Seattle's mayor vetoed a COVID-19 relief bill that would have helped citizens pay for food and rent. | Flickr
Seattle's mayor vetoed a COVID-19 relief bill that would have helped citizens pay for food and rent. | Flickr
Seattle mayor Jenny Durkan’s veto of an $86 million COVID-19 relief bill will “flatline” the city’s economic recovery, City Council member Teresa Mosqueda, sponsor of the legislation, said.
“Rent is due today,” the councilwoman said in a press release from Council Connection. “ Federal cash assistance ends today. And today the mayor vetoes COVID relief for small businesses and families. In the midst of an economic contraction that is four times worse than the Great Depression, we can’t afford to take a wait and see approach when Seattle families’ health, jobs and housing is on the line.”
The council passed the Jumpstart COVID Relief bill unanimously on July 6. It would have provided assistance for food, rent, childcare and small businesses. In particularly, the assistance would have helped communities of color, immigrants and refugees and low-income communities, Mosqueda said in the press release.
“The Mayor’s veto will flatline Seattle’s recovery,” she said in the Council Connection press release.
Mosquesa plans to reintroduce the legislation in coming weeks.
Alerts Sign-up