Mayor Tishaura Jones and officials from her office gathered at the City Hall rotunda on June 15, 2021, to outline the details of the proposed $80 million COVID-19 relief plan funded by Biden's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The plan still requires approval by the city's Board of Alderman before it takes effect. Production by Michael J. Collins
ST. LOUIS — Mayor Tishaura O. Jones is challenging aldermen to approve by July 1 an $80 million federal aid plan she submitted Tuesday to help city residents cope with the continuing effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jones said because some money from an earlier federal outlay must be spent by the end of this month, delays in approving the new aid could temporarily halt some services such as paying rent for people facing possible eviction.
“People will fall through the holes in our social safety net for absolutely no reason beyond a desire to score political points†if the July 1 date isn’t met, Jones said at a news conference in the City Hall rotunda. “Let’s work together.â€
Mary Goodman, a spokeswoman for Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, said the mayor’s timetable is unrealistic and that committee hearings and aldermanic consideration couldn’t take place that quickly.
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However, Goodman said passing a plan by July 16, when the board begins a two-month midsummer break, is doable. Goodman disputed Jones’ contention “that critical COVID-19 services are just going to abruptly end†if the July 1 date isn’t met.
Jones’ plan deals with the spending of the first $80 million of $517 million the city is to receive from Washington under a plan pushed by President Joe Biden.
She added $12 million to a $68 million recommendation outlined Saturday by the stimulus advisory board she appointed.
Jones’ package includes $12.44 million to help residents pay rent and utility bills and $2.5 million to help others cover mortgage payments. There also would be $500,000 for forgivable loans to help people make property tax payments.
“As the eviction crisis looms over our city, we want to keep families in their homes and the lights on,†Jones said. A court order barring most evictions in the city is set to expire at the end of the month.
The housing aid is part of $58 million assigned to what her office calls “direct, urgent economic relief.â€
That amount includes $5 million in one-time targeted cash payments of $350 to $500 to individuals.
But unlike her advisory board, Jones isn’t calling for that sum to go to the 10,000 or so residents facing reduced unemployment benefits because of Gov. Mike Parson’s decision to end federal pandemic jobless aid last week.
“The framework … is still being put together†for distributing that money, Jones said.
Later, the mayor’s chief of staff, Jared Boyd, said, “there’s a more expansive universe of people who need targeted cash assistance … and we’re still determining how to deploy those resources.â€
‘More shots in arms’
Jones said $6.75 million would go to public health initiatives such as mobile COVID vaccination clinics and canvassing and other outreach aimed at increasing the city’s vaccination rate.
“Most pressing is getting more shots in arms,†she said. “It’s clear now we need to meet residents where they are.â€
One avenue to spur vaccinations suggested by the advisory board — using federal aid to offer lottery prizes to entice people to get inoculated — wasn’t included in Jones’ proposal Tuesday. But she said it would be considered for the future.
Jones’ plan also includes $8 million in emergency shelter for homeless people, $2 million for “tiny homes†for the homeless and $2 million for “intentional encampments†for people who won’t go to traditional shelters.
The mayor said she tweaked her advisory board’s plan to add more money for neighborhood violence prevention programs, to a total of $5 million, and for youth jobs and programming, bringing that total to $5 million.
Youth basketball leagues would get $650,000, including $300,000 for a late-night version. The violence intervention and youth programs, she said, are aimed at improving public safety by addressing the root causes of crime.
Among other major outlays would be $2.25 million to behavioral health providers, $2 million to providers of early childhood education and care, $1 million to expand public Wi-Fi and broadband access, $1 million for food assistance and $2 million for senior services.
Overall, Jones said, her plan is aimed at helping deal with problems related to deep fault lines in the city along race and income “across the Delmar divide†that were highlighted by the pandemic.
