September 4, 2020
Mayor Colin Byrd, Mayor Pro Tem Emmett Jordan, and members J Davis, Ed Putens, Leta Mach, Rodney Roberts, and Silke Pope; City Manager Nicole Ard and Assistant City Manager David Moran,
We welcome the news that Greenbelt will be receiving $1.42 million in CARES Act funding from Prince Georges County to assist those most in need during this pandemic and recession. Our understanding of the breakdown in funds is as follows:
- $460,000 – housing support (rent, and mortgage if eligible), utility and food (includes $50,000 for Meals on Wheels of College Park to provide food to home-bound Greenbelt seniors + $10,000 for St. Hugh’s Food Bank)
- $300,000 – business relief grant program
- $100,000 – contingency needs
- $562,000 – city expenses including facilities, technology improvements for telework and telehealth, cleaning, sanitizing, supplies
We understand that these funds need to be disbursed before the end of the calendar year.
We ask that a racial equity lens be applied to the promotion and award process. That would mean carefully and broadly promoting information on how to apply for assistance to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) neighborhoods in Greenbelt and making sure that funds are getting to those most in need.
We would like to help with getting the word out. Please let us know how Greenbelt residents can apply for available funds. If the City is looking for volunteers to assist with some aspects of these programs, we would also like to help spread the word.
Nationally, the pandemic and recession are disproportionately affecting BIPOC neighborhoods and families. See The Fullest Look Yet at the Racial Inequity of Coronavirus (New York Times, July 5, 2020) and The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Intensified Systemic Economic Racism Against Black Americans (New Yorker, July 30, 2020). The same racial disparities in outcomes from the pandemic and recession exist in Greenbelt.
While the stock market recently reached a new high and home sales are booming for some, many others are just a step away from hunger and homelessness. Though local metrics are currently not available, we believe those with the most need in Greenbelt are from BIPOC neighborhoods and families.
Tracking and sharing awarded money by race and neighborhood will be important for transparency and accountability. Could the City make monthly reports available to the public?
Sincerely,
Greenbelt Racial Equity Alliance