screaming at fascists and getting gassed.

So we're going to, it's been printed out for my colleagues to read.

It would go into the public record.

It's just acknowledging the horrendous conditions that ICE is putting our city through, our residents through.

Not just our immigrant residents, not just our undocumented residents.

every single resident of the city of Minneapolis is getting punished and brutalized because of who

we are and I am proud of who we are and I am not scared of this government and I want to say that

loudly and clearly and that's what this resolution is aiming to achieve and I will recognize

Councilmember Wansley. Thank you President Payne. I just wanted to ask if I could be listed as a

COAUTHOR ON THIS. I WOULD WELCOME EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THIS BODY WHO WANTS TO BE A COAUTHOR. IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T WANT TO BE A COAUTHOR.

CLERKS, CAN WE RECOGNIZE THAT? THERE'S NO OBJECTION. WE'LL ADD ALL 13 COUNCILMEMBERS.

COUNCILMEMBER SHAFFER. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD, PRESIDENT PAYNE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT. I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR MPD

officers in this extremely difficult moment that they are still answering our 911 calls

they are still showing up to work and i want to publicly say i appreciate their efforts

in this very difficult and dangerous time i ask that you hang with us that you decide not to

leave us but that you stand and remember your oath of public service remember why you came to

this job and help us help lead the way in this mess that we are in and I'd also say I am grateful

to everyone who is trying to lead who is whether that's in the streets whether that's our mayor

whether that's our governor and all of us here on the dais.

This is a time for all of us.

And I just wanted to mention and thank you to MPD for your part in this puzzle.

Councilmember Weibing.

Yes, and thank you, Mr. President.

And if I could briefly, just going to add another comment here.

And I think there is a deep, profound thank you.

I think we've seen in this moment that there is a unity across this body, that we are unacceptable or not accepting this level of engagement in our city.

Regardless of ideologies, regardless of political makeups, this body, and I have seen it for the past week and a half,

every single one of us have been engaging and in trying to figure out how we step up against an

unprecedented deployment of federal agents in our city. And every single person on this dais,

from the mayor to every single 13 one of us, are trying to figure that out. Just like our residents,

as they are too, we are all trying to figure out how best to operate in an environment where we

have a federal administration that is actively not just listening to Minneapolis laws, the

federal constitution. We are trying to figure out how best to operate and not just aim for

perfection. Our concerns are not that this resolution is not perfect. It is how we alleviate

harm immediately. And I believe there is another way that we can do this as well. I think many of

us on this body agree with that too, is figuring out how to put funds into the hands of our

neighbors that are most affected by this. And I would urge my colleagues that if we want to

actually alleviate harm immediately, figuring out how best to put forward rental assistance and

mutual aid programs within this city in our capacities. And so that is my comment there.

And again, thanks all of you for accepting those amendments as well. Thank you.

Councilmember Chavez. Thank you President Payne. Thank you for bringing this resolution forward. I'll be supporting it and just want to let the public know that while these items have been passing and this one looks like it's going to pass as well.

the next step of what we need neighbors to rise up for is the eviction moratorium ordinance that we need to pass in this body because

Words are great asking our governor to take action is great

But this body the city council still has an authority to pass an ordinance to make sure that we can protect our neighbors and

That starts again with the eviction more term ordinance that we will be considering in the coming weeks. Thank you

Okay, I will have the clerk call the roll

On the resolution.

On the resolution.

On the resolution.

Am I calling the roll?

The clerk will call the roll on the resolution.

Council Member Chavez.

Aye.

Council Member Warren.

Aye.

Council Member Schaefer.

Aye.

Council Member Wonsley.

Aye.

Council Member Shugtai.

Aye.

Council Member Whiting.

Aye.

Council Member Chowdhury.

Aye.

Council Member Stevenson.

Aye.

Council Member Vita.

Aye.

Council Member Palmisano.

Aye.

Vice President Osmond.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

has been approved. We have a closed session coming up. Normally we take announcements before we go into closed session. Are there any announcements before we go into closed session or should we get right into it? All right. With that, we've completed all items on our agenda and will now consider the request for a closed session, which is to receive a briefing on the litigation matter listed on the agenda. Before I move to close the meeting, I'll recognize the city attorney to provide the legal basis for the

requested closed session thank you President Payne the next item on the

agenda is the closed session in the case of state of Minnesota at all versus

gnome at all your lawyers wish to provide a briefing to the council on

this litigation matter accordingly under the Minnesota open meeting law

Minnesota statute section 13 D point zero five subdivision 3b the council may

upon a proper motion close the meeting for the purposes of attorney-client

communication as permitted by the attorney-client privilege.

In considering the motion, the council

should weigh the right of the public

to know what its government is doing

against the need of the city to preserve the confidentiality

of its discussions with its attorneys.

Thank you, Mr. City Attorney.

I move to close our public meeting

as authorized under the open meeting law, specifically

Minnesota statute section 13D.05, for the purpose

of receiving a briefing on the litigation matter

of the state of Minnesota at all versus Noam at all may have a second to that motion.

Second.

The clerk will call the roll.

Council member Chavez.

Aye.

Council member Warren.

Aye.

Council member Schaefer.

Aye.

Council member Wonsley.

Aye.

Council member Shugtai.

Aye.

Council member Whiting.

Aye.

Council member Chowdhury.

Aye.

Council member Stephenson.

Aye.

Council member Rainville is absent.

Council member Vita.

Aye.

Council member Palmisano.

Aye.

Vice President Osmond.

Aye.

President Payne.

Aye.

There are 12 ayes.

That carries.

For the viewing public, I will note that the broadcast of this meeting will continue,

and the council will reconvene in public after we've completed our closed session.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

ready

the time is now 5 50 and the city council has reconvened an open session following our closed

session. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our. Our

WITH THAT WE'VE COMPLETED OUR BUSINESS TODAY.

I WILL NOTE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC THAT

WE HAVE ANOTHER SHORTENED CYCLE OF MEETINGS SCHEDULED

FOR NEXT WEEK WITH A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

ON JANUARY 20TH AND A CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED

FOR JANUARY 22ND. AT THIS POINT IT APPEARS LIKELY

THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO CANCEL THOSE MEETINGS BUT A FINAL

DECISION WILL BE MADE TOMORROW.

COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE ALERTED VIA EMAIL AND THE

CLERKS WILL SEND OUT THE APPROPRIATE NOTICES.

With nothing further to come before the council and without objection, this meeting is hereby adjourned.

Thank you.