Heated Duluth City Council meeting leads to tabled ICE resolution

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - At the Duluth City Council Monday night, Councilors Wendy Durrwachter and David Clanaugh presented a resolution calling on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to issue an emergency executive order across the state to temporarily ban evictions and provide rental assistance to families impacted by Operation Metro Surge.

However, councilors voted to table the resolution, causing community members in attendance to begin shouting.

The commotion ultimately resulted in a five-minute recess.

Public Comment

Even during public comment, there was division over the resolution.

Landlords were concerned about how the proposal could impact their jobs.

“I understand that these are times of high emotions. I want to help,” said Duluth landlord Barbara Montee. “But an eviction moratorium, in my opinion, will do more harm than good.”

On the other hand, advocates say the moratorium would protect their neighbors who are too scared to leave the house amid Operation Metro Surge.

“If we are truly keeping those who are most impacted at the forefront of our minds, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask government and people who can go to work to pick up the strain instead of letting it fall on those at risk of violence,” said Duluth resident Ahnika Berg.

Council Meeting

During the discussion of the resolution, Councilor Durrwachter clarified that the moratorium would not be an excuse for people not to pay rent but would urge the governor to build in protections similar to the emergency moratorium enacted during COVID in 2020.

“We have the luxury of time, right now, to urge the governor to do this, before it comes to our community,” said Durrwachter. “And then we can continue to hope it doesn’t.”

The resolution is also similar to ones recently passed in Roseville, Minneapolis, and St. Paul.

Yet other councilors said that due to the threat it could hold to landlords and the lack of federal support, it would be best to table it.

“I just really encourage more conversation to happen, to connect to our local economy,” said Duluth City Councilor Jordon Johnson. “So, I am making a motion to table this resolution.”

The council ultimately voted 5 to 4 to table the resolution.

Other Resolutions

Other resolutions were presented at the meeting regarding immigration enforcement.

Councilor Johson proposed a resolution aiming to clarify the relationship between the city and federal immigration enforcement.

The resolution passed unanimously.

An ordinance by Councilor Randorf was also read, which would add a new article to the city code, also focusing on the relationship between the city and the federal government regarding the enforcement of federal immigration law.

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