Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez said autonomous vehicles had killed cats during a council hearing on October 1, 2026. His claim, and his description of a video he said showed cats being “murdered,” have not been independently verified in the available reporting. The remarks came amid a contentious proposal to restrict driverless vehicles in the city—not from a confirmed investigation or tally of pet deaths.
What Jason Chavez said about cats
Fox News reported that Chavez, who said he has a cat, addressed the issue during a council hearing. “I will say cats have been killed and cats have been killed by these autonomous vehicles,” he said, according to the outlet. He also described a video he had watched from the dais as showing cats being “murdered” by the vehicles.
Those are Chavez’s claims and characterization. The reporting does not independently establish what the video showed, identify it, or provide a verified count of animal deaths. It therefore does not support treating the allegation as a confirmed pattern or attributing a specific number of deaths to Waymo or other operators.
Why the council was debating driverless cars
Chavez’s remarks came during a debate over a proposed Minneapolis rule for autonomous vehicles. The proposal was introduced by Council Members Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury, Robin Wonsley, and Jamal Osman. As Axios reported on September 10, it would require a paid human “safety monitor” in the driver’s seat and a city license for autonomous-vehicle companies.
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Supporters raised public safety and possible job losses. The debate also involved innovation, consumer choice, transportation access, and safety. Waymo opposed the proposed monitor requirement, calling it “a de facto ban on autonomous vehicles.” The company’s state and local public policy manager, Adam Lane, said it remained committed to working with officials so Minnesotans could choose fully autonomous transportation.
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Fox News reported that the council narrowly passed the ordinance on October 1, 2026, and that Mayor Jacob Frey planned to veto it. That report establishes the vote and his stated intention at that time; it does not establish whether he later issued a veto or whether the ordinance took effect. The measure’s final status should not be inferred from the reported vote alone.
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What the debate does—and does not—show
The proposal sets up a practical choice between allowing autonomous vehicles to operate without an onboard human monitor and requiring a paid monitor plus a city license. The competing claims touch several distinct questions:
- Safety and accountability: Supporters invoked public safety; the reporting does not offer a comprehensive independent assessment of the rule’s effect or the evidence behind the cat allegation.
- Employment: Supporters also cited potential job losses, while the proposal’s required monitor would itself put a human operator in the vehicle.
- Access and choice: Opponents argued the rule could limit the availability of fully autonomous transportation, while supporters pressed for local oversight.
- Service availability: Waymo said the monitor requirement would amount to a de facto ban. That is the company’s position, not an independently established outcome.
None of these arguments, by themselves, verifies the reported cat deaths. The coverage does not present a complete incident count, establish a trend, or independently confirm the footage Chavez referenced.
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Why “Hide your cats” spread
Fox News cited mocking online reactions, including Townhall columnist Dustin Grage’s post: “Hide your cats. The Waymos are coming.” It is an example of a social-media response, not an official slogan or evidence of representative public opinion. The joke drew its force from Chavez’s vivid wording, but it should not be mistaken for verification of the underlying allegation.
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Sources
- Fox News, Kiera McDonald and Andrew Mark Miller, October 2, 2026: Chavez’s remarks, the reported council vote and veto plan, and examples of online reaction.
- Axios Twin Cities, Torey Van Oot, September 10, 2026: the proposed monitor and licensing requirements, named sponsors, Waymo’s response, and arguments in the policy debate.
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