One Minneapolis metropolis council member prompted widespread mockery on social media after going to bat for “cat lovers,” claiming Waymo vehicles are killing cats and urging officers to require people in the self-driving autos.
“I’ll say cats have been killed and cats have been killed by these autonomous autos,” Jason Chavez informed fellow council members. “I’ve a cat. I don’t need my cat getting killed due to these autonomous autos.
“So, to these cat lovers on the market, simply know that these Waymo autos, these autonomous autos have killed cats and that’s unfair.
“I simply watched a video sitting right here from the dais, and it was actually laborious to look at. Actually, cats being murdered by these autos.”
The ordinance, which narrowly handed Thursday, would mandate a human operator and a particular license for all autonomous autos.
However its future stays unsure.
Mayor Jacob Frey introduced he plans to veto the proposal in an announcement to a number of Minnesota shops, saying it “doesn’t make sense,” and the town will proceed its efforts to embrace “progressive know-how,” together with transportation choices.
Regardless of acknowledging the protection issues, Frey added he wouldn’t help a “backdoor ban” of the autos.
As Waymo autos with rooftop sensors and empty seats change into a extra widespread sight, supporters argue requiring a human operator would successfully ban autonomous taxi providers and lead to greater fares, whereas opponents insist the know-how poses security dangers and takes away jobs.
Social media customers had been fast to pile on Chavez’s remarks concerning the potential risk to cats, accusing him of blowing the problem out of proportion and shifting focus from extra urgent priorities in Minneapolis.
“The Minneapolis Metropolis Council needs to require a human in driverless autos as a result of cats are being ‘murdered’ by them,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X. “This man’s wage is $110,000/yr, by the best way.”
Grage took extra swipes at Chavez in separate X posts, writing, “They’re calling it the cat genocide” and, “Conceal your cats. The Waymos are coming.”
In one other put up on X, conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman wrote, “LOL! MINNEAPOLIS HAS FOUND ITS REAL CRISIS, AND IT’S ROBOT CARS ‘MURDERING’ CATS.”
Eagleman additionally argued the town must be addressing bigger points corresponding to crime and fraud, describing the state of affairs as an indication of failed management.
“A council member in a metropolis that permit rioters burn down a police precinct and watched a $250 million fraud scheme occur underneath its nostril now needs a human in each driverless automotive to guard the cats,” he wrote.
“He’s knocking down $110,000 a yr of taxpayer cash to say this with a straight face. Minneapolis doesn’t have a driverless automotive downside. It has a management downside.”
“They’re driving over the cats, they’re driving over the canines!” Fox Information Digital columnist David Marcus posted on X.
“Why is a metropolis council member making 110,000 when households and seniors are getting priced out of their houses in Minneapolis and taxes are sky rocking????? That’s absurd – the place is the equality in that???” Three Rivers Park Commissioner Jennifer DeJournett posted on X.
“Fwiw I’ve been in a self-driving Tesla that stopped for cats to cross the highway and Waymo is much more superior,” journalist Zaid Jilani posted on X.
“My FSD Tesla avoids animals on the highway. He is filled with it,” Vendor Teamwork CEO and co-founder Sean Stapleton posted on X.
Fox Information Digital reached out to Chavez for remark.
