Dear Public Housing residents, organizers, and allies:

We are asking that you send this letter to Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Tina Smith, and HUD's MTW Regional Coordinator Christopher Golden, demanding that the approval of Minneapolis Public Housing Authority's 2021 MTW Annual is paused until they hold a public meeting. MPHA is required to hold regular meetings to explain and answer questions about the MTW Annual Plan, but despite multiple demands from Public housing residents and community members, they have not held a single public meeting regarding their plans, virtual or otherwise. This is the only year MPHA has gotten away with holding MTW public meetings, and coincidentally, this year their plan introduces an effort to privatize much of Minneapolis's public housing, including half of all their high-rises.

MPHA has ignored residents and allies' demands and elected officials have failed to hold them accountable. Instead, MPHA held one public hearing about their 2021 MTW Annual Plan and refused to accept questions about their plans. They ignored resident voices and submitted the plan to HUD for approval without the required public meetings.

MPHA has been allowed by our elected officials and HUD to display a consistent abuse of power.  In 2019, five elderly and disabled public housing residents died in a fire due to MPHA's negligence and they were not held accountable. Currently, contractors who are completing a RAD conversion (privatization) at Elliot Twins (which is now leased to the Royal Bank of Canada) have refused to wear masks. They refuse to wear masks even though the majority of Elliot Twins residents are elderly and disabled and the fact that at least 3 elderly residents have died of COVID- 19 at Elliot Twins. The lives and the rights of public housing residents do not matter to our elected officials.  

We are tired of being disrespected and discriminated against. MPHA must be held accountable.

Please send this to Senator Tina Smith,  Rep. Ilhan Omar, and the Regional MTW Coordinator at HUD Christopher Golden. Tell them to make sure MPHA meets with public housing residents, public housing organizers, and community members in public meetings to explain and answer our questions about the 2021 MTW Annual Plan before HUD approves it. Virtual Community Meetings are not difficult to hold, so ask why MPHA is avoiding to hold community meetings and address the public. Demand that we are listened to, and that our rights are enforced today.