LA Is Expected To Receive Over A Billion Dollars From The Federal Stimulus. How Should The City Use It
Los Angeles city leaders received good news yesterday following the passage of the federal stimulus bill, which will allocate $1.35 billion to the city. Mayor Eric Garcetti said he was “ecstatic” about the bill, which he anticipates will allow the city to pay off debts, cover COVID-19 expenses and potentially provide money to help struggling workers and businesses. President Biden is expected to sign the bill Friday, freeing up the aid for Los Angeles as well as for the state of California, which is slated to receive $42.6 billion ($26 billion for the state government). The money comes at a crucial time for the city, which has asked city workers to take unpaid days off and tapped a significant amount of LA’s reserves. The stimulus bill also includes checks for individuals, which could help provide a small economic boost for Angelenos. Today on AirTalk, we’re learning more about the stimulus bill’s allocation for Los Angeles and what the money will mean for the city’s economic recovery. Questions? Give us a call at 866-893-5722. Guests: Monica Rodriguez, Los Angeles city councilmember for the Seventh Council District, which includes the neighborhoods of Pacoima, Mission Hills, Sunland-Tujunga and Sylmar Maria Salinas, president and CEO of LA Area Chamber of Commerce; she tweets @salinas_ms April Verrett, president of Service Employees International Union Local 15 (SEIU Local 2015), California’s largest union representing over 400,000 home care and nursing home workers throughout California