Mayors decry partisanship over covid relief, saying city needs are real

[DonViejo]

By Dan Balz

March 13, 2021 at 10:42 a.m. EST

Few provisions in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan have drawn as much partisan opposition as the $350 billion designated for state and local governments. Republicans denounced the funding as a giveaway to mismanaged blue states and cities. But many mayors strongly disagree with that criticism.

“I am a Republican,” said John Giles, mayor of Mesa, Ariz. “I hear what people are saying about the wisdom of borrowing money to finance the relief act. But I can tell you that the consequences of not doing that would be extreme and painful. So I’m disappointed to see this turn into a partisan conversation.”

Giles was speaking by telephone from Mesa and said he could see from his window a long line of cars waiting to receive a 50-pound package of food to help feed their families. He said this has been a weekly scene every Friday for most of the past year.

“The talking point that people latched onto was this is a bailout for irresponsible blue cities and states,” he said. “They didn’t think about it other than regurgitating that argument. Every time I heard that, I said to them, ‘Please tie all the strings you want to it.’ I can tell you, in my community, none of this money is going to compensate for poor decisions of the past. One hundred percent will go directly to covid-related assistance.”

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mayors-decry-partisanship-over-covid-relief-saying-city-needs-are-real/2021/03/13/dd44660e-83fd-11eb-9ca6-54e187ee4939_story.html

[DanieRains]

1. Pay Income Taxes To Cities

And if any is left over the feds get it to spend on F-35's and Iraq invasions.