Friends,

Over the past week, since I wrote last Wednesday, the County Board finished the Budget and the County Manager took action to help pay frontline workers for homeless serving nonprofits. I write to update you on both and give you a report on our response to COVID 19 and on the County Board's petition to delay the election.
County Board Adopts Next Year's Budget ([link removed])

On the Budget, the County Board adopted our $1.3 billion budget, keeping the tax rate flat and setting aside funding for address the key needs from the COVID 19 pandemic: hunger response, housing, and funding for small businesses and nonprofits,

[link removed]
To watch parts of the 1 hour board meeting adopting the budget, click above. The meeting begins at 3 minutes 49 seconds. My remarks start at 43 minutes.

My focus in the Budget was the big picture, which I think prioritizes the right things: COVID response, hunger, housing to prevent evictions, and funding to respond to COVID needs. I also worked on guidance related to hunger, which we adopted with recognition that child hunger response now is primary and planning for longer term hunger response will take work in 2021. The above video includes discussion on it.

One other priority over the past weeks has been support of the County Manager's decision on Thursday with respect to this year's budget to adopt funding for those working as frontline responders in the time of COVID 19 on homelessness and other social safety net issues. (Think Doorways, Bridges, ASPAN, and a number of others providing such services.) I am happy to report funding was approved for a small but important bump to help the workers in front of our neighbors in need.

The other Board actions from the meetings last week include approval of a building for senior housing and other actions to continue the operation of the County. Email if you have questions on other Board actions last week.

[link removed]
Friday's Town Hall included the Chief of Police, Jay Farr; Fire Chief Bill Povlitz; Project Peace Director Candice Lopez; and Lissa Friedman, Bureau Chief Child and Family Services.

On Friday, we provided a forum on COVID 19 for people to ask questions. Big topics of conversation were: testing, PPE, street utilization, masks, and modeling. Take a look to learn the latest.
Where do we Stand on COVID 19:
As of today, we have over 1221 confirmed cases in Arlington and 31,024 in the National Captal Region. 33 more cases in Arlington this morning, so we have evidence, at least today, that the curve is flattening, but at a level that is too high, at this stage to re-open. We also have lost 49 individuals to COVID in our County. Even 1 is one too many.

We are working hard on nursing homes, since, consistent with so many parts of the country a significant majority of our fatalities come from such facilities. This is a difficult problem because there are no good choices. Our Public Health Director is working on it and the Board working on this with urgency.

I am also concerned about date that indicate that communities and individuals of color are disproportionately impacted in Arlington. See the button below for such data. The actions the County is taking in this area include a new testing facility at Arlington Mill and working to address the needs of the areas of our County with the highest poverty rates, which too often disproportionately impact our Latinx and African-American residents.
The best data: Virginia Department of Health--Click and then Scroll Down to the Data Download Tab once you have Clicked this Link ([link removed])
To see the Arlington specific data with respect to infections and fatalities, go the above button Virginia Department of Health and then scroll down to the Data Download tab, click on the links and then search for Arlington in the excel documents.
How We Are Responding:
The County is continuing to take steps to respond. Rolling out our business and nonprofit funding. We have a new COVID response website: [link removed] which I strongly encourage you to go to for more. We are working with Arlington Public Schools, which has switched to 3 days a week for safety at the 7 feeding sites for children. [link removed] We are also working on wifi connectivity for those most in need to work to close the digital divide.
The Governor: May 14th and Phased Approach to Reopening ([link removed])
There has been a lot of discussion of the Governor indicating we will step back in phases starting May 15th, if the data support it. My emphasis is that Arlington should not re-open until we meet the Governor's standards. We are working regionally in support of that standard. See the link above for information and stay tuned. We are working to be vigilant against premature reopening.
Elections Matter: Click Here to Request a School Board Caucus Ballot online by tomorrow, May 7th ([link removed])
As you read this, the election to fill the County Board seat due to our dear friend Erik Gutshall's untimely passing is occurring online. I wish it could be delayed and support the County Board's petition for a 30 day delay. I also support a more open process for this election, while recognizing that the timing does not allow for such a process. As I write it is unclear what will occur. Regardless, I have not and will not be taking a position publicly in the selection of the Democratic Nominee in the County Board race. (I will vote.)

The other very important elections are those for School Board, where I wrote last week in support of Cristina Diaz-Torres and David Priddy. The important thing is that you request a ballot online by 11:59 pm tomorrow night. Please click above and request your ballot today or tomorrow before midnight, online!

Yours,

Matt

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