Minneapolis Mayoral Candidate Omar Fateh Unveils Bold Proposals
Omar Fateh, a Democratic candidate for mayor of Minneapolis, shared his vision for the city’s future on Sunday. His proposals include freezing rents, rapidly increasing the minimum wage, and halting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
Now serving as a Minnesota Senator, Fateh released a video on his X account, claiming Minneapolis needs protection from what he termed the “hostile White House.” He aims to raise the minimum wage to $20 by 2028 and has called for the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) to cease all interactions with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). It seems his platform is quite similar to that of another Democratic candidate, Zohran Mamdani.
“To safeguard all communities from Donald Trump means ensuring the MPD does not interact with ICE, be it during an immigrant raid or otherwise. Our residents deserve a mayor who stands up and says, ‘No, this isn’t our community,'” Fateh stated.
In a recent campaign video, Fateh mentioned that about 47% of calls to the MPD might be “diverted.” His reasoning is that police officers aren’t social workers and may not be equipped to handle every situation appropriately. He is advocating for “rent stabilization” to combat what he calls “price gouging” and has proposed a plan to prevent rental evictions by implementing a causal eviction policy.
Representing Minnesota’s 62nd Senate District, which includes parts of South Minneapolis, Fateh is the child of Somali immigrants and the first Muslim to serve in the state Senate.
He detailed his personal connection to these issues: “As a tenant in Stephens Square, juggling a full-time job along with my duties as a part-time senator and with a baby on the way, I want to keep money in people’s pockets and circulate it within the local economy. That’s why I’m committed to establishing a $20 minimum wage and implementing rent stabilization by 2028.”
Mamdani, who has raised the minimum wage in New York City to $30, has also established government-run programs like free grocery stores and buses. His recent success is seen as boosting the prospects for Fateh and other progressive challengers in their bids against incumbent Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Critics of Mayor Frey, particularly left-leaning voices, have accused him of siding with the police and big corporations, especially after the unrest following George Floyd’s death. Despite these criticisms, efforts to unseat him during the 2021 elections were unsuccessful.
The unrest that erupted after Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, caused significant damage, estimated at around $500 million statewide. Following the riots, the third precinct of the Minneapolis police was set ablaze after officers vacated the area.
