Tucson city council passes over $9M in funds for coronavirus relief

VOTING TO ALLOCATE MILLIONS OFDOLLARS FOR CORONAVIRUSRELIEF.

IT HAPPENED AT TODAY'SMEETING.

9 ON YOUR SIDE'SCIARA ENCINAS BREAKS DOWNWHERE THAT MONEY IS COMINGFROM AND WHERE IT'S GOING.TRT: 1:41 SOQ GRAPHICN TOTAL -- CITY COUNCILAPPROVED MORE THAN 9 MILLIONDOLLARS IN RELIEF -- THAT WILLGO TO FAMILIES, SMALLBUSINESSES, AND PROGRAMS. PARTOF THAT RELIEF -- DIRECTPAYMENTS TO CITY EMPLOYEES WHOHAVE CONTINUED WORKING THROUGHTHE PANDEMIC.

PKG: "THE TOTALCOST OF THIS IS RIGHT AT ABOUT1.6 MILLION." THAT 1-POINT-SIXMILLION -- WILL BE DISTRIBUTEDIN ONE TIME PAYMENTS.

THOSEWHO WORKED AT LEAST HALF OFTHE PANDEMIC -- WILL RECIEVE500 DOLLARS.

THOSE WHO WEREABLE TO WORK REMOTELY -- WILLGET 250.

"WE HAVE 4500EMPLOYEES ABOUT 70%- 75% WILLFALL INTO TIER ONE PLUS ORMINUS.

AND THE REMAINDER WILLBE IN THAT TIER TWO.

SO THETIER TWO- PIECE IS, I'M GOINGTO ESTIMATE IS LESS THAN 1500EMPLOYEES THAT'S WHAT I'MESTIMATING." THAT MONEY ISCOMING FROM THE FUND THAT(ALREADY PAYS THAT EMPLOYEESSALARY -- AND THE CITY WON'TBE ABLE TO APPLY FOR FEDERALAID TO RECOUP THOSE LOSSES.BUT OTHER ASSISTANCE -- IN THEFORM OF GRANTS -- IS COMINGFROM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MONEY.MAYOR AND COUNCIL VOTED TOBEEF UP GRANT PROGRAMS BYNEARLY 8 MILLION DOLLARS.HERE'S A BREAK DOWN OF HOWTHAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT:THREE MILLION FOR RENT ANDUTILITY ASSISTANCE TWO MILLIONFOR WORKERS AND FAMILIES TWOMILLION FOR SMALL BUSINESSESFIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND FORNONPROFITS AND THREE HUNDREDAND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARSWILL ASSIST ENTERTAINMENTVENUES SUCH AS THE GASLIGHTTHEATER.

WE ARE LOSINGUNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THATWORD THAT ADDED ADDITIONALMONEY INTO THE POCKETS OFPEOPLE THAT ARE NOT WORKING.AND, UNFORTUNATELY, CONGRESSIS NOT ACTING ON A RELIEFPACKAGE.

COUNCIL ALSO VOTED TOKEEP PUBLIC TRANSIT FREETHROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR.COUNCIL MOVED TO STOP CHARGESIN MARCH WHEN RIDERS BEGANBACK DOOR ENTRY TO BUSES ANDTHE SUN TRAN.

TAG: (WILLDEPEND ON IF ANY OTHER CHANGESARE MADE DURING REGULARMEETING) CIARA ENCINAS, KGUN