Blue state councilman mocked after claiming self-driving cars are 'murdering' pets: 'Hide your cats'
One Minneapolis city council member prompted widespread mockery on social media after going to bat for "cat lovers," claiming Waymo cars are killing cats and urging officials to require humans...
By Fox News · Fox News
One Minneapolis city council member prompted widespread mockery on social media after going to bat for "cat lovers," claiming Waymo cars are killing cats and urging officials to require humans in the self-driving vehicles. "I will say cats have been killed and cats have been killed by these autonomous vehicles," Jason Chavez said to his fellow council members. "I have a cat, I don't want my cat getting killed because of these autonomous vehicles so to those cat lovers out there, just know that these Waymo vehicles , these autonomous vehicles have killed cats and that's unfair. I just watched a video sitting here from the dais and it was really hard to watch. Literally cats being murdered by these vehicles." The ordinance, which narrowly passed on Thursday, would mandate a human operator and a special license for all autonomous vehicles. But its future remains uncertain. Mayor Jacob Frey announced he plans to veto the proposal in a statement to multiple Minnesota outlets, saying it "doesn't make sense" and the city will continue its efforts to embrace "innovative technology," including transportation options. Despite acknowledging the safety concerns, Frey added he would not support a "backdoor ban" of the vehicles. WAYMO DRIVERLESS CARS OVERRUN ATLANTA NEIGHBORHOOD, CIRCLING CUL-DE-SACS AND ALARMING FAMILIES WITH KIDS As Waymo vehicles with rooftop sensors and empty seats become a more common sight, supporters argue requiring a human operator would effectively ban autonomous taxi services and result in higher fares, while opponents insist the technology poses safety risks and takes away jobs. Social media users were quick to pile on Chavez's remarks about the potential threat to cats, accusing him of blowing the issue out of proportion and shifting focus from more pressing priorities in Minneapolis. "The Minneapolis City Council wants to require a human in driverless vehicles because cats are being 'murdered' by them," Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X .…