Mayor Darrell Steinberg and members of the Sacramento City Council on March 12 held a press conference at City Hall to announce emergency measures to help residents and businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We must remain calm and not panic,” Steinberg said as Council members Angelique Ashby, Eric Guerra, Steven Hansen, Jeff Harris, Jay Schenirer and Allen Warren stood with him. “We are a strong and we are a resilient city and we will get through this together. ‘Together’ is the key word. I promise you, we will get through this.”
Backed by community and business leaders, City officials announced that the Council would meet in closed session today and hold a special meeting at 1 p.m. March 13 to vote on the measures. That meeting will be live-streamed but physically closed to the public due to the Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new guidance regarding large gatherings.
The measures are as follows:
- Cancellation of permits for special events with more than 250 people. Fees will be refunded.
- Passage of an emergency declaration that will help businesses and residents process insurance claims and prohibit evictions for economically affected renters.
- Establishment of a $1 million-economic relief package for small local businesses such as restaurants, retail and day care providers. This will come in the form of zero-interest loans of up to $25,000 based on demonstrated need and supported by a small business hotline.
- Free metered parking from 4:30 p.m. onward for up to 30 days with all other enforcement still applied. This applies to all 6,200 on-street meter spaces in the central city.
- If schools do close, the City will work with school districts to assure there are places where children and families can get the food they need. We will work with our libraries specifically as potential meal provider locations.
- Prohibit evictions for economically impacted renters.
- Homeless-aid strategies, coordinated with the County of Sacramento, will include up to $250,000 to purchase and distribute emergency sanitation and cleaning supplies.
- Help acquire and distribute emergency sanitation and cleaning supplies to impacted businesses.
The Sacramento Central Labor Council has volunteered to help impacted workers navigate the unemployment process. The City will make that information available in cooperation with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s direction to assist workers with: paid family leave, disability insurance, unemployment insurance, paid sick leave, and workers compensation.
The Central Labor Council’s hotline for assistance is 916-927-9772.; the state’s website with worker resources is labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019
Watch the full press conference below: