Jason Chavez - Minneapolis Ward 9

09/30/2026

My office is hosting a Ward 9 Budget Meeting with the City of Minneapolis Finance & Property Services Department on Monday, October 5th from 6:00 to 7:30pm at the Corcoran Recreation Center (3334 20th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407).

Join us to learn how the city budget is developed, what's in the 2027 Mayor's Recommended Budget, and what resources are available to you. My hope is to make the budget process accessible and transparent for residents.

I know many of you have questions about MPD's overtime and overspending, the proposed cuts that will impact our neighbors, and the levy increase. Please bring those questions with you. I look forward to hearing your questions, thoughts, and priorities for our city.

Jason Chavez

09/26/2026

Dear neighbor,

I wanted to let you know that I am co-authoring the Workers Drive Minneapolis ordinance with Council Members Wonsley, Osman, and Chowdhury.

The City Council led the state in making ride-share driving a better way for people to support their families. Now big tech is pushing a new model that removes workers entirely, and raises lots of concerns about safety and accountability.

Our ordinance would enact local regulations on commercial autonomous vehicles (AVs) such as Waymo, Tesla, and Zoox. If passed, It would go into effect in October 2027 and would require all robotaxis commercially operating in the city to have a human safety monitor in the driver’s seat during operation among other basic qualifications.

Workers Drive Minneapolis would require all companies to obtain a license from the city to operate a commercial AV. The human safety monitor must be compensated in accordance with the minimum rates established by law. Remote operation of a commercial AV by a person would be prohibited.

Workers Drive Minneapolis will protect over 10,000 rideshare drivers, mostly workers of color and immigrant workers, who support themselves and their families by driving ride-share.

So many of our neighbors stood in solidarity with our immigrant workers and ride share drivers. Taking on patrol shifts and carrying whistles on their necks. Now, these same immigrant residents are facing the risk of losing their jobs, because big tech companies want to profit.

If we meant it when we stood with immigrant residents, we have to mean it when their jobs are under threat as well.

Jason Chavez

Thousands of drivers are facing losing work to autonomous vehicles. Our proposed ordinance would protect their jobs, Robin Wonsley, Jamal Osman, Aurin Chowdhury and Jason Chavez write.

09/22/2026

The City of Minneapolis is hosting an informational meeting this Thursday, Sept 24 at 6 PM to share about their bidding process for the partial deconstruction of the Roof Depot building.

This project is intended to remove the North portion of the Roof Depot building (EPNI has access to the Southern portion).

Join us to hear from Jason Chavez - Minneapolis Ward 9 and Ray Dehn, the project manager, about the extent of deconstruction and the timeline for the work. Staff from Property Services will provide a brief presentation beginning at 6:00 p.m. and be available afterward to answer questions. The City is not working on a new project at this time, and will not have any renderings or proposed designs to share at this meeting.

The meeting will take place in the Multi-Purpose Room at East Phillips Park Cultural & Community Center 2315 17th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55404

09/21/2026

Dear neighbor

Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) has announced its plans to close up to 16 schools, which means thousands of students would be shuffled around. Including Longfellow Alternative High School and Heritage STEM Academy in the 9th Ward.

I oppose these proposals because they treat students as a line item on a spreadsheet rather than as students whose futures depend on a school that knows them. Let’s be clear, this isn’t “transformation,” it's closure by another name.

School closures moving forward in this rushed way only furthers mistrust between the community and MPS. Recently, multiple instances of financial mismanagement have cost the district millions of dollars of aid that could've helped our students. Getting our own house in order with strong financial controls should come before any school closures in order to build back trust.

Decisions this big should be made with the people who will be impacted, actual data, and with equity in mind.

I urge the MPS board to delay this vote, extend community engagement, and work with students, families, and educators.

Jason Chavez

09/19/2026

The Taco Tour on Lake Street has started!
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Español: ¡El Taco Tour en Lake Street ya comenzó!

09/19/2026

The Taco Tour on Lake Street is happening today, September 19! Make sure to use the map to see 30 Latino-owned participating businesses, In between tacos, hang out at two event headquarters for music, art, and fun!

