Minneapolis Council Member Jason Chavez urged colleagues to require human operators in autonomous vehicles after saying he had seen video of Waymo cars striking cats and called the incidents "murder." The council narrowly approved an ordinance mandating a human operator and a special license, but Mayor Jacob Frey said he will veto it, arguing it would function as a de facto ban. Chavez's comments provoked social-media mockery and debate over priorities, while some tech commentators defended autonomous systems' animal-detection capabilities.
‘Hide Your Cats’: Minneapolis Councilman Mocked After Saying Waymo Cars Are ‘Murdering’ Pets as Council Votes To Require Human Operators
Chavez and cats
A Minneapolis city council member drew widespread ridicule online after urging colleagues to require a human operator in autonomous vehicles, arguing that driverless cars operated by companies such as Waymo are killing neighborhood cats.
Minneapolis City Council Member Jason Chavez sparked backlash on social media after urging officials to require a human in self-driving vehicles.
Council Member Jason Chavez told fellow members he had seen footage of animals struck by autonomous cars and said he was speaking up for "cat lovers." He told the council:
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey walks prior to a meeting with U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Jan. 29, 2026.
"I will say cats have been killed and cats have been killed by these autonomous vehicles. I have a cat. I don't want my cat getting killed because of these autonomous vehicles... 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 council narrowly approved an ordinance that would require a human operator and a special license for all autonomous vehicles. Supporters of the rule say it addresses safety concerns and accountability; critics say mandating a human in every vehicle would effectively curb autonomous taxi services and increase fares. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced he plans to veto the measure, calling it impractical and warning it would amount to a de facto ban on emerging transportation options.
A Waymo driverless vehicle in Los Angeles in May
Public Reaction
Chavez's language — describing animals being struck as "murdered" — quickly became a flashpoint on social media. Conservative and local commentators accused him of exaggerating the problem and diverting attention from more pressing issues facing the city. Townhall columnist Dustin Grage and commentator Gunther Eagleman mocked the remarks on X (formerly Twitter), while other critics questioned Chavez's priorities given the city's other policy challenges.
At the same time, some observers defended autonomous-driving technology. Journalist Zaid Jilani said his experience with a Tesla's driver-assist system included stopping for animals, and he noted that Waymo's systems are generally more advanced. Sean Stapleton, CEO of Dealer Teamwork, also said his Tesla's technology avoids animals. Supporters of autonomy stress that, overall, autonomous systems are designed to reduce crashes and improve safety when properly regulated and tested.
Where Things Stand
The ordinance's future is uncertain while the mayor signals a veto. The debate highlights tensions between city regulators, technology companies expanding autonomous services, and residents raising safety and ethical concerns about how these systems interact with people, pets and neighborhoods.
Fox News Digital reached out to Council Member Chavez for comment but had not published a response at the time of reporting.
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