Southside Proud.

My name is Jason Chavez, I’m proud to call the Southside my home. I’m a renter, the son of Mexican immigrants, and proudly represent Ward 9 on the Minneapolis City Council.  In 2021, you elected me as the DFL and Labor Endorsed Candidate, making history as the first LGBTQ+ Latino elected to the Minneapolis City Council. Currently, I serve as Chair of both the Public Health and Safety Committee and the Committee of the Whole, where I work tirelessly to drive systemic change for Ward 9 and our city.

I’m excited to announce that I will be seeking re-election to continue representing you on the Minneapolis City Council. I will continue to passionately advocate for working families and our vibrant community at City Hall.

When I first ran, I heard from you that the direction our city was heading towards disregarded the voices of our community. I promised you that I would bring a “Community-Led, Community-Centered” approach to City Hall and committed to reversing the decade-long disinvestment in our community. 

Together, we have secured over $4 million for the revitalization of East Lake Street, $1.88 million for the enhancement of the 38th Street Corridor, and $3.5 million directed towards housing, healthcare, and economic development in Phillips. 

In Ward 9 alone, we have successfully obtained approximately $9.8 million in Affordable Housing funding, which will preserve 243 units of affordable housing, create 67 new affordable units, and develop 72 mixed-income units. 

We are leading the way in community safety initiatives, establishing the Lake Street Safety Center, launching the Lake Street and East Franklin Safety Ambassador programs, funding the Little Earth Community Safety and Outreach Program, and expanding overall community safety efforts. 

In our fight to address homelessness, we secured funding to prevent the permanent closure of a downtown shelter, funded the development of a 54 bed and 50 apartment housing and shelter project in Ward 9, stabilized AVIVO Village, and championed low-barrier job opportunities for those experiencing homelessness. 

We expanded the Stable Homes Stable Schools program to tackle youth homelessness, funded a dedicated position to address the issue of needle litter within our community, secured funding for an indoor tiny homes shelter in South Minneapolis that will continue to be a goal of ours.

I am committed to leading with an equity lens. We expanded immigration services, enhanced mental health programs for LGBTQIA+ individuals, and initiatives to improve disability access. And we centered community in every decision we made like the East Phillips Urban Farm, GFS, and the former 3rd Precinct site. 

We are not done yet and we have so much left to do. I will continue to advocate for our community.

Sincerely,

Jason Chavez