San Jose To Approve Latest Round Of Federal COVID Funds

Campbell CA

02 November, 2021

5:36 PM

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By Lloyd Alaban, San Jose Spotlight November 1, 2021 Emergency housing, better internet and food services could be a reality for thousands of San Jose residents thanks to money from the federal government. The San Jose City Council is expected Tuesday to approve changes to the city's COVID-19 budget as they allocate federal funds. Should the council give the green light, nearly $40 million from the city's $212 million American Rescue Plan money will go to various programs. According to a city memo, $11.5 million will go to the city's COVID-related food service and distribution efforts, $5 million to child and youth services, $4.5 million to the San Jose Bridge program—a recently expanded homeless trash pickup program—and $3 million for emergency housing. Part of that funding includes $150,000 to provide traffic barriers for the city's Al Fresco program, which blocked off traffic to certain streets downtown so businesses such as gyms and cafes could move outdoors amid COVID health restrictions. "Al Fresco has definitely helped activate San Pedro Street and its definitely helped us here too," Randy Musterer, owner of downtown restaurant Sushi Confidential, told San José Spotlight. "We're not back to pre-pandemic sales so it's still slower than it used to be. But anything helps." The American Rescue Plan, a sweeping $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package signed into law in March, provides $350 billion overall to state, local, territorial and tribal governments. California's budget—which was already faring better than expected—has received a $27 billion cash infusion. Some of the $212 million of San Jose's ARP allocation has been transferred to various city funds, including $83.4 million to an economic recovery budget, $45 million to the city's general fund and $2.5 million to the city's cultural affairs fund. "Approval of the recommended budget adjustments and staffing additions will enable the city to continue its focus on supporting our most vulnerable and disproportionately impacted communities," read a city memo. Councilmembers have their own ideas for the remaining funds. Mayor Sam Liccardo, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones and Councilmembers Magdalena Carrasco, Dev Davis and Matt Mahan are proposing $20 million in quick-build transition housing for the homeless, $6 million for 10 full-time SJPD officer positions and $3 million for child and youth services such as childcare facilities, among other proposals. In a separate series of proposals, Councilmembers Sylvia Arenas and Maya Esparza are asking for more funding for the city's virtual learning sites program, as well as for an independent auditor to review the handing out of ARP funds. The city has identified a few priorities in handing out funds, including an increase in funding toward the city's homeless encampment clearing and cleanup programs, youth programs, WiFi network construction at three East San Jose high schools, funding to construct quick-build emergency housing and an increase in the city's efforts to feed and deliver groceries to seniors and low-income residents. A coalition of more than two dozen nonprofits, part of the Race Equity Action Leadership (REAL), wants the city to use the funds to focus on a more racially-just and equitable society— a guiding principle in one of the city's newest departments, the Office of Racial Equity. Some of the coalition's proposals include a universal basic income pilot for low-income families, a fund to address food insecurity and a neighborhood safety crisis response program to serve as an alternative to police. "As the city looks at spending issues, we want them to maintain an equity lens," Kathleen Cordova, executive director of addiction and homelessness nonprofit Recovery Cafe San Jose told San José Spotlight. The cafe is a member of REAL. "What is the impact on people based on race and financial capability? I think that with public pressure from organizations such as our coalition and others, that's not at the forefront of their minds. But they need to continue to be reminded that they need to keep that at the forefront of their minds." The San Jose City Council meets Tuesdays at 1:30 pm. To learn more about how you can watch and participate, click here. Contact Lloyd Alaban at [email protected] or follow @lloydalaban on Twitter. San José Spotlight is the city's first nonprofit news organization dedicated to independent political and business reporting. Please support our public service journalism by clicking here.