Like many, our hearts are hurting right now. We, too, are struggling to process what we are experiencing in this moment.
Please, for a moment, we ask all of us to set aside our political differences. In the past three weeks, two people, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, have died because of their interactions with federal immigration operations. Please join with us as we mourn with their families, friends and our greater community.
The current environment is unsettling. As Chaska’s elected leaders, we reaffirm our community values of embracing human worth and dignity. These values are the foundation of what makes Chaska a place where everyone can feel safe and have their opportunity to thrive.
Right now, for far too many of us, that is not our reality.
The ongoing surge of federal immigration enforcement has profoundly impacted our community. Many of our neighbors are scared, in some cases too scared to leave their homes. Many people are angry. Many are physically and emotionally exhausted.
But in this moment, and in that typical Chaska way, there is also hope and kindness. In the face of fear and anger and exhaustion, we have seen many in our community donate their time, space and money to be there for their neighbors.
That spirit is needed more than ever now. Chaska is a home to all of us, and it takes all of us working together to make that a reality.
We call on our government leaders at the state and national levels to look beyond the politics to find ways to allow our communities to heal. We make this call because we believe wholeheartedly that the current mode of operation is not a sustainable path forward.
This is also the right moment to express our gratitude and our support for our Police Department. At every level, these law enforcement professionals do their jobs with skill, with pride and with a focus on the safety of our community and its people.
At every turn, our Police Department looks for community-oriented solutions that provide a safe outcome for everyone involved. They enforce city ordinances as well as state laws and ordinances. They do not participate in federal immigration operations, and they do not ask for immigration status when doing their important work.
Our officers cannot interfere with federal law enforcement operations, but they will always answer a call to provide for public safety by keeping the peace, protecting lives and property, and to de-escalate situations as appropriate for everybody involved.
Everyone’s experience in this moment is different. We recognize that reality – we in fact celebrate it as another example of the diversity that makes our community strong – but we also encourage everyone to continue to channel their energies in positive, peaceful ways. Let’s continue to support our neighbors, our friends, and everyone who makes Chaska their home.