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Seattle Rescue Plan unanimously passes Seattle City Council vote

The Seattle Rescue Plan (SRP) also known as CB 120093 and CB 120094 unanimously passed a final vote on Monday.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Seattle City Council President Lorena González, and Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda announced the plan on May 27, 2021.

The plan will use federal recovery funds to address the COVID-related impacts facing the economy, community, and health services. The plan totals $128.4 million and funds are allocated as such – $49.2 million to housing and homelessness, $23 million to community and small business recovery, $41.5 million to community well-being, $7 million to community assistance and programming, and $7.6 million to reopening city programs and services.

Councilmember Mosqueda said she and her colleagues focused on collaboration when crafting the plan:

“We’ve had the chance to talk to city councils, from Austin, to Minneapolis, to Denver, and so many others to hear where other progressive cities are looking to invest these dollars. And most importantly we’ve heard directly from community partners, from organizations, from those most impacted by COVID.”

The Seattle City Council has made it a point of focusing on those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic. 

Councilmember Lisa Herbold said in support of the plan: 

“We must make these critical investments in services that will directly help the families and individuals hit hardest by COVID, so that not just the City but also its residents can build back better.”

Mayor Durkan stated about the SRP:

“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.”

This bill comes as Washington nears the 70% vaccination threshold that Gov. Jay Inslee set as a target for reopening.

The $49.2 million in housing and homelessness funds in this bill are in addition to funds from the American Rescue Plan going to public housing authorities.

Councilmember Mosqueda mentioned prior to the vote on Monday that this will be the first of a three part series of bills that will be incorporated into the SRP, with an addition in July and in the fall.

A brief of the allocation of funds is available on the Seattle City Council site.


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