Attention Justice Warriors!
The recent COVID-19 relief package (America Rescue Plan 2021) signed into law in March of this year offers opportunities for those on the front lines for economic and social justice battlefronts. Unprecedented millions of dollars are being dispatched to local cities, towns, and school districts especially. For example, the city of Detroit is receiving around $880 Million. People are organizing to have a say in how these funds are spent. After all, as many front-line fighters are saying, “It’s our money.” We stood in line for 12 hours to vote. Here’s an opportunity to call on the government to meet the basic needs of the people with funds that are actually available.
Are there people sleeping in the streets and organizations fighting for housing in your city or town? Are there people struggling to find health care options and organizations fighting for Medicaid expansion or Medicare for All? Are there folks suffering from the effects of toxins in the air, water or earth, and organizations combating pipelines and sludge? Let’s join together and demand those funds are spent on people’s needs.
While much of these funds are meant to fund economic losses wrought by COVID 19 challenges, the funds also provide opportunities to confront much-needed issues that existed even before the pandemic. Unlike previous federal funds, these funds are not filtered through state government or saddled with narrow and specific uses. While community leaders cannot use the money to pay pension debts or provide tax cuts, there are few limits on the money.
Because this money goes directly to the locals, communities must claim and demand their priorities to enhance the quality of life of local residents — be it water issues, housing, economic subsidies and more. During the height of COVID-19 we saw the suspension of evictions, housing for homeless people, termination of water shutoffs, no cost Covid testing and vaccinations. While these were spotty and uneven, it showed what is possible in meeting the needs of the populations.
The infusion of federal dollars presents an opportunity to secure our demands while expanding capacity in the fight. It’s our money. We must imagine and fight for how it is spent.
