Changes to drug selling in Whittier?
The City announced increased enforcement of what it’s calling “open-air drug markets” in early July. The City’s response will be in partnership with Minneapolis Park Police, Metro Transit, and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and include “installing cameras to monitor activity, adding more patrolling officers, and citing and arresting more drug sellers and users.”
Council Member Elizabeth Shaffer, who represents some of the Uptown area, said in her July 2 newsletter, “Public safety is not a privilege for those who live in wealthier parts of the city; it is a basic right for each and every resident, and I refuse to make excuses or accept the status quo.”
Ward 10 council member takes leave of absence
Council Member Aisha Chughtai has been taking a mental health break to address clinical depression and anxiety, as announced on June 25, 2026.
“The last year has brought unique challenges that have affected every person in our communities, from a high-stakes election, to several mass shootings, and a federal occupation,” Chughtai wrote in a newsletter to her constituents on June 25. “Like 23% of American adults, I also work everyday to manage my mental health. I have ignored my own need for more help for too long.”
Chughtai said she will be back to attend the July 30 City Council meeting.
MPD report highlights concerns
The Minneapolis Police Department and City of Minneapolis settlement agreement includes regular reports on its progress, issued by Effective Law Enforcement for All or ELEFA. A new report came out in mid-June reflecting MPD’s work from October 2025-March 2026.
The executive summary highlights a lack of deadlines, “management weakness,” and other concerns about the police department meeting the terms of the settlement agreement stemming from multiple investigations after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. The report includes suggestions for the City and MPD to help them meet the settlement agreement’s goals, stressing “implementation must be a higher priority in the coming years than it has been for the last two years.”
Los Andes liquor license still on hold
Protesters over a year ago demanded that the City pull the restaurant’s liquor license due to the then co-owner Christian Quito’s charges of sexual assault of a minor and breaking child labor laws. The City Council did just that in 2025 and referred the license back to staff.
The restaurant’s liquor license is on hold a year later at the City and State level, but the restaurant can still serve alcohol, as confirmed by the City and Council Member Aisha Chughtai’s office. The City is waiting for a State court case to wrap up with Los Andes in August. Quito was charged last month in Hennepin County District Court for two cases of sexual assault.
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