One Minneapolis city council member prompted widespread mockery on social media after going to bat for “cat lovers,” claiming Waymo cars are killing cats and urging officials to require humans in the self-driving vehicles.
“I will say cats have been killed and cats have been killed by these autonomous vehicles,” Jason Chavez told fellow council members. “I have a cat. I don’t want my cat getting killed because of these autonomous vehicles.Â
“So, to those cat lovers out there, just know that these Waymo vehicles, these autonomous vehicles have killed cats and that’s unfair.Â
“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 narrowly passed Thursday, would mandate a human operator and a special license for all autonomous vehicles. But its future remains uncertain.
Mayor Jacob Frey announced he plans to veto the proposal in a statement to multiple Minnesota outlets, saying it “doesn’t make sense,” and the city will continue its efforts to embrace “innovative technology,” including transportation options. Despite acknowledging the safety concerns, Frey added he would not support a “backdoor ban” of the vehicles.
As Waymo vehicles with rooftop sensors and empty seats become a more common sight, supporters argue requiring a human operator would effectively ban autonomous taxi services and result in higher fares, while opponents insist the technology poses safety risks and takes away jobs.
Social media users were quick to pile on Chavez’s remarks about the potential threat to cats, accusing him of blowing the issue out of proportion and shifting focus from more pressing priorities in Minneapolis.
“The Minneapolis City Council wants to require a human in driverless vehicles because cats are being ‘murdered’ by them,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. “This guy’s salary is $110,000/year, by the way.”
Grage took more swipes at Chavez in separate X posts, writing, “They’re calling it the cat genocide” and, “Hide your cats. The Waymos are coming.”
In another post on X, conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman wrote, “LOL! MINNEAPOLIS HAS FOUND ITS REAL CRISIS, AND IT’S ROBOT CARS ‘MURDERING’ CATS.”
Eagleman also argued the city should be addressing larger issues such as crime and fraud, describing the situation as a sign of failed leadership.
“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 w
