Minnesota Leaders Urge Freeze on Utility Shut-offs Amidst Ongoing Occupation
The St. Paul City Council is urging state leaders to temporarily halt energy and gas shut-offs during Operation Metro Surge, a federal occupation of the Twin Cities that has been causing widespread fear among local residents.
The council voted in support of a resolution calling for Gov. Tim Walz and state officials to direct the Public Utility Commission to enact an emergency moratorium on utility disconnections "to keep Minnesota families safe and protect them from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)". The measure aims to safeguard communities that have been disproportionately affected by the federal occupation.
According to data, the 55106 zip code in St. Paul has faced a high rate of utility shut-offs even before Operation Metro Surge began, with many residents forced into shelter-in-place due to fear of harassment and intimidation.
The council's resolution highlights the harsh realities faced by local residents who are struggling to make ends meet amidst the occupation. "Many residents are unable to move freely due to the threat of harassment, violence, and abduction," it states. The measure also criticizes Xcel Energy for its limited customer assistance programs in languages other than English and Spanish, making it difficult for residents with language barriers to access support.
Furthermore, the council notes that most state and federal assistance programs require U.S. citizens who share Social Security information, which could potentially be exploited by ICE if they subpoenaed that information. The resolution calls on Xcel Energy to add bill payment assistance in Hmong, Karen, and Somali languages.
This move comes after the council had previously asked for a temporary eviction moratorium in January to protect workers impacted by Operation Metro Surge from losing their housing.
The St. Paul City Council is urging state leaders to temporarily halt energy and gas shut-offs during Operation Metro Surge, a federal occupation of the Twin Cities that has been causing widespread fear among local residents.
The council voted in support of a resolution calling for Gov. Tim Walz and state officials to direct the Public Utility Commission to enact an emergency moratorium on utility disconnections "to keep Minnesota families safe and protect them from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)". The measure aims to safeguard communities that have been disproportionately affected by the federal occupation.
According to data, the 55106 zip code in St. Paul has faced a high rate of utility shut-offs even before Operation Metro Surge began, with many residents forced into shelter-in-place due to fear of harassment and intimidation.
The council's resolution highlights the harsh realities faced by local residents who are struggling to make ends meet amidst the occupation. "Many residents are unable to move freely due to the threat of harassment, violence, and abduction," it states. The measure also criticizes Xcel Energy for its limited customer assistance programs in languages other than English and Spanish, making it difficult for residents with language barriers to access support.
Furthermore, the council notes that most state and federal assistance programs require U.S. citizens who share Social Security information, which could potentially be exploited by ICE if they subpoenaed that information. The resolution calls on Xcel Energy to add bill payment assistance in Hmong, Karen, and Somali languages.
This move comes after the council had previously asked for a temporary eviction moratorium in January to protect workers impacted by Operation Metro Surge from losing their housing.
, can you even imagine having to worry about losing power or heat because of something that's not even your fault? I'm so with the St. Paul City Council on this one 
. It's like, these families are already struggling to make ends meet, and then they're faced with the threat of ICE agents showing up at their doors... it's just too much 
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. Like, how hard is it to offer help in a few extra languages? It's not like it's going to break the bank or anything 
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. These communities deserve some peace of mind and access to basic necessities 
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. The fact that there are utility shut-offs just adds another layer of stress to an already difficult situation. I can imagine how scary it must be for families who are struggling to make ends meet and are already living in fear of harassment and intimidation.
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I gotta say, this is super concerning. Utility shut-offs as a form of punishment? It's like, what even is that? 
. What's really needed is some serious systemic change, you know? These people are struggling already with poverty and all that; can't afford to pay their bills just because of some occupation 
. And I gotta wonder, what would happen if everyone just refused to pay their bills until something changes? 
the council is right to try and add some bill payment assistance in those languages tho, that would make a huge difference 
. And what's with Xcel Energy not offering support in other languages? It's 2025, folks! Can't we do better than that?! 
We need to start prioritizing the most vulnerable members of our society, not just talking about it 
. The fact that many residents are having to live in shelter-in-place due to fear is just heartbreaking 
. We need systemic change, not just Band-Aid solutions 
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. I mean, can't we think about the people who are already struggling to make ends meet? Like, many residents are basically stuck in their homes because of fear of harassment and whatnot 
. And Xcel Energy's limited customer assistance programs are literally making it even harder for people with language barriers to access help 
! #UtilityShutOffsMatter #SupportMNcommunities #JusticeForAll
xcel energy needs 2 do better than just english & spanish lol what about hmong, karen, somali?? how r they supposed 2 get help if dey don't speak da language??? 
we gotta make sure ppl r treated w/ dignity & respect, especially wen dey r struggling 
It's not like it's going to hurt anyone to have a moratorium on utility shut-offs during this occupation. I mean, think about it - people are already living in fear of harassment and intimidation because of their immigration status... shouldn't we be doing everything we can to support them, not just freeze out Xcel Energy? 
. can't they see that this occupation is not only affecting the mental health but also making life so much harder for people already living paycheck to paycheck 
. it's like, come on folks, let's get some compassion and understanding here 
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it's like, gov tim walz n state officials gotta do smthn 2 protect these ppl 
i'm all 4 a utility freeze 4 now 
xcel energy needs 2 step up their game too - add bill payment assistance in more languages 4 real 
. I guess freezing utility shut-offs is a super reasonable request, especially when you're already dealing with people trying to intimidate and harass you 
. And wow, Xcel Energy's limited customer assistance programs are really something to brag about... I'm sure it's not like they're just making things harder for people who don't speak English fluently 
this is getting out of hand... like, i get it, some people are being harassed and stuff, but what's with all these utility shut-offs? can't they just, like, talk to each other or something? 
and yeah, it's pretty messed up that people are being forced into shelter-in-place due to fear of harassment and intimidation 
. just hoping the state officials can figure out a solution without, you know, making things worse