The federal occupation of Minneapolis hit East Lake Street hard. Showing up today will support these small businesses and their families.

https://www.lakestreettacotour.com

09/16/2026

Tomorrow at 9:30am, we will gather in the Council Chambers at Minneapolis City Hall (350 S 5th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415) to honor the life and legacy of Karen Clark, the first openly le***an member to serve in the Minnesota Legislature, and a fighter for LGBTQIA+ rights, environmental justice, and our BIPOC neighbors for nearly 40 years.

The Minneapolis City Council and community will read an honorary resolution declaring Karen Clark Day. Her fight for the East Phillips Indoor Urban Farm continues in her honor and I hope you can all join us.

Jason Chavez

09/14/2026

Last night, I had the honor of speaking at El Grito Del Pueblo, which brought our community together at Mercado Central to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. 🇲🇽

Thank you to everyone who came out, and to UNIDOS MN and Mercado Central for putting this together.

I also had a great time celebrating Mexican Independence Day on East Lake Street.

After everything the federal government put our community through, we came together to show our resistance, our joy, and our culture.

Jason Chavez

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Español: Anoche tuve el honor de hablar en El Grito Del Pueblo, que reunió a nuestra comunidad en Mercado Central para celebrar el Día de la Independencia de México. 🇲🇽

Gracias a todos los que vinieron, y a UNIDOS MN y Mercado Central por organizar esto.

También la pasé muy bien celebrando el Día de la Independencia de México en East Lake Street.

Después de todo lo que el gobierno federal le ha hecho pasar a nuestra comunidad, nos reunimos para mostrar nuestra resistencia, nuestra alegría y nuestra cultura.

Jason Chavez

09/13/2026

Honored to join the Salvadoran community and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador last night for the Commemoration of El Salvador's Independence. 🇸🇻

Thank you to Cónsul General Sandra Cruz and members of El Salvador's Consulate for the invitation. The Salvadoran people are proud and resilient, and their culture and contributions strengthen our city every day.

¡Feliz Independencia, El Salvador! 🇸🇻

Jason Chavez

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Español: Fue un honor unirme a la comunidad Salvadoreña y al Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de El Salvador anoche para la Conmemoración de la Independencia de El Salvador. 🇸🇻

Gracias a la Cónsul General Sandra Cruz y a los miembros del Consulado de El Salvador por la invitación. El pueblo Salvadoreño es orgulloso y resiliente, y su cultura y sus aportes fortalecen nuestra ciudad todos los días.

¡Feliz Independencia, El Salvador! 🇸🇻

Jason Chavez

09/11/2026

While the City of Minneapolis government does not own or operate Flock Safety cameras, residents of Minneapolis have called on their elected leaders to take any and all actions to stop the proliferation of Flock Safety cameras and ban their usage.

That being said, both the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and the University of Minnesota have deployed Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. In order to address community concerns, I am bringing forward a resolution with Council Member Robin Wonsley that formally communicates the council's position and calls on both entities to terminate their Flock Safety contracts.

In July 2026, a Star Tribune investigation reported that federal “immigration enforcement” agencies, including ICE, had means of accessing Flock Safety-collected data, despite Minnesota law restricting ALPR data-sharing to criminal investigations.

Flock Safety cameras continuously capture and retain location data on every vehicle passing a camera, regardless of whether the vehicle or its occupants are suspected of any crime. This creates a comprehensive record of residents' daily movements that raises significant privacy and civil liberties concerns, particularly for immigrant communities already facing heightened “federal enforcement” activity.

A number of Minnesota jurisdictions, including Duluth, Isanti County, Sherburne County, West St. Paul, Columbia Heights, Brooklyn Park, Shorewood, and Saint Paul have ended or paused their use of Flock Safety technology, citing cost, erosion of public trust, and unresolved questions about how the data is accessed and shared.

We will be bringing this resolution forward for a vote to formally communicate the council's position and call on both entities to terminate their Flock Safety contracts on September 23, 2026, at the Public Health, Safety, and Equity Committee of the Minneapolis City Council.

Jason Chavez