By Reagan Priest/Cronkite NewsMarch 15, 2022Previous
The National League of Cities conference in Washington this week drew about 2,000 local officials, including close to 100 from Arizona cities, for several days of meeting and lobbying. (Photo by Alexia Stanbridge/Cronkite News)
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said his city was able to use $3.5 million of the $45.8 million it got under the American Rescue Plan to buy a motel that will be converted into housing for 40 homeless people. (Photo by Alexia Stanbridge/Cronkite News)
President Joe Biden touted what he called the successes of the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief measure that included $130 billion in direct aid to cities. (Photo courtesy the White House)
Mesa Councilmember David Luna said that even though attendees at the National League of Cities conference still wore masks, it was good to finally meet face-to-face with colleagues this year after two years of virtual meetings. (Photo by Alexia Stanbridge/Cronkite News)
The National League of Cities conference in Washington this week drew about 2,000 local officials, including close to 100 from Arizona cities, for several days of meeting and lobbying. (Photo by Alexia Stanbridge/Cronkite News)
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said his city was able to use $3.5 million of the $45.8 million it got under the American Rescue Plan to buy a motel that will be converted into housing for 40 homeless people. (Photo by Alexia Stanbridge/Cronkite News)
President Joe Biden touted what he called the successes of the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief measure that included $130 billion in direct aid to cities. (Photo courtesy the White House)
Mesa Councilmember David Luna said that even though attendees at the National League of Cities conference still wore masks, it was good to finally meet face-to-face with colleagues this year after two years of virtual meetings. (Photo by Alexia Stanbridge/Cronkite News)
The National League of Cities conference in Washington this week drew about 2,000 local officials, including close to 100 from Arizona cities, for several days of meeting and lobbying. (Photo by Alexia Stanbridge/Cronkite News)Next
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden came to the National League of Cities conference here this week to tout the success of the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package approved last March.
It was not a tough sell.
Many were like Mesa Mayor John Giles who said the billions that went to local governments “has given us the resources needed to develop programs and initiatives to continue to address homelessness, fight food insecurity, bridge the digital divide and strengthen our small businesses as they rebound.”
Besides tax credits, rental assistance and expanded jobless benefits, the plan directed $130 billion to county and city governments, with 24 Arizona cities getting just over $1 billion, according to the Treasury Department. That ranged from $4.3 million for Douglas to $396.1 million for Phoenix.
“I urge you all to use the flexibility we built into the law to spend these funds wisely: to reduce violence in your communities,” Biden said during a nearly half-hour speech Monday to a cheering audience. “To address homelessness and affordable housing … to expand high-speed Internet … or to train people for good-paying jobs.”
Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said his city was able to use funds from the program to buy a Rodeway Inn that it converted into a shelter with the capacity to house 40 homeless people.
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“Imagine if you’re unhoused and living on the street and how seriously challenging that time was,” Woods said at the conference Tuesday. “So the fact that we were able to purchase that motel was really big in terms of helping 40 people to get off the street and begin the process of turning their lives around and getting them the services they need.”
