Minneapolis Rent Control Is Back

Just like a slasher in a horror movie, rent control in Minneapolis is back from the dead.

Minneapolis City Council Members Aisha Chugtai and Jamal Osman introduced a motion at the May 25 council meeting that would order the city attorney to draft a rent control ordinance that would cap annual rent increases at 3% with few if any exceptions.

In other words, just like St Paul’s original rent control ordinance; which is the strictest in the nation.

And this was introduced despite city staffer’s report to the council in April that rent control has damaged every city in the nation where it exists.

The city council voted 7-5 in favor of the move. Council members Chugtain, Osman, Elliott Payne, Robin Wonsley, Jeremiah Ellison and Council President Andrea Jenkins voted for the ordinance.

Council members LaTrisha Vetaw, Michael Rainville, Andrew Johnson, Andrew Johnson, and Linea Palmisano voted against it. Council Member Lisa Goodman was not in attendance.

Jenkins told the Minneapolis Star Tribune she actually doesn’t support the 3% policy as it’s too restrictive.

Mayor Frey has promised to veto any 3% policy approved by the council.

Now, this ordinance and Frey’s impending veto don’t mean the beginning or end of rent control this year.

In fact, this is just the first step. And the rest may come as soon as this Thursday.

The council may override Frey’s veto if 9 council members decide to vote in favor. And there are several council members who may support a less Draconian policy.

Of course, to date, no council member has come up with anything resembling an alternative.

A statutory deadline of Aug. 25th means the council has to both approve a potential policy and ballot question in order to circumvent Mayor Frey and put the rent control question directly to voters in November.

Even if this goes nowhere, any successful horror film always has a sequel.

City Council members Andrew Johnson and Lisa Goodman have announced they will not be seeking another term on November’s ballot.

Goodman’s ward contains a lot of renters. And Johnson’s does too.

And there’s no sign whatsoever that rent control supporters intend to stop their political efforts any time soon.