Frey and Fateh say they disagree on housing. So why do they both target DG&PHC? Their housing platforms are the same. 

I. Opposition to Section 9 Public Housing Preservation and Expansion

  1. Shared Position
    • Both Mayor Jacob Frey and State Senator Omar Fateh oppose preserving and expanding Section 9 public housing.
  2. Frey’s Role
    • Lobbied HUD to approve the privatization and demolition of Section 9 housing through Section 18 and RAD programs, a historic public land grab for developers. 
    • These programs allow the transfer of properties from Section 9 to Section 8, enabling private developers to take over and profit from “deeply affordable housing” funds from city, state, and federal levels as well as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC).
    • Example: Royal Bank of Canada received a 99-year ownership deal through public financing and a LIHTC for Elliot Twins.
  3. Fateh’s Role
    • Lobbied at the state level to support legislation to fund Section 18, a privatization scheme converting the entire stock over 800 single family Section 9 public housing homes.
    • This funded Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA)’s effort to create four LLCs/nonprofits to facilitate private developer takeovers, similar to the Royal Bank of Canada example. 
    • As a result, Elliot Twins residents no longer pay 30% of their income for rent; instead, rent is based on Area Median Income (AMI), a market-rate model which changed the population of the buildings because it is unaffordable for Section 9 public housing residents.
  4. No Advocacy to Save or Expand Section 9
    • Fateh has never proposed a bill to stop the demolition of Section 9 or build additional Section 9 public housing units and has refused to take action upon resident request leading to the homelessness crisis. 

II. Opposition to Glendale Townhomes Historic Designation

  1. Fateh’s Position
    • Fateh has refused to support Historic Designation.
    • His top aide, Chris Meyer, has circulated racist posts regarding Glendale in support of Wedge Live. These posts accused public housing residents of perpetuating Prospect Park’s 1909 Race War and of redlining and racial housing discrimination for wanting their history preserved.
    • How can Black/Brown low-income tenants have the power to redline?
    • When Glendale residents and youth asked for vocal support with the historic designation vote, Fateh refused, stating: “I don’t think you have the votes.”
  2. Frey’s Position
    • He has blocked the Glendale Historic Designation vote since 2016 and led the charge to end Section 9 public housing so developers and nonprofit housing corporations can make 100’s of millions on his deeply affordable housing platform. 

III. Social Media and In-Person Attacks Against DG&PHC

  1. Frey’s Actions
    • Since 2019, he has sent political allies (including Abdi Warsame and others) to attack and spread misinformation about Defend Glendale & Public Housing Coalition (DG&PHC), especially targeting Black women tenant leaders.
    • Sent Abdi Warsame to bully Somali women tenant organizers from DG&PHC.
    • Encouraged white YIMBY groups and individuals to attack DG&PHC, particularly its Black women leaders, publicly.
    • Continues to use social media and proxies to undermine DG&PHC’s credibility.
    • They coordinate hit pieces with the Star Tribune; https://www.dgphc.org/2025/05/18/star-tribune-continues-to-attack-lie-about-glendale-families-defend-glendale-2/
  1. Fateh’s Actions
    • His top aide, Chris Meyer, supports Wedge Live and similar accounts that have attacked DG&PHC online. Wedge Live is an avid supporter of Fateh and has demeaned and undermined DG&PHC while refusing to engage directly with Glendale resident organizers.
    • Fateh surveilled DG&PHC organizing at Elliot Twins during his campaign for his State Senate seat, while ignoring tenant organizers and their requests. He watched residents protest and be harassed by MPHA staff and police. He never intervened and smirked as he saw it. 
    • Fateh uses social media proxies and YIMBY allies to discredit DG&PHC’s work. Just to clarify, Section 9 public housing tenant advocates are called PHIMBYs. 

Note: This racist press release, released by Frey appointee Abdi Warsame and MPHA, was promoted and supported by Chris Meyer, Omar Fateh’s top policy aide. This deeply racist post is still up months later, showing a lack of remorse and respect for Black housing organizers. https://t.co/zMMK1mU6GW
(https://x.com/WedgeLIVE/status/1914427792919298436?t=zOykS49hQ5RJYbdG-xaZ4w&s=03)

IV. Summary

  • Both Frey and Fateh share a pro-privatization housing agenda ending Section 9 public housing.
  •  “Affordable & deeply affordable housing is ending Section 9 public housing and giving 100’s of millions to developers. 
  • Both have opposed Glendale’s historic designation.
  • Both have targeted DG&PHC leaders and community members through online and in-person campaigns.

www.dgphc.org/2019/09/25/historic-public-land-grab-mpha-mayor-frey-and-council-president-lisa-bender-move-forward-to-sell-717-scattered-sites-of-public-housing-and-104-67-acres-of-public-land-through-section-18-demolition/

Its is Official: MPHA and The City of Minneapolis Privatized and sold Elliot Twins Public Housing Apartments to the Royal Bank of Canada

Fateh & MPHA to fund the privatization of 800 Section 9 single-family homes.

10.28.2025