A new stimulus package proposed by House Democrats would funnel $17 billion to New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, urging lawmakers to move quickly on a plan he said would be a vital rescue for the nation’s hardest-hit city.
The $3 trillion coronavirus relief plan would give the city $17 billion in direct aid over two years and provide another $34 billion for New York state.
“It is right that the Congress and the president act at a level that actually hits this absolutely unprecedented moment in American history,” said de Blasio during a virtual press conference Wednesday. “We know we cannot get back on our feet without that stimulus. The hit this city has taken is simply too much.”
The city has lost $7.4 billion in tax revenue to the economic crisis sparked by the pandemic and spent billions more on its efforts to respond to the pandemic. The mayor has threatened possible layoffs or furloughs of front line workers if aid doesn’t come. New York state is also moving toward massive budget cuts.
“We’ve already taken a massive hit in every way — the human toll, first and foremost,” said de Blasio. “The pain, the suffering, and it’s continuing right now. The economic impact, the number of people who don’t have a livelihood. The number of people who don’t know where their next meal’s coming from ... We’ve taken a huge financial hit, and it only gets worse all the time.”
The stimulus package, which quickly drew Republican opposition, would offer $500 billion in aid to states and $375 billion for localities.
It would also fund line-of-duty benefits for first responders killed by the coronavirus — something New York’s first responders and other city workers have been pushing for.
“We of course want to make sure that every public servant lost in the line of duty is covered, and not just first responders.
But we’re very, very appreciative that this action would take us a big step in the right direction, starting with our first responders,” said de Blasio.The proposal also includes $10 billion for food stamps at a time when the number of New Yorkers unable to afford enough food is expected to double to 2 million, and $16 billion in grants for mass transit agencies. There’s also $4 billion to expand Section 8 housing vouchers.
It would create a $200 billion fund to give hazard pay to essential workers.
President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to bailouts for states run by Democrats, which prompted de Blasio to attack him as a backstabbing hypocrite.
He took a gentler tone Wednesday and urged Trump to get on board with the proposal, saying the president’s voice could get it through the Republican-controlled Senate where staunch opposition is expected.
“If President Trump acts, if President Trump speaks out, the Senate will follow. So here, Mr. President, is a chance to do something so good, so important, for your hometown and for cities and towns and states all over this country,” he said. “Here’s a chance to get it right.”
The coronavirus has killed 20,316 people in the city, by far the highest toll in the country, and there are 185,206 confirmed cases of the virus.
The number of children suffering from a rare inflammatory syndrome apparently linked to the virus has now jumped to 82, said de Blasio Wednesday. He announced a new public service announcement campaign, including digital, TV and radio ads, urging parents to be vigilant for symptoms of the condition, which include rashes, high fevers and vomiting.
“Early detection matters here,” he said.
In the latest data, the number of people entering hospitals for the coronavirus increased to 78, and the ICU population at public hospitals went up to 561. The percentage of tests coming back positive declined to 13 percent.
The city wants all three indicators to decline for 10 to 14 days straight before it can begin easing restrictions, which will happen no earlier than June. So far, there have been few consecutive days when all three have moved in the right direction.