Los Angeles, CA — Today, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez introduced a legislative package to provide relief to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to families and businesses impacted by the pandemic. The package will include a moratorium debt collection, a housing plan to protect the families of first responders, economic relief for small businesses, infrastructure accelerator plan, and support to homeless service providers. Introduced today, her motions are among many other pieces of legislation she has introduced to provide financial relief and address public safety concerns.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2020
Press Contact: Tran Le, tran.le@lacity.org, 213-257-0475
COUNCILWOMAN MONICA RODRIGUEZ INTRODUCES RELIEF EFFORTS TO HELP TENANTS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND BUSINESSES AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Her legislative package includes a moratorium on debt collection, a housing plan to protect the families of first responders, economic relief for small businesses, a citywide infrastructure accelerator plan, and support to homeless service providers
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez introduced a legislative package to provide relief to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and provide relief to families and businesses impacted by the pandemic. The package will include a moratorium debt collection, a housing plan to protect the families of first responders, economic relief for small businesses, infrastructure accelerator plan, and support to homeless service providers. Introduced today, her motions are among many other pieces of legislation she has introduced to provide financial relief and address public safety concerns.
“COVID-19 is unlike any crisis our City has ever experienced and it requires all levels of government and community partners working together to provide relief for working families, tenants, property owners, and businesses,” said Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, Chair of the City’s Public Safety Committee. “We must continue to triage the immediate public health and economic impacts of the coronavirus, and plan ahead for the post pandemic recovery.”
The motions introduced today calls on the City to implement the following measures:
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- Moratorium on Debt Collection:The motion requests that the Mayor amend his “Safer at Home” Emergency Order to specifically declare collection agencies and credit agencies as “non-essential” businesses during the emergency and further to impose a moratorium during this time on all debt collection efforts.
- Protecting the Families of First Responders: The motion directs the City to contract with hotels, motels and other lodging providers to temporarily house first responders that have been exposed to COVID-19 and are required to be isolated or choose to self isolate.
- Redeploying LADOT Buses to Deliver Meals & Resources to Shelters: With the Safer at Home orders in effect, the Department of Transportation (LADOT) has seen a reduction in bus ridership. This motion directs LADOT in consultation with the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority (LAHSA) to utilize LADOT buses to transport clients to and from shelters and to deliver food and other supplies.
- Accelerating Infrastructure Projects During Safer at Home Order: As cities across America experience a dramatic reduction in traffic due to social distancing, the City of Los Angeles must take advantage of the reduced traffic to expedite right-of-way infrastructure projects. The motion directs the City to reprioritize capital project schedules and help accelerate the City’s economic recovery.
- Scaling Impact for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to Support Small Businesses – CDFIs are designed to help generate economic growth and opportunity in underinvested and disadvantaged communities through issuing financial services and small business loans. The motion directs the City’s Economic Workforce Development Department to review best practices of COVID-19 relief programs offered by CDFIs to scale the impact and provide even more relief to small businesses in Los Angeles.
In addition to these motions, Councilwoman Rodriguez today also partnered with Council President Nury Martinez and Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell to introduce an emergency resolution urging Congress to provide relief to working families, renters, and property owners in the next federal relief bill. The resolution called on Congress to focus its next stimulus package on housing needs and provide relief efforts that will prevent even more people from falling into poverty and homelessness.
The Councilwoman’s motions complement current efforts made at the city, county, state, and federal government to provide relief and further protect Angelenos who have lost their jobs and had their businesses closed.
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Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez serves as the City’s Chair of Public Safety and represents the 7th Council District in the Northeast San Fernando Valley which include the neighborhoods of Sylmar, Mission Hills, Pacoima, Lake View Terrace, Sunland, Tujunga, North Hills, Shadow Hills, and La Tuna Canyon.