Covid 19

Update #12: City's New Resource and Recovery Center + Coffee Wednesday

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Posted at 1:50 p.m.

Last night, our multi-partisan City Council came together (via Zoom!) to pass a very strong emergency resolution that will help Burlington respond forcefully to the twin crises we now face – one a crisis of public health, and the other a crisis of economic disruption.

As a result of this action, we have a $1 million allocation to resource both our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and our new COVID-19 Resource and Recovery Center (RRC). The City’s response to both of these unprecedented crises will come from these two centers.

The EOC’s function is to coordinate our emergency response, including by protecting public health supplies and operationalizing the City’s response to the State’s public health orders.

The RRC’s function is to provide relief to the economic disruption. If you are a renter worried about housing security, a business owner seeking to access federal assistance, or a person experiencing homelessness who needs shelter, you can get a 1-1 consult at the RRC.

The RRC also will help all Burlingtonians access the tax and fee relief the City announced yesterday. For full details about this relief, see my video update or the City Council memo available below.

These measures mark the beginning of our local response. Even as the national and local news is worsening, last night’s unanimous City Council vote is a reassuring sign that Burlington will respond to this crisis with the unified, community effort that it is demanding of us all.

Lastly, throughout my time in office, I've held coffees with constituents every Wednesday morning. Tomorrow morning -- Wednesday, March 25 -- I'll be taking these coffees virtual. Please join me from 9:00 - 10:00 am tomorrow to talk about the City's response to COVID-19 or anything else that's on your mind. I welcome questions from kids who are home from school too! Here's the link to join via video conference: https://zoom.us/j/482742489. You can also call in using this number: (929) 205-6099, webinar ID: 482 742 489.

Talk to you soon -

Miro

 

In the video below, from Monday afternoon before the Council meeting, Mayor Weinberger provides an overview of the City's COVID-19 Response Plan -- including the new Resource and Recovery Center.

You can also see a written summary in this memo to the City Council.