Gig Harbor council pleads with Congress for more aid; Kilmer says it may come soon.
The Gig Harbor City Council has asked the state’s Congressional delegation to speed additional support to cities and small businesses facing a “catastrophe in the making” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“On behalf of the Gig Harbor community and its businesses, we implore you and your colleagues in the Senate and the House to immediately provide grant funding for small businesses to ease the devastation being wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mayor Kit Kuhn read from a letter to the legislators during the Dec. 14 council meeting.
The letter was addressed to Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Maria Cantwell, and Rep. Derek Kilmer.
“Too many of our community’s small businesses are openly wondering how long they can hold on and are telling us they won’t make it into 2021 without direct congressional support,” Kuhn said.
The letter describes the current situation as a “catastrophe in the making” calling for additional aid for local governments, additional direct payments to individuals, nutrition and housing assistance, and assistance in vaccine distribution as well as testing and tracing efforts.
Got message across
It also called for “additional and substantial funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).”
The council voted 6-1 in support of the letter with Council Member Jim Franich as the sole no vote. He cited concerns about funding.
Kuhn told The Gateway that “he was still confident that they got the message across” and praised Franich for standing by his principles even as they disagreed. Kuhn said “what he needs to focus on as mayor” is getting the funds to his city.
“We’re hoping that the state gives direct payments for individuals and businesses,” Kuhn said. “A lot of times it goes to the biggest corporations, so we’re looking for our elected officials to help pass a package that is really directed at small business relief.”
From the perspective of the Gig Harbor mayor, the situation is dire. Kuhn said he is worried that the days some community businesses have left may be numbered.
“We need this soon. A lot of them may not survive the next couple months,” Kuhn said. “We’re looking for them to pass a package with the house and the senate that is geared towards small businesses so it could help our community.”
Stimulus package
Kilmer, a Gig Harbor Democrat who represents the 6th congressional district, told The Gateway he had received the letter.
“I actually really appreciate the city leadership advocating on behalf of their local businesses and our shared constituents,” Kilmer said. “This is a really challenging time for people and we all need to be fighting to help them.”
A probable stimulus package is on the horizon and is one that Kilmer says meets many of the concerns the council expressed in their letter. (On Sunday, Dec. 20, Congressional leaders announced they had reached agreement on a $900 billion stimulus package that could soon pass both houses.)
“It’s very consistent with what the mayor and the council included in their letter in terms of what they wanted to see, with some exceptions,” Kilmer said. “They indicated a desire to see another round of stimulus checks, it appears that is going to be included. Expanded unemployment benefits are included.”
The stimulus check amount being discussed is a one-time payment of $600 dollars, half of the previous amount given near the beginning of the pandemic, and $300 weekly in unemployment assistance.
“Obviously one of the biggest areas of concerns, particularly for a community like Gig Harbor, where our small businesses are so important, is small-business relief,” Kilmer said. “There is agreement on that and another round of the paycheck protection program, which really was a vital lifeline to a lot of our local employers.”
Aid for cities unlikely
Kilmer said there would also be money set aside for vaccine distribution, schools, and transportation. However, Kilmer said there is unlikely to be additional support for state and local governments.
“To my chagrin, it doesn’t look like that will be included at this point,” Kilmer said. “In the midst of divided government, neither party is going to get everything they want but it is important that the American people get what they need.”
Kilmer pointed to the recent actions by the Tacoma council cutting fire engine service as the types of decisions cities may have to face when dealing with declining revenues. He hopes that can be avoided.
“I am hopeful we will get to a deal that addresses a lot of the challenges that folks are dealing with,” Kilmer said.
That bleak future is one Kilmer says will require additional steps to be taken in 2021.
“This is an important down payment on the need, but it is not the end of the assistance that will be provided,” Kilmer said. “Things like the enhanced unemployment benefits expire at the end of March in the agreement as it has been read out, which means there will be a need to address this in the first quarter of 2021.”
In other business, the Gig Harbor City Council:
- Swore in two new police officers
- Made available the Ancich NetShed for use by commercial fishermen
- Voted 6-1 to adopt the 2021 budget
- Authorized a contract between the City of Gig Harbor and Teamsters 117 General Non-Supervisory Unit
- Approved Ordinance 1450 - Stormwater Manual Revision that adds some flow-control requirements for all land use applications to take effect January 2021
Adopted the 2021 Parks Commission Work Plan
Voted to approve an expenditure of $475,000 in available 2021 Lodging Tax Grants
Voted to send a letter opposing a potential Tacoma Narrows Airport expansion
Reach Chase Hutchinson at chase.hutchinson@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published December 17, 2020 at 2:43 PM.
