Bills that fund assistance to homelessness, small businesses, direct assistance to workers and families, community health and equity will go to Full Council for final vote
Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda and Council President M. Lorena González, alongside their Council colleagues serving on the Finance and Housing Committee, passed the “Seattle Rescue Plan” out of committee, a $128.4 million package in federal funds to aid Seattle’s recovery from the pandemic and COVID-related economic impacts.
Finance and Housing Chair Mosqueda, Council President González and Mayor Jenny A. Durkan crafted the bills to respond to the most pressing needs facing Seattle, legislation which passed out of committee with several amendments. The two bills (CB 120093 and CB 120094) that make up the Seattle Rescue Plan will next go to the Council as a whole for a final vote on Monday, June 21, 2021.
“The Seattle Rescue Plan makes significant investments in the most pressing needs in our city: homelessness, economic resilience, and direct aid to those hit hardest by COVID-19. These bills center the Seattle values of collaboration, transparency, equity, and ensuring a strong recovery and future for our city. I’m honored to have crafted this bill with Council President González and Mayor Durkan and in deep collaboration with my colleagues,” Mosqueda said.
“The Seattle Rescue Plan will have far reaching impacts for our recovery. After months of listening sessions from stakeholders across Seattle, City Council and the Mayor worked together to create a plan that centered communities and households as well as industries and sectors that have had to bear the brunt of a pandemic that exacerbated existing inequities. Today’s vote brings us one step closer towards an equitable recovery,” González said.
“The Seattle Rescue Plan outlines our plans to build back a strong, more just and equitable city. Together with Council President González and Councilmember Mosqueda, we are working to get funds to small businesses, to revitalize community, to bring business and tourism back downtown, and to provide shelter and housing to those in need. Together we are making a momentous first step on our road to recovery,” said Mayor Durkan.
On June 1, 2021, the City Council introduced legislation to authorize spending $116 million in Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery funds in direct aid provided from the Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as well as $12.2 million of HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds. Finance and Housing Chair Mosqueda, Council President González and Mayor Durkan crafted the legislation to respond to the most pressing needs facing Seattle, including in the following spending categories:
The Council and the Mayor will continue discussions on how to allocate funding the City will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLRF) in 2022 and other targeted aid that will come to the City. Additional budget legislation will be considered later this summer to accept and authorize spending $7.4 million of targeted ARPA funds to support seniors and $28.7 million of targeted aid for rental assistance programs.