Southside Proud.

My name is Jason Chavez -

I’m proud to call the Southside my home. I was born and raised in East Phillips, I’m a renter in the Longfellow neighborhood, the son of Mexican immigrants, and proudly represent you 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. I’m excited to announce that I will be seeking re-election to continue representing you, working families, and our incredible community here in Ward 9.

When I first ran for office, I heard from many of 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 addressing the decade-long disinvestment in our community. 

Your voices and our hard work has brought tangible resources into the community. We  secured over $4 million for the revitalization of East Lake Street, $2.73 million for revitalization of the 38th Street Corridor and George Floyd Square area, and $4.5 million directed towards housing, healthcare, and economic development in Phillips. 

In Ward 9 alone, we secured $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. 

I’ve led efforts to address unsheltered homelessness. Securing funding for the development of a 54 bed and 50 apartment housing and shelter projects in Longfellow, funding for two projects in Ward 9 that will help preserve 86 affordable rental units with a focus on homelessness, stabilizing AVIVO Village, expanding the Stable Homes Stable Schools to program to tackle youth homelessness, and funded low-barrier job opportunities for those experiencing homelessness. 

We are also leading the way in establishing community safety initiatives, like the Lake Street Safety Center, launching the East Lake Street and East Franklin Safety Ambassador programs, funding the Little Earth Community Safety and Outreach Program, and expanding overall community safety efforts which has led to crime being down in our community.  

As the Trump Administration continues to impact our community we must be laser focused at protecting our most vulnerable communities. I’m committed to leading with an equity lens. We need to make sure our city is ready to fight to:

• Treat housing as a human right

• Keep basic city services intact

• Invest in community safety and hold police accountable

• Strengthen our public health services and systems

• Support our BIPOC, immigrant, and LGBTQIA+ communities

• Protect our precious resources and environment

• Fund our commercial corridors, small businesses, and workers

Sincerely,

Jason Chavez