Letter to the Editor
By Dave Whorton, Minneapolis
The upcoming city council election may be one of the most important of my lifetime.
Who am I? I’m a homeowner, a business owner, and an engaged citizen who cares about public safety and the wellbeing of my neighborhood. Probably not so different from your neighbor next door, down the hall or someone you pass on the street.
Unfortunately, crime in major US cities has become a reality. As we are all aware, Minneapolis is not immune.
When I witnessed gunfire outside my home, I immediately contacted the police—and then reached out to my city council representative, Aisha Chughtai, for additional guidance. It took more than ten calls to receive a response, and when I finally did, the conversation was unhelpful and dismissive. My questions about how the office could assist residents went largely unanswered. As a matter of fact, after inquiring about my ethnicity and residential status (homeowner versus renter), she responded – “I am not here to help you. You have called the police and it is not my job to speak with them.”
This response became emblematic of a broader problem: unreturned calls, form emails, and a lack of follow-through.
After two neighbors were taken at gunpoint in my driveway, I reached a point where more decisive action was needed. I again contacted the council office. Again, no meaningful response. Frustrated but determined, I organized a community safety walk at my home based on guidance by MPD’s 5th Precinct. What normally might draw a handful of neighbors brought together more than 70 residents on a freezing, subzero evening, along with the police chief, other law enforcement leaders, and city officials. Despite repeated invitations, my city council representative, Aisha Chughtai, never responded to my plea for assistance or the invitation for her to join this group of committed citizens seeking positive change. After sending a blanket email to all members of the city council regarding her lack of responsiveness, Chughtai attended reluctantly, participated minimally, and left early—without offering a plan or follow-up to improve safety. Residents were left to organize and strategize on their own despite requests for her assistance. It’s also telling that, despite our differences, she refused even a handshake when I welcomed her to my home.
These experiences are not isolated. Multiple times, calls go unanswered, emails are ignored, and residents are left feeling unheard. Public safety and community wellbeing cannot wait for political convenience. Every constituent deserves to be listened to, supported, and guided by their elected officials.
Other city leaders and candidates have stepped up, proactively engaging with residents, listening to concerns, and taking action. Mayor Frey has directly responded to me and others in Ward 10 making up for the leadership void created by Chughtai. I have already formed a meaningful relationship with Lydia Millard, Chughtai’s opponent for the Ward 10 City Council seat. Despite not (yet) being in office, Millard is instantly responsive and uses her already existing city relationships to drive action. That is the type of leadership Ward 10 deserves: responsive, accessible, and committed to the community.
It is time for the streets of Ward 10 to echo with the positivity that Lydia Millard will deliver – not the silence of the woman currently occupying that seat. Remember, my story is one of many. Council Member Chughtai is in office with an agenda. That agenda is hers and hers alone. It does not reflect the entirety of Ward 10. To me, it sounds much like the current occupant of the Oval Office. We deserve better. We deserve Lydia Millard.
Dave Whorton is a seasoned sports marketing executive with expertise in sponsorship strategy, brand partnerships, and event activation. He is an entrepreneur that leads an Al-powered tech platform that delivers data-driven insights to optimize marketing performance. A graduate of Clemson University and the University of South Carolina, Dave serves as a guest lecturer at multiple universities shaping the next generation of sports business leaders.
“after inquiring about my ethnicity and residential status (homeowner versus renter), she responded – “I am not here to help you. You have called the police and it is not my job to speak with them.” –> Dang flabbergasted twice. Asked about Ethnicity and “I am not here to help you”. Worthless, any other person would be better than this
Dave, I hope you realize that Lydia Millard is not much different than Aisha Chughtai. They both have similar talking points and platforms that will never benefit Minneapolis. Understand that they don’t care about you or your community and nothing will change for the better. Stop promoting one activist for another and campaign for a candidate that wants to represent you, not promote their personal agenda.
Why don’t you consider running for City Council?
I would look into filing a complaint under the Minneapolis Civil Rights Ordinance against her if she indeed asked you what your ethnicity was in relation to your attempt to engage her. There has been anecdotal evidence of her asking other constituents about their ethnicity as well. This is blatant discrimination.
Well, this is the way of the DSA: if you’re not seen as perfectly aligned with them on the issues they deem important, sit down and shut up, they don’t want to hear about it. I shouldn’t be surprised, and I’m not. But I’m still a bit shocked that a City Council member would be so clearly racist and hostile.