Mayor Kenney sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to make the case for Philadelphia. As Congress considers a fourth COVID-19 response package, Mayor Kenney asked that the federal government provide direct and flexible funding and resources to local governments to help us manage the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The mayor asked that these priorities be included in additional legislation:
Direct and flexible funding
The two most effective forms of relief for local governments are providing direct, flexible funding and replacing lost revenue resulting from this crisis. Without this, we will be forced to make drastic cuts, which will deprive residents of needed services, exacerbate the damage to our local economies, and lessen the possibility of a speedy economic recovery.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies
Federal authorities have indicated that the Philadelphia region is at risk of a surge in COVID-19 infections. Mayor Kenney urgently requested personal protective equipment and resources to expand rapid testing capacity.
Housing
Nearly 300,000 Philadelphia households face housing instability. The COVID-19 health crisis has magnified the housing need, with low-income renters facing eviction and homeowners facing mortgage payment crisis.
Mayor Kenney advocated for rental assistance for low-income people and people with disabilities, mortgage leniency, drinking water and wastewater assistance programs, and other measures to protect renters and homeowners.
Supporting the most vulnerable
We need additional resources to meet the basic needs of those who are most vulnerable. Mayor Kenney asked that Congress increase support to Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Package), and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), as well as provide flexible emergency assistance for homeless services and increased support for unemployment programs.
Education
We need more than the CARES Act to stabilize education and close the gap in learning due to schools and institutions being physically closed. Mayor Kenney’s comprehensive education solutions include immediate and long-term investments in early childhood education, K-12, and higher education.
The mayor also made the case for federal support of job training and retraining to help the many people who will have lost their jobs and need support to improve their education and skill sets.
Small business relief
Mayor Kenney urged Congress to provide vigorous support to small businesses and significantly expand the economic interventions from the first three coronavirus packages.
Requests include: business disruption insurance, increased funding for the SBA Payroll Protection Program, an employee retention tax credit, emergency Family Medical Leave Act, emergency paid sick days program, paid leave tax credits, loans and grants, and direct aid to airports.
Fair elections
Pennsylvania recently established universal vote-by-mail, which will be available for the first time in the upcoming primary election (delayed to June).
This system will be critical to reduce the risk of virus spread. At the same time, social distancing will make education and outreach efforts much more difficult, and voters without internet access will need additional support.
Mayor Kenney asserted that Philadelphia needs more funding to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote.
Pension relief
The mayor also requested funding for state and local pension funds. Philadelphia has made significant progress on its pension reform plan and in strengthening the pension fund; however, the sudden downturn in the markets in March led to substantial losses for public pension funds nationwide.
While the Kenney administration appreciates the resources and response related to COVID-19 so far, Philadelphia needs much more to ensure that residents get through the crisis and thrive beyond it.
