02-25-2026 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: City Managers and Communications Teams FROM: Momentum Advocacy DATE: February 2, 2026 (12:11PM) RE: Coalition Messaging Framework This document outlines the coalition’s shared messaging framework, including three core messages and supporting talking points intended to guide external communications. The framework is designed to ensure consistency across cities while allowing local leaders flexibility to tailor messages to their audiences and context. Safety over partisanship Operation Metro Surge is making us less safe. We need immediate de-escalation and improved coordination, subject to constitutional rights and the rule of law. The operation pulls officers away from community safety needs and forces cities to absorb unsustainable costs. The cost is not just financial; trust is also eroding. Economic stabilization Operation Metro Surge is affecting Minnesota’s economy well beyond large city centers. It is creating and exacerbating economic uncertainty. From business closures to workforce instability and housing insecurity, the impacts weaken Minnesota’s economic engine. Local control and constitutional rights We stand for the rule of law and the constitutional rights of our residents. This is not a city-specific issue; it is a governance issue. Cities are held responsible for the wellbeing of our schools, hospitals, businesses, and neighborhoods, and must be able to govern locally in coordination with federal partners. We respect the role of federal immigration enforcement, but actions taken without considering local jurisdiction create risk for entire communities. Talking Points About the Coalition: Why Is the Group Forming? Intended Audience: Cities; State and Federal Policymakers To restore order, trust, and a sense of normalcy ● The current impact from federal operations has exacerbated a climate of instability that is disrupting our schools, closing local businesses, and stretching our resources beyond our ability to manage. ● By advocating for immediate de-escalation, this coalition is fighting to restore a sense of normalcy— where families feel secure in their neighborhoods and local law enforcement can focus on our community’s specific needs, rather than managing the fallout of external chaos. ● True safety is built on a foundation of the rule of law, which fosters trust between residents and local institutions. Restoring that trust is essential to maintaining safe, functional communities. To uphold constitutional rights and due process. ● As local leaders, we swore an oath to the Constitution and take seriously our responsibility to uphold the rule of law and constitutional protections. ● We respect the role of federal immigration enforcement and expect that enforcement to be carried out with respect for local conditions, responsibilities, and jurisdiction. We are concerned that current