A Minneapolis City Council member’s remarks about cats being killed by self-driving cars have drawn widespread mockery online, overshadowing a narrowly passed ordinance that would require human operators in autonomous vehicles.
During council discussion, Jason Chavez argued that Waymo vehicles pose a threat to pets and urged his colleagues to act.
“I will say cats have been killed and cats have been killed by these autonomous vehicles,” Chavez told fellow council members. “I have a cat. I don’t want my cat getting killed because of these autonomous vehicles.”
“So, to those cat lovers out there, just know that these Waymo vehicles, these autonomous vehicles have killed cats and that’s unfair.”
“I just watched a video sitting here from the dais, and it was really hard to watch. Literally, cats being murdered by these vehicles.”
The ordinance, which passed by a narrow margin on Thursday, would require a human operator and a special license for all autonomous vehicles operating in the city.
Mayor Jacob Frey has said he plans to veto the measure. In a statement to Minnesota outlets, Frey said the proposal “doesn’t make sense” and that the city intends to keep pursuing “innovative technology,” including new transportation options. He also said he would not support what he called a “backdoor ban” on the vehicles, even while acknowledging safety concerns.
Waymo cars, recognizable by their rooftop sensors and driverless cabins, have become increasingly common on Minneapolis streets. Supporters of the ordinance argue that requiring a human operator would effectively end autonomous taxi service in the city and push fares higher, while opponents of the technology say it endangers public safety and threatens driving jobs.
Backlash online
Chavez’s comments about cats quickly became a target for critics who argued the council member was distracting from more pressing city issues. Townhall columnist Dustin Grage wrote on X, “The Minneapolis City Council wants to require a human in driverless vehicles because cats are being ‘murdered’ by them. This guy’s salary is $110,000/year, by the way.” In follow-up posts, Grage joked about a “cat genocide” and warned residents to “hide your cats.”
Conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman was similarly pointed, writing on X, “LOL! MINNEAPOLIS HAS FOUND ITS REAL CRISIS, AND IT’S ROBOT CARS ‘MURDERING’ CATS.” Eagleman argued the council should instead focus on crime and fraud in the city, adding, “A council member in a city that let rioters burn down a police precinct and watched a $250 million fraud scheme happen under its nose now wants a human in every driverless car to protect the cats. He’s pulling down $110,000 a year of taxpayer money to say this with a straight face. Minneapolis doesn’t have a driverless car problem. It has a leadership problem.”
Fox News Digital columnist David Marcus posted, “They’re driving over the cats, they’re driving over the dogs!” Three Rivers Park Commissioner Jennifer DeJournett questioned the council member’s salary given housing costs and rising taxes in the city, writing, “Why is a city council member making 110,000 when families and seniors are getting priced out of their homes in Minneapolis and taxes are sky rocking????? That’s absurd — where is the equality in that???”
Not every reaction was dismissive of the safety concern itself. Journalist Zaid Jilani wrote, “Fwiw I’ve been in a self-driving Tesla that stopped for cats to cross the road and Waymo is a lot more advanced.” Dealer Teamwork CEO and co-founder Sean Stapleton wrote, “My FSD Tesla avoids animals on the road. He is full of it.”
Chavez did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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