Council President Scott Presents Plan for Baltimore's Public Health & Economic Recovery to COVID-19

Council President Scott Presents Plan for Baltimore's Public Health & Economic Recovery to COVID-19

Proposal Calls on Using Rainy Day Fund to Offset Impact to Residents and Businesses

BALTIMORE, MD (April 7, 2020) – At a virtual press conference Tuesday morning, Baltimore City Council President Brandon M. Scott unveiled a plan for Baltimore’s public health and economic recovery in the midst of the coronavirus public health pandemic.

The 17-page document, titled “Supporting Baltimore During and After COVID-19,” lays the groundwork for a successful and equitable recovery for Baltimore and outlines the actions the Council President is and will be taking to address residents’ immediate needs and long-term wellbeing.

“This public health emergency is unlike anything we’ve seen and comes with real health and economic impacts,” said the Council President. “In this unprecedented global public health emergency, everything must be on the table — including using the Rainy Day Fund — to offset the impact of this crisis on our residents.”

Scott’s document outlines seven policy proposals to assist in a financial bailout for city residents and businesses post COVID-19:

1. Expand Unemployment Insurance: No one is immune to the economic fallout associated with COVID-19. Immediate support is needed for people whose source of income has been impacted.
2. Use Rainy Day Fund to Stabilize Baltimore: Our city is projected to lose nearly $170 million in revenue due to the pandemic. The Rainy Day Fund is meant for emergencies like this one and should be used to ease the financial hardships facing our most vulnerable residents.
3. Better Leverage Local Public Health Assets: Public health experts must be driving the City's response to COVID-19 to protect our residents. Baltimore is home to world-renowned medical institutions, who must be part of any strategy or solution.
4. Address Homelessness and Housing Insecurity: People experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity will find it nearly impossible to comply with the CDC’s public health guidance to stay safe during this pandemic. We must work comprehensively to quickly meet the needs of this community.
5. Coordinate with Community-Based Efforts: Now more than ever, Baltimore needs effective coordination between city government, grassroots organizations, non-profits and philanthropic institutions to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of resources for people in need.
6. Support Businesses: Our businesses are economic engines for our city. We must ensure that they can access the resources they need.
7. Develop Regional and Federal Strategy: When COVID-19 is spreading exponentially across jurisdictions, Baltimore cannot act alone. More cooperation is needed at the local, state, and federal levels to save lives.

“I believe that taking these necessary steps and starting now will put Baltimore on the road to recovery from this pandemic,” said the Council President.

You can read President Scott’s “Supporting Baltimore During and After COVID-19: Legislative Proposals and Opportunities for State and Federal Partnership for Baltimore” at bit.ly/supportingbaltimore.

Watch this morning’s virtual press conference, which was streamed live on the Council President’s Facebook page, here.